Ross quits as Florida women's coach

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - Carol Ross quit as Florida&#39;s women&#39;s basketball coach Friday after 12 seasons and nine trips to the NCAA tournament, saying it was time for a change. <br> <br> Ross, the 1994 and 2001 Southeastern Conference coach of the year, leaves Florida with a 247-121 record and an 84-62 conference mark. The Lady Gators, however, haven&#39;t gotten past the second round of the NCAA tournament since 1998, including a first-round loss this month. <br> <br> ``I love this program. When you love something that much, you unselfishly do what is best for it. In this case, what&#39;s best is change,&#39;&#39; Ross said. ``I believe the best is yet to come for Lady Gator Basketball. It has been a great journey.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Athletic director Jeremy Foley said he was planning to offer Ross a contract extension Friday morning when she surprised him with the announcement. <br> <br> ``To say I was shocked about Carol&#39;s decision is an understatement,&#39;&#39; said Foley, who already has replaced four head coaches in the past year. <br> <br> Under Ross, the Lady Gators finished fourth or better six times in the SEC, widely considered the nation&#39;s toughest women&#39;s basketball conference. <br> <br> Florida finished the regular season 18-10 this season. The school was seeded sixth in the Midwest Regional, but 11th-seeded BYU upset the Lady Gators 90-52 in the opening round. <br> <br> That was Florida&#39;s worst NCAA tournament loss. Its biggest loss previously was 69-55 to Virginia in 1993.