Cornell men's basketball coach Mike DeGeorge, who led the Rams to the 2009 NCAA Division III Tournament, announced his resignation Monday, July 20, after five seasons on the Hilltop.

DeGeorge accepted a position as a reserve field manager for Farmers Insurance and will work in the Denver, Colo., area for the next two years. His new job is part of a training program to be a district manager where he will recruit, train and lead a group of 25-30 insurance agents in a district.

"This was not a decision I came to easily or was it a decision I had planned," DeGeorge said. "Over the last several years, it was becoming clear that the long hours on nights and weekends and college coaching demands were going to make it even more challenging for me to be a good father and husband as my kids get older.

&&g-boxr&&"Quite frankly, I am not ready to be done with coaching, but I want to create a permanent home for the kids before they reach middle school age. This will be difficult in the short term, but I believe it is best for me and my family in the long term."

DeGeorge and his wife Christi have four children: son Max, 7, and daughters Maya, 6, Morgan, 4, and Madison, 1.

DeGeorge rebuilt a struggling Cornell program into a conference champion and national qualifier in his final season. The Rams claimed the Iowa Conference Tournament title -- only Cornell's second conference team championship in any sport in 11 years as a member in the IIAC -- and earned their first berth to the NCAA Tournament since 1994.

The Rams improved their win total in each of DeGeorge's final three seasons. Last year's squad achieved the program's first winning season since 2002-03. DeGeorge compiled a 47-82 career record.

Cochrane said a national search for DeGeorge's replacement will begin immediately.