Tyler Summitt Resigns as LA Tech Head Coach After Inappropriate Relationship

Louisiana Tech head women's basketball coach Tyler Summitt announced his resignation from the team Thursday for "engaging in a relationship that has negatively affected the people I love, respect and care about the most," according to a statement released by the school (via Jonathan Ford of Rivals.com).

Summitt's statement continued:

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My hope, plans and prayers are to repair those relationships. I am appreciative of the opportunity I was given to coach at Louisiana Tech. I am heartbroken that my time has ended in Ruston, but because of my respect for the institution, it is best that I resign. I am hopeful the media and the public will respect the privacy of my family and me as we deal with this difficult situation I have caused.

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In the statement, the school said Summitt was resigning "for personal reasons." Teresa M. Walker of the Associated Press reported he "acknowledged having an inappropriate relationship."

Mike Robinson of the Swish Appeal reported the player Summitt had a relationship with is now pregnant. Lady Techsters guard Ashley Santos tweeted a photo of herself Friday in response to the rumor:

It's unclear how the situation will impact the program moving forward, but recruit Jaida Roper tweeted Thursday night she has decommitted due to the "circumstances surrounding the coaching change."

However, on Friday, Dan Olson of ESPN.com reported the school has denied the transfer request, according to Roper's mother, Kina Roper.

"What bond we built up in two-and-a-half years is gone, and now we have three months to find another home," Kina Roper said, per Olson. "Jaida wanted to go to Louisiana Tech because of Tyler Summitt and the staff. Don't punish my daughter on the account of his improprieties."

On Friday, KSLA News' Eric Pointer reported associate head coach Mickie DeMoss has been named interim head coach.

Summitt, 25, is the son of legendary Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt and has spent the past two seasons as Louisiana Tech's head coach. He went 30-31 in his tenure at the position.

Prior to coaching at Louisiana Tech, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Marquette. He also played two seasons of college basketball at Tennessee and was a student assistant coach at the school under his mother.