PANAMA CITY, FL- Gulf Coast State College Lady Commodores head basketball coach Roonie Scovel has decided to step away from that post at the end of this season.

Early Monday afternoon Newschannel 7's Mark Vaughn caught up with coach to speak with about her decision to leave at this time, and she says a big factor was the departure after last season, of her longtime assistant Grover Hicks.

"This has been kind of coming on over time. Coach retired last year and the idea of us not doing it together, that was probably the first thought of not doing it," Scovel said. " But wanted to come back and put this thing on the right track. So it's been awhile, it's kind of evolved. It kind of came to me probably, 100 percent answer. definite answer that this is what I'm gonna do, was I think last Saturday morning to be exact. While I was in my house, I made the final decision."

Roonie went on to say she's simply at an age where her personal life takes precedent.

She has an incredible 458-59 record, 13 conference, 8 state, and 3 national championships. Her team this season 21-4 with a state tournament berth already clinched. So she'll coach beyond the final regular season game Wednesday. She's staying with Gulf Coast State as a student advisor. The school says a national search will begin immediately.