STARKVILLE -- After 28 years in college basketball -- including 22 years at Mississippi State University, 14 years of which he served as head coach of the men's team -- Rick Stansbury decided to do something else with his life.

"It's time in my life to start a new chapter (and) step away from coaching," Stansbury, who will continue to work at MSU in an as-yet undetermined capacity, said Thursday. "And I'm ready for it."

On March 13, 1998, Stansbury took over the head coaching position at MSU. And he proceeded to become the became the school's all-time wins leader, the ninth-winningest coach in league history, with 11 post-season appearances.

"A lot of coaches can stay at one spot too long," Stansbury said. "I don't want to be one of those coaches. I want to be able to do things and make decisions to step away from this, when it's my decision."

MSU Athletic Director Scott Stricklin and Stansbury both stressed its was the Bulldogs coach's decision to walk away from the program, with two years remaining on his contract, which was scheduled to pay him between $1.4 million and $1.5 million per season.

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End of an era: Stansbury retires