(Story taken from the Rhodes College website)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - After six seasons leading the Rhodes Softball program and 13 years supporting the Lynx as Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities, Rhodes Head Softball Coach David Hicks has announced his resignation to accept the Director of Athletics position at King College in Bristol, Tenn.

“David has done an incredible job the past thirteen years on the Lynx athletic staff,” said MIke Clary, Rhodes Director of Athletics. “He will be excellent leader of the King College athletic program.”

Hicks came to Rhodes in the Fall of 1998 as the Director of the Bryan Campus Life Center, coordinating all aspects of Rhodes' athletic and recreation facilities. In 2006, he assumed the title of Assistant Athletic Director and Head Softball Coach, inheriting a program with just one conference win in the previous three seasons.

In his second season, the Lynx posted a 22-15 record and finished 2nd in the SCAC Eastern Division, earning the program's first trip to the SCAC Championships in six years. In 2009, Hicks' fourth season, the Lynx shattered the school record for wins, posting a 29-12 record and finishing runner-up at the SCAC Championships. Over his final three seasons, the Lynx averaged 27 wins per season and made the SCAC Championships each year.

After becoming Rhodes' all-time winningest coach in 2010, Hicks earned career win number 100 during the 2011 campaign and went on to win 119 games at the helm of the Lynx softball program over six seasons.

Under Hicks' leadership, 37 players have been named to the All-SCAC team, including one SCAC Pitcher of the Year, and he has coached 8 All-Atlantic Region players heading into 2011. The team has maintained a 3.4 team GPA during his tenure, with 32 players making the SCAC Academic Honor role and 19 players earning NFCA Scholar Athlete awards, with the 2011 awards still pending.

"This was an extremely difficult decision for me and my family," said Coach Hicks. "The past 6 years have put Rhodes Softball on the map, and established the program as one of the best in the SCAC and the Atlantic Region. That is a credit to all of the hard work and dedication by our student-athletes, and it is hard to walk away from those efforts. I will be Rhodes Softball's No. 1 fan, the Lynx will always have a special place in my heart and with my family."

At King, Hicks will lead an NCAA Division II program that sponors 22 varsity sports and will compete in the Conference Carolinas beginning with the 2011-2012 season. "While the decision to leave Rhodes was difficult, the opportunity at King is a great decision for me and my family," Hicks added. "King has a tremendous vision for the future of its athletic programs in the Conference Carolinas and Division II, and I am excited to lead King into those challenges."

Hicks will remain at Rhodes through the end of May, and assume his duties at King on June 6. Rhodes will begin a national search for a new head coach immediately.