ESCANABA---Bay College women's basketball coach Matt Gregory has resigned.

The Norse athletic department made the announcement on Wednesday night.

Gregory took over the program late in the 2019-'20 season when former coach Rob Robinson was fired with five games left in the season.

Gregory coached the Norse for the remainder of that season, and for the past three full seasons, compiling a total record of 26 wins and 51 losses.

Perhaps his best wins at the helm of the Norse program came in early 2021, when his team beat nationally-ranked Kankakee (Ill.) Community College three times on three different courts (at home, on the road, and on a neutral court).

Another big win that year was a 68-67 upset win over Highland (Ill.) Community College on the Cougars' home court, when Holly Wardinski scored the go-ahead basket with 9.6 seconds left on the clock.

His team went 6-11 in a shortened 20-'21 campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic, and was 8-18 in the 21-'22 season. This season, Gregory's team battled injuries and inconsistent play, finishing with a 9-20 overall record following last week's playoff loss to the Delta College Pioneers.

In a statement released by the college Wednesday night, Gregory said that he had “mixed emotions” about resigning.

Gregory is also resigning from the Assistant Athletic Director position, where he had several behind-the-scenes duties, including making sure that all of the Norse athletes in every sport met NJCAA academic compliance standards.

Also in that role, Gregory also had game management duties for home games for the basketball, volleyball, softball, and baseball teams.

“It has been a joy working with so many high-character student athletes those past years, as well as the first three years during my time as an assistant men's Coach,” Gregory wrote in his resignation statement. “I would also like to thank the community for all their support. As this chapter closes and new one opens, I cherish all the special memories and relationships during my time here as a Norse. I wish the best for all the programs, as they move towards continued success."

The man who hired Gregory six years ago, Athletic Director Matt Johnson, also issued a statement Wednesday night, thanking Gregory for his “hard work and dedication” to the Norse program.

"He helped build a strong foundation for both the men's and women's basketball programs,” Johnson said. “I wish him all the best."

The college will start what it calls an “immediate national search” for a replacement, as the recruiting process swings into high gear.