KNOXVILLE - Dave Serrano's tenure as Tennessee's baseball coach will end when UT's season does.
The university announced Wednesday afternoon that Serrano will resign at the end of the season following a "very honest and productive" Monday conversation with athletic director John Currie about the baseball program.
"My decision to step aside at season's end is based off what I believe is in the best interest of our student-athletes and this program," Serrano said in the university's announcement.
Serrano, who is in the last year of his contract, informed the team of his decision Wednesday. The Vols (27-22, 7-18 SEC) host Missouri in a Thursday-Saturday series this week to close the regular season. To qualify for the SEC Tournament, Tennessee needs to win the series and have Georgia lose at least two games this weekend.
"I have no regrets about taking on this challenge six years ago," Serrano said in the announcement. "It was a job I always coveted. My time living in this great community includes some of the best days of my life. My only disappointment is that we didn't reach the expectations of success that I've strived to achieve for our fans, alumni and players."
Tennessee has not qualified for an NCAA regional since 2005.
Asked by the Times Free Press last week about speculation surrounding his future, Serrano said he planned to coach until Currie "tells me my opportunity has been taken away."
Serrano also highlighted that Tennessee has relied heavily on freshmen in 2017.
"My hope is that I get to see them through their future here at the University of Tennessee," he said.
Serrano took over in 2012 as a hire of interim athletic director Joan Cronan. Former athletic director Dave Hart extended Serrano's contract to cover this season after the team went 29-28 in 2016.
Currie started as UT's athletic director on April 1.
"This program clearly means a great deal to Dave, and I appreciate that," Currie said in the announcement. "He steps away with plenty to be proud of. The program possesses a talented and promising young core. And the culture of academic achievement he and his staff fostered yielded positive results in terms of APR scores and graduation success rates."
Assistant coach Larry Simcox will serve as the interim coach during a national search for Serrano's replacement, according to the university's announcement.
Serrano is a former Tennessee assistant (1995-96), who came to Knoxville from Cal State Fullerton, where he took a team to the 2009 College World Series. He is one of just 12 coaches to lead two schools to the World Series. He also took UC Irvine in 2007.
Tennessee cracked the Top 25 early in 2014 but struggled in conference play. The Vols began the 2015 season ranked 25th but finished 24-26 (11-18 SEC), even with touted professional prospects A.J. Simcox, Christin Stewart and Nick Senzel.
"I'm very proud of what we accomplished with the program internally, but I realize it ultimately comes down to wins and losses," Serrano said. "I will always be a big Vol fan and will continue to support and cheer on this great university."
Contact staff writer David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com