Ross, who has spent the last 12 seasons as head coach of the Lady Gators, molded Florida into one of the nation's most competitive and talented programs. Ross leaves as the program's all-time winningest coach with a 247-121 record. She is a finalist for the 2002 Naismith National Coach of the Year award, which will be presented on April 5 in Atlanta.

"I love this program. When you love something that much, you unselfishly do what is best for it. In this case, what's best is change," Ross said. "I believe the best is yet to come for Lady Gator Basketball. It has been a great journey. I have been blessed to coach many wonderful young ladies. My since of pride comes in the players who have chosen to wear the uniform."

"To say I was shocked about Carol's decision is an understatement," Florida Athletics Director Jeremy Foley said. "I met with her this morning to discuss her contract extension so I was blind-sided about the result of our meeting. Carol has done an unbelievable job developing the Lady Gator Basketball team into one of the finest in the country. We are so proud of the recognition and the class that she instilled into this program. On behalf of the University of Florida I want to thank Carol for everything she has done for this program and the way she and her players have represented the Gator athletic family. We will truly miss her."

While her abilities to recruit and mold young talent is well documented, what Ross did with the Lady Gator program is even more impressive.

Putting it gently, before Ross grabbed the Florida reigns, the Lady Gators were a competitive bunch in the mighty Southeastern Conference, but not too successful.

In the 16 total years - and 11 SEC seasons - prior to Carol Ross' arrival in Gainesville, UF won a total of 14 conference games. In 12 seasons under Ross, the Lady Gators notched 84 league wins, including a program-record 11 SEC victories in 2001 alone.

UF had never received a bid into the NCAA Tournament before Ross. This season, the Lady Gators appeared in their ninth NCAA Tournament in the last 10 years.

Before Ross: UF finished in the top-five of the SEC standings once (1) and never ranked higher than ninth place in the five years prior. After Ross: The Lady Gators have finished among the league's top-five in nine of the last 11 seasons.

Before Ross: UF tallied one (1) 20-win season in 16 years. After Ross: UF is averaging over 20 victories per season during her 12-year tenure, and almost 23 wins over the last 10 years.

Before Ross: UF was ranked in the top 25 national weekly polls twice (2) in 16 years. After Ross: UF has earned a spot among the nation's top 25 weekly poll 112 times since Feb. 21, 1994.

Before Ross: Never (0) ranked in the final top 25 poll. After Ross: Seven (6) final rankings in the last nine years.

Ross also developed the Lady Gators into some of the country's finest players. Eight former Lady Gators who have been coached by Ross are currently enjoying successful WNBA careers. Two of those players - Merlakia Jones and DeLisha Milton - have been named the WNBA All-Star teams. In addition, Murriel Page led the WNBA in field goal percentage in 1999 and 2000, while Sophia Witherspoon was one of the top scorers for the Portland Fire.

Milton became the second Lady Gator to play for the U.S. Olympic Basketball team, running with the Red, White & Blue in Sydney. Ross even donned the Red, White & Blue herself in 1998, when she selected as head coach of the U.S. Select Team.

Ross' achievements have not gone unnoticed. In 1994, Ross was selected by her peers as the SEC Coach of the Year and the WBCA District 9 Coach of the Year. In 1997 she again received WBCA District 9 Coach of the Year honors for lifting UF to its first top 10 national ranking and a trip to the NCAA Championship Elite Eight. Following the 2001 season, she was awarded both honors after leading the Lady Gators to a 24-6 overall record and a second place finish in the SEC. Ross was a finalist in 2001 and 2002 for the Naismith National Coach of the Year award.

At Florida, Ross has tutored 21 student-athletes to SEC Academic Honor Roll status 34 times and 15 to All-SEC honors 26 times.

Witty, warm, feisty and focused; colorful, caring, driven and distinctly southern, Ross turned the Florida women's basketball program from one without spark into one with spunk by instilling in it personality -- her own.

The 1998-99 season marked the 25th year of varsity women's basketball at the University of Florida. If anyone would know about the ins and outs of the program, it would be its founding "mothers."

When Lady Gator alumnae were asked to list the most significant event in the history of the basketball program, an overwhelming number mentioned "the hiring of Carol Ross."

"I didn't know much about Florida's program when I came in, but Coach Ross and Joi (Williams) had a dream and I wanted to be a part of that dream," said Merlakia Jones, who was a member of Ross' inaugural recruiting class. "I thank God for being a part of that."

Ross and her staff have been able to attract some the nation's best talent, including Jones, DeLisha Milton and Murriel Page, who took a chance on playing at Florida and have never regretted their decision.

Jones also became the first of seven All-Americans under Ross at Florida, who share 24 All-America honors.