O’Neill Resigns as Basketball Coach at Pacific

Tom O’Neill resigned Tuesday after 5 1/2 seasons as head basketball coach at University of the Pacific.

His resignation takes effect immediately, Pacific sports information director Mike Hartung said.

O’Neill, 40, did not cite a reason for quitting, although he was believed to be under pressure for the Tigers’ current 10-game losing streak. Pacific is 5-12 this season, including 0-7 in the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn.

“I feel it is in the best interests of everybody involved that I no longer coach the team, and that includes the university and my family,” O’Neill said in a short statement. “I had hoped to finish the year, but that does not seem possible.”

O’Neill’s coaching record with Pacific is 51-110. The Tigers’ best season during his tenure was 1985-86 when they were 17-14. Last season, the team fell to 10-17.

Before taking the head coaching post at UOP at the start of the 1982-83 season, O’Neill was an assistant coach with the team. He previously was head coach at St. Mary’s High in Stockton, where he won six league championships in seven years.

No successor was named. Pacific assistant coaches Denis Willens and Jerry Miller are expected to handle coaching duties when the Tigers play at Cal State Fullerton on Thursday night.