Second-year softball coach JoAnne Ferguson will resign and take the head coaching job at Division III Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., beginning next season, she announced at the team’s final meeting Monday.

Director of Athletics Jack Kvancz said Ferguson made it clear when she was hired at GW that if the Pomona job – her “dream job” – opened up, she would take it. He added that although he was not told why the University of Virginia alumnus longed for the Pomona job, Ferguson was excited about teaching classes at the California liberal arts school.

Sophomore second baseman Cat Belanger said the team was not aware that Ferguson had been planning to leave for Pomona. The meeting where Ferguson announced her resignation was emotional, Belanger said, especially since the team’s incoming head coach will be the fourth the program has had since its inception in 2003.

Former head coach Shaunt?Fremin resigned in March 2004 amid allegations that she was abusive to players and violating NCAA practice rules.

“There was some shock, a lot of tears and a lot of people saying ‘not again,'” Belanger said. “It is just a really confusing feeling because our team has never had the same coach for more than two years. We all desperately want to be an established program with traditions. Having so many coaches brings the consistency of the team down, but we’re all strong girls, so we pulled together.”

The Colonials were 20-23 this year, but just 3-15 in Atlantic 10 play.

Kvancz said that the University can not begin the search for a replacement until Ferguson officially resigns next week.