<
>

Alan Major leaves Charlotte

Charlotte and coach Alan Major have parted ways, the team announced Sunday.

Major, 46, has battled health issues for the past two seasons, taking medical leaves of absence after the 2013-14 season and then in January. He underwent two eye surgeries and a heart procedure during his first leave of absence.

"This was the best decision to make at this time for my health and for the program moving forward," Major said in a statement. "I want to thank [athletic director] Judy Rose and Chancellor Phil Dubois for this opportunity the past five years."

Rose said in a release that parting ways with Major was "an extremely difficult situation" and "we decided this was both in his best interest and the best interest of our program."

Major was hired at Charlotte in 2010, going 61-63 in his first four seasons and making one NIT appearance. The 49ers went 14-18 this season, with the latter half of the campaign under the guidance of associate head coach Ryan Odom.

Major had been an assistant coach at Ohio State, Xavier, Pacific, Southern Illinois and Cal Lutheran before taking over at Charlotte.

He received a three-year contract extension in 2013, through 2017-18.

ESPN's Jeff Goodman and Jeff Borzello and The Associated Press contributed to this report.