Embattled Alabama basketball coach Mark Gottfried resigned Monday afternoon.

Gottfried met with athletic director Mal Moore at 2:30 ET to discuss his job status, according to a Birmingham News report. Gottfried has been under fire for Alabama’s declining basketball fortunes over recent years, and the Crimson Tide have struggled to a 12-7 record this year, 2-3 in the SEC.

“My number one priority is to do what is best for the University of Alabama, this basketball program, and these young men,” Gottfried said, according to a school release. “Mal and I sat down today and we talked. At that point, I notified him of my intention to resign as head coach of the men’s basketball program.

“I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity and the privilege to lead our men’s basketball program at Alabama for the past 10 and a half seasons. It has been a wonderful decade for me and my family, and I love the University of Alabama, but I feel that it is in the best interests of everyone involved. I want to thank our players, their families, our coaching staff and their families, and our great fans for all of their support over these last 11 seasons.”.

Gottfried was in his 11th year as head coach at his alma mater. His record wa 210-131, but just 83-82 in Southeastern Conference play. Gottfried took the Crimson Tide to five straight NCAA tournaments from 2002-06, reaching the elite eight in 2004. But Bama missed the last two NCAA tournaments and would likely have to win the SEC tournament to make it this season.

courtesy of ESPN.com

I’ve often wondered how Mark Gottfried continued to have a job in Alabama and I just assumed he would remain in Tuscaloosa again next year. I even ended my Alabama breakdown by saying, “Cats make it 5-0 in the SEC as they win by 10 in Tuscaloosa. And somehow Mark Gottfried will still be their coach next year.”

Welp, Mark Gottfried finally got his walking papers.