Northern Oklahoma College Lady Mavs basketball coach Greg Krause is transitioning to full-time teaching and will no longer lead the Lady Mavs program.

Krause joined NOC prior to the 1982-83 season and coached the Lady Mavs for 43 years, winning 660 games as head coach.

"I am so appreciative of Coach Krause's leadership of the women's basketball program over the past four-plus decades," NOC Athletic Director Alan Foster said. "It is rare to have one strong, consistent voice for so many years. He has impacted so many lives through basketball, and the legacy he leaves will be hard to replace."

"I respect and understand his desire to step back from coaching, and he will be missed," Foster added. "However, his continuing to teach classes will let him continue to influence students as well as be a resource for the next phase of Lady Mavs basketball."

NOC President Diana Morris said Krause's impact extends beyond the basketball court.

"I am so grateful for Coach Krause's service to Maverick women's basketball over the course of the past 43 years," Morris said. "And, as someone who had the opportunity to witness up close his dedication to classroom instruction when I served as Academic Affairs vice president, I am thrilled that while he's stepping back from coaching, he's choosing to continue to impact students on all of our campuses through his role as an NOC faculty member."

Krause said the relationships he built with players will remain his lasting memory.

"I will definitely miss the competition of coaching, but most importantly, I'll miss the relationships I've built with players over the years," Krause said. "The players are why coaches do what they do."

Krause also directed the Lady Mavs Basketball Camp, which will continue this summer. He will remain at NOC as a sociology instructor.