Amy Proctor has resigned after 19 seasons as Lawrence's women's basketball coach, athletic director Robert Beeman announced.
"It was a hard decision," Proctor said. "I don't know that it's ever a good time to leave, but I'm looking forward to a new challenge. This will give me more time to pursue some other interests."
Proctor's resignation becomes effective at the end of April. A national search for Proctor's successor will get underway immediately, Beeman said.
"Everyone here at Lawrence wishes Amy all the best in her future endeavors," Beeman said. "She took over in a difficult situation nearly two decades ago and turned the Lawrence women's basketball program into a team that is respected across the Midwest. Her record of achievement speaks for itself."
Proctor came to Lawrence in 1988 and resurrected the women's basketball program, which had seen its 1987-88 season canceled. In her first season, Proctor's team went 13-12 and won the 1989 Lake Michigan Conference championship. Lawrence went 18-6 the following season and won its first Midwest Conference championship. Proctor's Vikings also won the 1999 MWC title and made the program's only appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
"I've been really blessed to be at Lawrence for 19 years," Proctor said. "It's always going to be very special to me. There's a huge part of Lawrence that will always be with me."
No coach, in any sport, has won more games at Lawrence than Proctor has in women's basketball. She compiled a record of 247-192 for a .563 winning percentage. Proctor's teams put together 14 winning seasons and 16 seasons of .500 or better. Her teams qualified for postseason play 12 times, including advancing to the four-team MWC Tournament for the last three seasons and five of the previous six. Proctor's teams won a school-record 19 games in 2005-06 and 1992-93.
A 1986 graduate of St. Norbert, Proctor also coached volleyball at Lawrence from 1988-92 and had a record of 56-82. She had two winning seasons, including an 18-9 campaign in 1992. The 18 wins was a school season record that stood until 2001. Proctor also served as athletic director from 1993-99.
"One of the biggest things I've always wanted to do is leave the program better than I found it, and the program is in good shape," Proctor said.
Proctor's successor will inherit a team that returns three starters, including all-conference performers Jenny Stoner and Kelly Mulcahy, and 11 letterwinners from a squad that finished 13-11 and took fourth place in the Midwest Conference.