NEWARK, DE -- Melissa Dymek (at right), who served on the University of Delaware women’s basketball coaching staff for the past four seasons, has announced her resignation in order to join the basketball staff at the University of Akron.

Akron, a member of the Mid-American Conference, went 7-24 this past season and finished sixth in the MAC East Division under second-year head coach Jodi Kest. The Zips lost in the first round of the MAC Tournament.

A national search is currently underway to replace Dymek at Delaware.

Dymek played a big part in Delaware's recent success, helping the Blue Hens post a four-year record of 70-44 (.614) advance to the NCAA Tournament in 2007, and qualify for the Women's National Invitation Tournament in 2005 and 2006.

Dymek played four seasons at the University of Richmond and earned her degree in May of 2004. A native of Hazleton, PA, she earned her degree in political science after closing out her career for the Spiders under head coaches Bob Foley (2000-02) and Joanne Boyle (2002-04).

She played in 50 career games as a backup guard at Atlantic 10 Conference power Richmond as the team posted a cumulative record of 74-49 and advanced to the Women's National Invitational Tournament in both 2003 and 2004. The 2003-04 squad advanced to the WNIT semifinals. She played in 19 games as a senior and averaged 1.2 points and 0.3 rebounds per game.

A former All-State selection at Hazleton High School where she was a National Honor Society student, Dymek has been active as a counselor at various basketball camps, is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, was involved in Habitat for Humanity, Helping Hands, and Adopt a Grandparent programs, and served as a mentor for elementary school students.

Before coming to Delaware, Dymek served an internship with Blue Chip Basketball in Philadelphia where she had responsibilities organizing and serving as site director for various AAU tournaments in the summer of 2003.