According to the press release, Bridel announced his resignation Friday citing personal reasons. Bridel coached the Salukis for only one season before his resignation, in which SIU finished 6-12 overall and 4-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Bridel was unavailable for comment Monday.

Maria Blanco, a senior on the women’s tennis team, said Bridel did not tell the team why he was leaving and none of the members of the team know of his whereabouts.

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“None of my teammates have any idea. We were told he left for personal reasons,” Blanco said. “Right now we are clueless. We don’t know what is going to happen with us.”

According to its Web site, the Athletic Department hopes to name a new coach soon. With the absence of a coach, however, Blanco said the team has been training on its own at the tennis courts near the SIU Arena.

“Since we don’t know what is going to happen, we are just going to go out there and play,” Blanco said. “It is sad because the team has so much potential, but we need someone to stick with the program.”

Reporter William Ford can be reached at [email protected]