Sam Winterbotham is no longer the head coach of Tennessee’s men’s tennis team.

Winterbotham was relieved of his coaching duties by Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics John Currie on Thursday.

“Associate AD/tennis administrator Dara Worrell and I met with Sam this morning, and we came to the conclusion that it was best for him to step away from the program at this time,” Currie said in an email issued by Tennessee Media Relations. “I want to thank Sam for his 11 years of service to the University of Tennessee, which were highlighted by three SEC titles and an appearance in the NCAA team final.”

Winterbotham will be paid $181,873 in monthly installements in buyout, equal to one-year’s salary, with the buyout mitigated if he takes another job before June 20, 2018.

Currie will head a four-person national search committee to find Winterbotham’s replacement.

“Associate head coach Chris Woodruff has agreed to serve as interim head coach and will accompany sophomore Timo Stodder to the singles tournament at the NCAA Championships later this month,” Currie said in the email.

Winterbotham’s compiled a 217-104 overall record as head coach, including SEC regular-season championships in 2010 and 2011 and an SEC Tournament title in 2010. Winterbotham had six teams advance to the Round of 16 or further in the NCAA Tournament.

Winterbotham coached an NCAA singles or doubles finalist every year between 2008-2011, including Hunter Reeves and Mikelis Libietis, who won the NCAA Men’s Doubles Championship in 2014. Libietis was awarded SEC Player of the Year in 2013, as was John-Patrick Smith in 2010 and 2011.

Winterbotham saw six players reach the top 200 in the ATP World Tour Rankings during his Tennessee career, and was himself named SEC Coach of the Year twice.

The Volunteers notched a 13-14 record this season, with a 3-9 conference mark. The team was 10-5 when playing at home, but 2-7 on the road and 1-2 in a neutral setting.