After nearly 27 seasons and 548 victories (and counting), Marymount women's basketball coach and athletic director, Bill Finney, announced his plans to retire in August.

Finney, whose teams have averaged more than 20 wins per year for each of his 27 seasons, will step down as coach whenever the Saints' season ends. Marymount is 23-1 and ranked No. 7 in the D3hoops.com Top 25.

Finney, who was one of the founders of the Capital Athletic Conference in 1990, saw his teams dominate the early years of the conference. In fact, the Saints won the first seven CAC titles and have won 10 of the 19 championships in women's basketball. He is a four-time conference coach of the year and coming into the 2009-10 season, is tenth coming into this season for victories among active Division III coaches, and 11th place among all D-III coaches.

Finney has led his teams to 15 NCAA Tournaments, including in 2009 and 2008, as well as the 2002 Final Four. In addition to that there was one other Elite 8 finish and six other Sweet 16 finishes in the Saints' appearances.

Marymount president James E. Bundschuh says, "Bill Finney is an incredibly effective athletic director and coach. But even more important, he is an outstanding mentor, role model, and inspiration for our student-athletes. Bill cares deeply about each individual's growth and success in athletics, in academics, and in the attainment of personal character."

Finney has two former players as Division III head coaches -- Candice Brown at Vassar, which has won as many games this year (her first) as the previous two combined, and Ashlee Courter at Franklin and Marshall. Both of his assistants are former players as well.

He also has been the director of athletics since 1989 where he oversees 12 sports (six men and six women's teams). During his tenure he has overseen the introduction of women's lacrosse, men's golf, and men and women's cross country to the campus.

The school will begin an immediate national search for his replacements at both positions, according to Chris Domes, the vice president for student development and enrollment management at the Arlington school.