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Cal’s Cuonzo Martin resigns to look at ‘other opportunities’

FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2017, file photo, California head coach Cuonzo Martin yells during an NCAA college basketball game against UCLA in Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017. Martin, who led California’s men’s basketball for the past three seasons, has resigned as head coach, Athletics Director Mike Williams announced, Wednesday, March 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker, File) FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2017, file photo, California head coach Cuonzo Martin yells during an NCAA college basketball game against UCLA in Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017. Martin, who led California’s men’s basketball for the past three seasons, has resigned as head coach, Athletics Director Mike Williams announced, Wednesday, March 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker, File)

By Associated Press March 15, 2017 1 min read

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) – California coach Cuonzo Martin has stepped down amid speculation he is headed to Missouri.

Athletic director Mike Williams says Martin informed him he was taking a job elsewhere.

Cal announced Martin’s resignation Wednesday, a day after the Golden Bears’ season ended in the first round of the NIT with a loss to Cal State Bakersfield. Martin completed his third year as head coach in Berkeley.

Cal went 21-13 this season and tied for fifth place in the Pac-12. Martin was 62-39 overall, 29-25 in conference.

Williams says Cal “put forth our best effort to retain him, but he told me it wasn’t about Cal, rather a strong desire to move closer to home.” Former Mizzou coach Kim Anderson stepped down earlier this month.