Cathy Burgess, Kansas University’s women’s swim coach the last two years, resigned Wednesday.

Burgess will return to her hometown of Hickory, N.C., where she’ll teach physical education in a middle school.

“The hardest part of moving on is leaving behind all the great people here,” Burgess said, “and especially the swimmers and divers. This team is probably the best group I’ve worked with since I’ve been at Kansas. They’re definitely on their way up.”

Burgess guided the Jayhawks to a sixth-place conference finish in 2001 and a fifth-place finish this year. Women’s swimming had the highest grade point average in the athletic department this spring with a 3.34.

Burgess, 30, is the fourth KU coach to leave since the 2001-2002 school year started. The others who departed are football coach Terry Allen, baseball coach Bobby Randall and women’s golf coach Nicole Hollingsworth.