Bloomington, Ind. ? Indiana coach Mike Davis, the embattled heir to one of college basketball’s elite programs, resigned Thursday after months of speculation and increased criticism during the Hoosiers’ late-season slump.

Davis, under intense pressure almost from the moment he succeeded Bob Knight in 2000, will remain with the team through the end of this season.

Indiana coach Mike Davis answers a question during a news conference in Bloomington, Ind., Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006. Coach Davis resigned Thursday after months of speculation and increased criticism during the Hoosiers' late-season slump.

“I felt like it was time for this program to be united,” Davis said at a news conference. “I want our players to get it out of their minds whether coach Davis is returning. It’s time for Indiana basketball to move forward.”

IU president Adam Herbert said Davis initiated discussions about a coaching change a few days before the Feb. 4 game against Connecticut. Athletic director Rick Greenspan said a new coach probably wouldn’t be hired until after the Final Four in April.

Davis said he had dealt with rumors almost every year about whether he would return and believed it was time to move on.

“I wanted it to be on my terms,” Davis said.

Davis has won 109 games and was the first Indiana coach – Knight included – to start with three straight seasons of at least 20 victories. He took the Hoosiers to the NCAA finals in 2002, losing to Maryland in the championship game, but did it with many of the Knight holdovers.

His personality often caused consternation among fans. Davis spoke openly and honestly about his emotions – a trait that often created trouble.

Less than two months into his tenure at Indiana, after an embarrassing loss to Kentucky, Davis said he wasn’t “the right man for job.” The next season, fans bristled when he said he wanted to coach in the NBA one day.