WORCESTER Wolves head coach Josh Cooprider has resigned.

The announcement comes in the wake of swingeing changes at the British Basketball League outfit after the vast majority of the first team squad had their contracts terminated last week.

The Wolves management team are now looking into the possibility of replacing Cooprider with an experienced player-coach from the BBL or the European leagues.

It is anticiapted that Cooprider will take up a new role coaching the club's academy prospects.

The American play-caller joined Wolves in 2002 from Northwest Nazarene University and played a huge part, as both player and coach, in leading the club from English Basketball League Division Two to the British Basketball League.

Cooprider, who was an exciting shooting guard and playmaker before retiring from playing in 2005, said: "I am resigning my responsibilities as Worcester Wolves' head coach.

"I would like to remain within the club and help drive the programme forward in other areas that will be determined by both chairman Roger Clarke and director of basketball Mick Donovan.

"My reason for resignation gives serious consideration to the amount of time and effort that I can provide as the head coach in this stage of my professional career.

"The club needs a coach who is dedicated full-time to the individual and team development in both the season and off-season.

"At this stage of my professional career, I cannot fulfil these responsibilities.

"I feel that the club will be stronger with me serving important roles in other areas - both in coaching and the community development programme."

In 2004, Cooprider led Wol-ves to silverware in the Pa-trons Cup final and the EBL Division Two play-off finals.

Then, in 2006, he guided the team to the greatest success in their short history - the National Trophy win at the Coventry Skydome.

Donovan said: "As ever, Josh has adopted a thoughtful approach and taken a decision that he believes is in the best interests of the club.

"He clearly believes that he does not have the time within his work to commit fully to the role of head coach."

Clarke added: "We have had a busy time off the court in the last month.

"We now have to focus on the future and putting an exciting team together for Wolves. It will certainly be a new chapter in the club's history."

Meanwhile, Matt Collins has indicated that he is interested in playing for Wolves next season but there has been no official announcement about the players future.

Discussions with James Noel are still on-going.