SEATTLE (June 3) ­ Gordy Presnell, who established Seattle Pacific University as an NCAA Division II women's basketball power, has announced his resignation as head coach. Presnell has accepted the head coach position at Boise State in his native state of Idaho and begins his new duties immediately.

Coach Gordy Presnell instructs his team during a timeout of the regional championship game earlier this year.

In Presnell's 18 seasons, the Falcons went from a struggling program to perennial postseason qualifier and, finally, a top-eight team each of the last three years. This past season Seattle Pacific was the NCAA runner-up with a record of 30-3. Presnell was voted the national coach of the year the previous two seasons when his teams went a combined 59-2.

Overall, Presnell was 396-127 (.757) during his career. His teams won six conference championships and three regional titles, and reached the postseason 14 times, including 10 trips to the NCAA tournament in the last 11 years.

Four starters and another four letterwinners are expected back from the squad which won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference for the third year in a row and advanced to the national title game against Washburn.

At Boise State, Presnell replaces Jen Warden, who moved to Colorado State. The Broncos were 10-19 last season in the WAC.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge that Boise State presents and my family is looking forward to being part of the Boise community," said Presnell. "In Seattle Pacific, I'm leaving a great institution, one which took good care of me and mentored me. I feel great about what we've been able to accomplish as a basketball program."

"It was only a matter of time before someone recognized Gordy Presnell's enormous talent" said Tom Box, athletic director. "Gordy is a gifted coach, admired by his peers, respected by his colleagues and loved by his team. Gordy will do a great job back in his home stomping grounds for Boise State."

Seattle Pacific posted 11 20-win seasons under Presnell, including eight of the last nine years. The Falcons reached the Sweet 16 five times in the last nine years. They advanced to the Elite 8 in 1998, 2004 and again this past season, when they made their first trip to the championship game.

Presnell was a seven-time conference coach of the year and four-time WBCA regional coach of the year. Each of his 18 teams finished with a winning record.

"The saying all along in our program has been to leave the program the same way you found it," said Presnell, "and I believe that whoever inherits the SPU program inherits a good program with great young people already assembled."

Presnell originally came to Seattle Pacific in 1986 to serve as the graduate assistant for the men's program for one season under Claude Terry. Presnell is a native of Lapwai, Id., and graduated from Northwest Nazarene in Nampa. His first coaching jobs were with the boys teams at Lapwai and Kendrick.

"Coach Presnell's absence will be felt by all fans of SPU women's basketball," said Box, who plans to begin the search for a new head coach immediately. "We thank him for the winning tradition and wonderful program he built and sustained over 18 years at Seattle Pacific."