Davie, Fla. ? Dave Wannstedt resigned Tuesday as coach of the Miami Dolphins, forced from the job by lousy luck, relentless speculation about his future and eight losses in nine games.

Defensive coordinator Jim Bates was promoted to interim coach, and management immediately began a search for a coach in 2005.

A wave of injuries and the retirement of running back Ricky Williams contributed to this year’s transformation of the long-proud franchise into a laughingstock with the NFL’s worst record. Wannstedt accepted the blame and said he resigned because his job status had become a distraction.

“I have too much respect for the players and owner of this organization to allow myself to be the focal point for the remainder of the season,” he said at a news conference. “I told the players today the team must come first. This is what’s best for our team.”

The coaching change came during the Dolphins’ bye week and two days after perhaps their most wrenching defeat yet. They twice blew a lead against the Arizona Cardinals, who scored in the final seconds Sunday to win, 24-23, and break a 17-game road losing streak.

On Monday, Wannstedt requested a meeting with owner Wayne Huizenga and said he had decided to step down. Huizenga wanted Wannstedt to coach the rest of the season, but reluctantly accepted the resignation, team president Eddie Jones said.

Attendance has been in steep decline, but while Wannstedt’s departure gave fans cause for celebration, the mood was gloomy at the team complex. As linebacker Zach Thomas and cornerback Sam Madison spoke about Wannstedt, their voices broke, and general manager Rick Spielman fought back tears.

Defensive end Jason Taylor reacted sharply to a question about Wannstedt quitting.

“Let’s get this straight: Dave didn’t quit,” Taylor said. “Ricky Williams quit. Dave stepped aside. There’s a big difference. Anybody who watched Dave on Sunday saw how much it hurt him. That’s not a man who quit. That’s a beaten man, a man who has been through a lot the last two or three years.”

Wannstedt had been on the hot seat for some time, despite a 43-33 record in 41/2 seasons with Miami. His lone playoff victory came four years ago, and he barely avoided being fired after the Dolphins went 10-6 but failed to make the playoffs in 2003.

Huizenga, who missed the news conference because he was out of town, has been through three coaches since becoming the Dolphins’ sole owner in 1994.

Now they’re one defeat from their first losing season since 1988 and the butt of jokes, with one wag renaming the team’s home Semi-Pro Player Stadium.