DES MOINES, Iowa - AIB College of Business women's basketball head coach Jerry Kindhart has announced his retirement from the College effective immediately.

"I have enjoyed my time at AIB," said Kindhart. "It was exciting to come out of retirement and help bring the program to a competitive level."

Kindhart coached for three seasons at AIB, compiling a 35-44 overall record. A member of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and Iowa High School Athletic Association Halls of Fame, he has been involved with women's basketball for more than 40 years, coaching at South Page, Ida Grove, Ballard, Urbandale, Melcher-Dallas and Dallas Center-Grimes high schools. He led Ballard to the state tournament in 1970 and Dallas Center-Grimes in 1998.

Under his leadership, the Eagles finished above .500 at 16-14 for the first time in program history in 2010-2011. One of Kindhart's first recruits, junior Caitlin Hagarty, was a third-team NJCAA All-Region selection and also became the first player in AIB history to score 1,000 points.

"Having Caitlin achieve such an honor speaks to her dedication and commitment to the women's basketball program at AIB," Kindhart said. "From the minute I recruited Caitlin, I knew she would bring great things to our team, both on the court and in the classroom."

Kindhart coached Hagarty through most of her college career, and she holds him in equally high esteem.

"He would do anything for any of his players to the best of his ability," Hagarty said. "He taught me a lot, and I will never forget him."

Kindhart's teams and players have set a high bar, holding 15 team records, as well as seven individual career records and eight individual single-season records.

"We are sincerely grateful for all Coach Kindhart has done for athletics at AIB," said Director of Athletics Terry Wilson. "He was instrumental in helping the college gain membership to the NAIA, and we will miss him dearly. Our loss is tempered only by the fact that he will have the opportunity to enjoy other endeavors. He leaves behind many friends at AIB, and we wish him the very best."

Women's basketball returned to AIB in 2007, after more than a 50-year hiatus. From 1929 to 1952, AIB's powerhouse women's basketball team was known nationwide.

The current squad qualified for the Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC) Tournament in its first season as an associate member with a 77-65 victory over Clarke University Saturday. AIB will play at top-seeded Grand View Thursday (Feb. 23) at 7 p.m.

As an associate member of the Midwest Collegiate Conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), AIB athletics also include men's and women's golf, volleyball, men's basketball and cheerleading. Men's and women's soccer and competitive dance will be added this fall, followed by softball and baseball in 2013.