DENVER, Colo. - Metropolitan State Athletic Director Joan McDermott announced recently the resignation of head men's basketball coach Mike Dunlap after nine seasons, and has named Brannon Hays interim head coach for the 2006-07 season.

Dunlap resigned to accept an assistant coaching position with the NBA's Denver Nuggets. According to the NCAA, it is the first time a NCAA Division II head coach has made the jump directly to the NBA since 1995.

"With his success at Metro State, Coach Dunlap has raised national awareness of the college," said McDermott. "We greatly appreciate all of his hard work and his loyalty to Metro State over the past nine seasons. The fact that he is jumping from the NCAA Division II level to the NBA speaks volumes about the kind of coach and person that he is."

In nine seasons, Dunlap amassed a 248-50 (.832) overall record and led the Roadrunners to nine consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including NCAA national championships in 2000 and 2002. The Roadrunners also were national runner-ups in 1999 and advanced to the NCAA Final Four in 2004. Dunlap and Metro State won four RMAC regular-season and six conference tournament championships.

"Coach Dunlap's announcement is very bittersweet for me," said Metro State President Stephen Jordan. "In the year that I have been at Metro State, I have developed a tremendous respect for Mike Dunlap and the program he has developed here. At the same time, I am also looking forward to Brannon Hays building upon the foundation that has been created and continuing Metro State's success."

During this past season, Metro State posted a 21-10 overall record and advanced to the finals of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament, before losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. A two-time National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) National Coach of the Year, Dunlap has also assisted with the Under-21 and Under-18 national team trials for USA Basketball during his tenure.

"I will never be able to repay Metro State and the people that work here for the best nine years of my coaching career," said Dunlap. "Specifically, the leadership is the best, with President Stephen Jordan, Vice President for Administration and Finance Natalie Lutes and Joan McDermott supporting our program in the most positive way. It does take a cohesive effort to be successful and the administration deserves a large portion of the credit for creating a national basketball powerhouse. I would like to thank the fine faculty, staff and students for backing our program. Finally, thanks to all those staff and players who made it a tremendous run for me and my family."

Meanwhile, Hays moves to interim head coach after serving as Dunlap's top assistant in 2005-06.

"Brannon has experience at Metro State and in the RMAC that make him a great choice for this position," said McDermott. "He has a great deal of experience at many levels and a good rapport with the players. We are excited to name him our interim head coach."

Last season was Hays' first season in his second stint at Metro State. As an assistant coach, Hays worked with the post players and also assisted with recruiting and scouting.

"I am very grateful for this opportunity," said Hays. "I would like to thank Joan McDermott and the administration for giving me this chance, as well as Coach Dunlap for being a fantastic mentor and a dear friend. We are planning a seamless transition and it is our goal to keep the standard of Metro State basketball at the high level that it has been at for many years."

Prior to his return to the Roadrunners, Hays served five seasons as the head coach at Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference member Colorado Christian. Hays and the Cougars posted an overall record of 58-78 during his tenure. While he was in Lakewood, Hays led the Cougars to their first-ever appearance in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II national top 25 poll. The Cougars ranked No. 1 in field-goal percentage and three-point percentage nationally and advanced to the RMAC tournament three times, the only three times in school history. Hays led Colorado Christian to its first winning record in 2003-04 with a record of 19-9, then also posted a 19-9 mark in 2004-05. The 38-18 record during his last two seasons at the school was the best two-year record in program history.

"Brannon has been in this league and has been successful," said Dunlap. "He has won in the RMAC with far fewer resources and the players know him. He was worked at Metro State for many years and has a great knowledge of the school. The leadership at Metro State is outstanding and they have made a great choice with Brannon."

Before his appointment at Colorado Christian, Hays served three years at Metro State as an assistant under Dunlap. Hays served as an assistant during the Roadrunners' 2000 national championship run and Metro State posted an overall record of 61-10 during his tenure.

Hays also served as the strength and conditioning coach for the Colorado Explosion (1999) and was an assistant at Cal Lutheran under Dunlap. Other experience includes serving as an assistant coach in the Australian League for Adelaide, a top professional team, and also serving as head coach for the Norwood Basketball Club.

Hays played college basketball at Cal Lutheran under head coach Dunlap, before serving as a volunteer coach on Dunlap's staff. Hays graduated from Cal Lutheran in 1993, earning a bachelor's degree in computer information systems with a minor in coaching.