Tom Oswald resigned Tuesday as the head coach of the Texas Lutheran men's basketball team.

Oswald coached the Bulldogs for seven seasons. He compiled a TLU coaching mark of 74-99. He was 53-71 against American Southwest Conference opponents.

In the 2006-07 season, Oswald and the Bulldogs finished 4-20 overall with a 4-17 mark in the ASC. The Bulldogs' 10 players included four freshmen and six sophomores.

Oswald said he is resigning to pursue a business opportunity in the Houston area. He will finish out the academic year at TLU. Oswald teaches three classes (two in the fall semester, one in the spring semester) in the TLU kinesiology department.

"I enjoyed the seven years I had with Texas Lutheran," said Oswald. "I have a lot of fond memories. I appreciate the opportunity given to me. I really enjoyed the environment at TLU. This is a great institution. And I enjoyed the opportunity to work with all the players."

Oswald was named the American Southwest Conference West Division Coach of the Year for his coaching job during the 2003-04 season in which the Bulldogs went 17-8 overall.

The 17 wins in 2003-04 were the most by a Bulldog men's basketball team since the 1997-98 season when TLU went 18-10. The 17-8 season produced a winning percentage of .680 that was the school's best since 1995-96 when the Bulldogs went 20-9.

Oswald's 2003-04 team led the American Southwest Conference in scoring defense (64.0), field goal percentage defense (.408), rebounding defense (32.8 opponents rebounds per game) and rebound margin (+5.6).

"Tom Oswald led our men's basketball team with integrity, class and professionalism," said Bill Miller, TLU's director of athletics. "He did a tremendous job with our men's basketball program. I personally thank him for all the hard work he gave to TLU and wish him the best as he and his family enter this new stage in their life together."

Miller said the search for the next TLU men's basketball coach would begin immediately.