The Eastern Nazarene College Athletic Department announced Jim Aller has chosen not to return as the head men's basketball coach and assistant athletic director at Eastern Nazarene College to pursue other opportunities. A search for his successor will begin immediately.

Aller served as the Lions' head coach for seven seasons, compiling a record of 96-83. He guided Eastern Nazarene to four consecutive appearances in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament in the last four years, including a pair of trips to the Commonwealth Coast Conference semifinals.

"This has been a tough decision for me, but I am excited about the new opportunities," Aller said. "My 25 years of coaching have been very rewarding, having coached numerous good players and even more good people. I have enjoyed my time at ENC, especially the working relationships with the other coaches and the faculty."

Aller coached 12 All-Commonwealth Coast Conference selections and three 1,000-point scorers in his time with the Lions. In 2012-2013, Aller was recognized as the Commonwealth Coast Conference Coach of the Year.

During the 2015-2016 campaign, Aller coached Eastern Nazarene into the D3Hoops.com National Poll for the first time in program history as the Lions received votes after a 9-0 start.

"On behalf of ENC and ENC Athletics, I want to thank Jim for his service to the college," said Brad Zarges, director of Athletics. "Jim's career as a basketball coach can best be described as that of a builder of sustained excellence. The evidence of this can be seen in the lives of the men that have played for him and the success of the teams he has coached. While we are sad to see Jim depart from ENC, he leaves behind a program that is poised to continue the tradition of winning he has developed. We wish Jim and his family the best as they pursue the next chapter of their personal and professional lives."

--Eastern Nazarene College