associated press

LOGAN, Utah - Stew Morrill is retiring as Utah State's basketball coach at the end of the season.

Morrill announced the decision Friday.

The 62-year-old Morrill is in his 17th season with the Aggies and 29th as a college head coach.

"I know it's the right time to make this decision," Morrill said. "I am looking forward to some new freedoms and bugging my wife, Vicki, on a daily basis. ... I am looking forward to the remainder of this season, but then I believe the Utah State basketball program will benefit by having a new 'voice' as its head coach."

Athletic director Scott Barnes said the school will immediately begin the search for a replacement and will have no other announcement until a coach has been hired after the completion of the season.

Morrill is 393-149 at Utah State and 611-287 overall. He was 97-52 in five seasons at Montana and 121-86 in seven seasons at Colorado State. He played at Gonzaga and was an assistant coach at his alma mater and Montana.

"It is never easy when a coach and a person who has built a program to greatness retires, but I am proud to have worked with him," Barnes said. "We will miss him and I wish him nothing but the best in the next phase of his life, whistle-free."

Utah State is 9-6 overall and 2-1 in the Mountain West Conference this season.

"This is a good group, this group that I'm finishing with," Morrill said. "They're trying hard. They're trying hard. We're young, we're inexperienced, and it's just as I told them, I'm just so pleased to be finishing with this group of kids."