LARAMIE, Wyo. -- Wyoming women's basketball coach Cindy Fisher, who just completed her fifth and most successful season, announced Tuesday she is resigning for personal reasons, athletics director Lee Moon said.

"We are disappointed that Cindy has decided to pursue other career opportunities, but we respect her decision," Moon said. "We appreciate what she has done to build the Cowgirl program into one of the up and coming programs in college basketball, and we wish her well in her future."

Fisher said she plans to explore other college coaching opportunities at the NCAA Division I level.

"I want to thank President (Philip) Dubois, Lee Moon, the athletic administration and support staff for the opportunity that has been given to me the last five years,'' she said. "I feel very fortunate to have been a part of this university and athletic department."

Fisher had no further comment.

The university last month awarded her a contract extension through the 2007-08 season following the Cowgirls' most successful season.

Wyoming was 7-7 in the Mountain West Conference, sixth place, but only two games out of second. The team's 18-12 overall record was its best since the 1989-90 season and its appearance in the Women's National Invitation Tournament the team's first since that year.

Fisher's overall record was 59-81 and her Cowgirl teams improved every year she coached. The team was 7-19 her first season in 1998.

In addition, Wyoming set a league record with 11 Academic All-MWC selections this past season. The Cowgirls also produced one of the highest team grade-point averages in the country.

Before coming to Wyoming, Fisher, a Cheyenne native, was an assistant coach at Old Dominion for three seasons.

Moon said the search for a new coach would begin immediately, but no timetable for filling the position would be established.