<p>JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — Jason Shay has resigned after one season as head coach of the men’s basketball team at East Tennessee State. </p>
<p> Athletic director Scott Carter said Shay told him earlier Tuesday of his intention to resign. </p>
<p>“I fully respect Coach Shay’s decision and have accepted his resignation," Carter said in a statement. "Coach Shay is part of our championship history at ETSU, and I thank him and his family for the effort they have given to our university.</p>
<p>Shay spent six seasons with ETSU, his first five as an assistant and one as head coach. He <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ebb50e130acd2bc96f31dbafb4e58f58">replaced</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/d30321c3f3041d95c5bb4a2ed2533784">Steve Forbes who left for Wake Forest</a> last year, but Shay said he decided it was in the best interest of himself and his family and also the ETSU program for him to resign. </p>
<p>“This past year has been extremely challenging for me in many different ways," Shay said. It is the right time for a new challenge and an opportunity to reset my personal and professional goals."</p>
<p>The Bucs went 13-12 under Shay after they won 30 games and won the Southern Conference Tournament championship under Forbes. </p>
<p>Shay and his players also were criticized, including by some Republican Tennessee state lawmakers, for the team’s decision to kneel during the national anthem before a game in February. </p>
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<p>More AP college basketball coverage: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball">https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball</a> and updated bracket: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket">https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket</a></p>
