Women’s basketball head coach Jill Pizzotti will not be returning next season.

The announcement came from the athletic department on Wednesday afternoon, marking closure upon a disappointing season for the Billikens. Finishing with a 4-23 record and failing to make the Conference USA tournament, the Billikens concluded their second consecutive season in the lower quadrant of the conference.

Overseeing a young squad, Pizzotti could never seem to direct the team in a consistent winning fashion. The play of freshman Mia Johnson, the lone bright spot on this year’s team, was not enough to keep Pizzotti on the bench next season for the Bills.

Anticipating their move to the Atlantic 10 Conference, Pizzotti’s departure follows the SLU’s final season in C-USA.

Wednesday evening, Athletic Director Cheryl Levick held a brief question and answer session at the Savvis Center preceding the men’s basketball game.

“My goal for the program is that we are in the top tier of the Atlantic 10 Conference-in order to do that, we felt that we needed a change in leadership,” said Levick in her opening statement. “That’s my goal; but I think it will take a couple of years to get there.”

Responding to questions, Levick assured that she will be personally manning the hunt for the new head coach, along with a number of administrators and other SLU coaches, who will help in the interview process. In terms of what she is looking for, Levick said she is not yet prepared to “close any doors,” but would prefer someone with head coaching experience.

“[SLU] needs someone with vision…someone that will take what we have, look at what we have, really work on recruiting and build a foundation there,” Levick said.

Levick indicated that Pizzotti’s departure was closely evaluated and made quickly after the season’s end so Pizzotti might seek opportunities elsewhere. In addition, Levick fielded questions regarding the progress of the planned new arena, which is still $15 million plus from breaking ground, and the men’s and women’s migration to the A-10.

Pizzotti served 10 years as head coach of SLU, accumulating a 113-167 record, and she was accountable for the program’s lone postseason appearance, the Women’s National Invitational Tournament, in 2003.

Since then, the Bills have suffered a sharp decline, winning only 12 games in the past two seasons.