Sue Fiero today announced her resignation as the head women's basketball coach at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

\"My personal life has changed dramatically over the last year or so,\" said Fiero, who will remain at UMD until June 30. \"My fiancee (former UMD graduate assistant football coach) Brad Newton and I are getting married this August and Brad recently accepted a job in the Twin Cities. It's a terrific career move for him and ultimately we made the decision together to relocate.

\"Stepping down was a tough and difficult decision for me considering all of the wonderful relationships I have made during my nine years at UMD. The people I have worked with have become like family to me. It's very hard to leave the players, but then again, I don't know if there ever is a good time. I'm really going to miss them.\"

Fiero, 28, assumed the Bulldogs' head coaching reins last July and proceeded to direct UMD to a 16-12 overall record and a 3-9 North Central Conference mark (fifth place) in 2005-06. The Bulldogs got off to their best start in school history, going 14-2 in their opening 16 games before being beset by injuries -- namely to three-time NCAA II All-American Lindsey Dietz and fellow starter Justine Axtell.

Fiero had served as a Bulldog assistant coach the previous three seasons under the legendary Karen Stromme and was a graduate assistant in 2000-01. During that time, UMD amassed an 86-36 overall record, made four trips to the NCAA Division II North Central Regionals, won three Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament championships (2000-01 and 2002-04) and captured one NSIC regular season title (2002-03).

The Goodhue, Minn., native drew the curtain on a rewarding four-year playing career at UMD in 2000 by receiving Kodak All-America honorable mention honors and being named to the All-NSIC first team. In addition, she captained the Bulldogs to their second straight NCAA II North Central Regional berth that year. Fiero, a 1998-99 All-NSIC second team pick, currently ranks 11th on the Bulldogs all-time scoring charts and is one of just two Bulldogs to eclipse the 1,000-point and 400-assist plateaus for a career. She earned both a bachelor's degree in exercise science (2000) and a Master's degree in environmental health and safety (2001) from UMD.

\"We are obviously disappointed to lose a person and a coach of Sue's quality, but understand her reasons for leaving,\" said UMD Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Bob Nielson. \"Sue has been a major part of our program's success as both a coach and a player. She leaves Bulldog women's basketball with a solid foundation for the future.\"

UMD will begin the process of filling the head coaching vacancy immediately.