DANVILLE, KY--Centre College President John Roush said Thursday the search for a new men's head basketball coach will begin immediately. "The basketball program at Centre has a tradition of strength and we will seek the kind of coach who will appreciate and extend that tradition," Roush said.

Centre has made two trips to the NCAA Division III Final Four in the past 20 years and has won 12 conference titles in the span, including 11 in a row between 1983-93.

Applications for the vacant position may be submitted to Acting Athletics Director Joe McDaniel beginning this week and will be accepted until the position is filled. The college is advertising the position in several national publications.

Mike DeWitt, who served as Centre's head coach the last three seasons, resigned this week to become head coach at his alma mater, Ohio Wesleyan. DeWitt's record at Centre was 35 40, including 12-13 last season.The Colonels' 15-10 record in 1998 was its best since the 1993 team won 16 of 25 games and a league title.

Last year's Centre team won five of its last seven games, ending the season with a starting lineup that included two sophomores and three freshmen. Six of the team's eight top scorers will return next season, including freshman Scott Guttery, a Ft. Myers, Fla., native who led Centre with 9.8 points per game and earned honorable mention recognition on the All-SCAC team.

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