The Oklahoma State women’s basketball coach Jim Littell will be leaving the state at the close of the current season, the school announced Monday.

Littell comes into Thursday’s Big 12 Tournament match against Texas Tech having a record of 203-139 at Oklahoma State. He was named Big 12 Coach of Year in 2016-2021 and led the Cowgirls through six NCAA Tournament appearances. This included a Sweet 16 berth.

The Cowgirls are currently at 8-19, and have lost five of their last five games.

Chad Weiberg, Oklahoma State’s athletic director, said that he had spoken with Littell over two days and that they both agreed it was time to make a change.

Weiberg released a statement saying that Littell was the reason for all the good things he did for our program in the past 17 years. He started as an associate head coach, and then became our head coach for 11 years. We are grateful for his leadership and direction over the years, which included shepherding our team through some of the most difficult situations.

Littell was appointed coach following the plane crash on Nov. 17, 2011 that resulted in the deaths of four Oklahoma State employees, including Kurt Budke, women’s basketball coach, and Miranda Serna assistant coach. This happened just one game into the 2011-12 campaign.