Northern Iowa's DiCecco steps down, cites health reasons

3/19/2007 2:47 PM

By LUKE MEREDITH
AP Sports Writer

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) -Northern Iowa women's basketball coach Tony DiCecco resigned Monday after 12 seasons for health reasons.

DiCecco underwent quadruple-bypass heart surgery last August, and leaves as the program's winningest coach at 183-161.

``There were so many things that came into the picture. Number one was the state in which our program is in today. My health - absolutely I look at that,'' the 57-year-old DiCecco said. ``I really feel that I made this decision for all the right reasons.''

DiCecco will continue to work as an assistant to athletic director Rick Hartzell, who said he hopes to hire a coach by mid-April.

DiCecco turned Northern Iowa from a Missouri Valley Conference doormat into one of its top programs. The Panthers had posted just one winning season at the Division I level before his arrival, but under DiCecco they finished above .500 eight times and earned three WNIT bids.

The Panthers finished 17-13 last season, and won at Iowa for the first time.

``I have had a tremendous ride,'' DiCecco said. ``There's no way I can put into words how great that ride has been.''