SLIPPERY ROCK — John Marhefka resigned as Slippery Rock University men's basketball coach to pursue private business interests, SRUathletic director Paul Lueken announced Friday.

Marhefka, 25-81 in four seasons as head coach at The Rock, will be replaced by his top assistant, Jamal Palmer, for the 2006-07 season.

Palmer is being given the job on an interim basis.

"No matter what kind of season he (Palmer)has, whether he wins them all or loses them all, we have to conduct a search for a permanent head coach by university guidelines,"Lueken said.

Lueken said that search will not begin until after the 2006-07 campaign.

"This is an opportunity for Jamal to solidify himself with this program. He recognizes that and he's excited about that,"Lueken said.

SRUfinished 2-25 last season and has posted only one winning season since 1991.

Marhefka is leaving coaching to become a territory manager in Rhode Island and Connecticut for a company that sells insulin pumps.

Diagnosed as a diabetic himself while a junior in high school, Marhefka will turn 35 in June.

"I've had health issues (with diabetes)over the years,"Marhefka said. "I was taking five insulin shots a day at one point. I use an insulin pump myself. It's helped me and I believe in the product.

"I've got a passion for this like I did for coaching. I know I can help people. Only 15 percent of Type 1 diabetics are even aware of insulin pumps. My job will be presenting educational and promotional programs on the subject."

Marhefka admitted he was having trouble "recharging"for the 2006-07 basketball season this spring.

"I don't have the passion and energy for it that I usually have,"he said. "A lot is happening in my life. My wife and I are expecting our first child in July. I feel like I'm starting another chapter in my life."

Palmer, 30, is a 1999 Millersville University graduate, where he was a three-time first team All-PSACEast player and PSACEast Player of the Year in 1997-98.

He played professional basketball in England, Germany and Finland before serving two seasons as the second assistant coach for the Shippensburg University men's basketball program.

Palmer joined Marhefka's staff last season.

"My immediate goal is to have that interim tag removed from the head coaching position,"Palmer said. "I'm confident I'll be able to do that because this team will have a fresh attitude next year.

"We've addressed a lot of needs in recruiting. We'll have seven or eight new faces here next year. We'll still be young, but we'll be more competitive."

Glenn Reepmeyer, one of SRU's top scorers and rebounders as a sophomore two years ago, did not play last season to concentrate on water polo. Now that the water polo program has been dropped at SRU, Reepmeyer has talked to Palmer about returning to basketball.

Among the new faces next year will be David White, the 6-foot-3 point guard from Ohio Division Istate champion Canton McKinley, Troy Yonkers, a 6-foot-8, 260-pound transfer from California (Pa.)University, two players from Philadelphia high schools, including one from basketball powerhouse Roman Catholic, and a pair of junior college transfers, one being a 6-7 power forward.

"Jamal recruited almost all of those guys and he has a good relationship with the freshman players coming back from our team last year,"Lueken said. "This is the smoothest transition we can make right now.

"Jamal has already called all of the recruits. We're not losing any of them because of this change. This is the direction we want to go."

Palmer admitted he is young in terms of coaching experience.

"But I feel like I have what it takes to run a team," he said. "I want to go to work and build this thing."

Marhefka said he feels comfortable with the condition of the SRUbasketball program as he departs.

"I know the record doesn't show it, but the transition is coming,"he said. "The (academic) grades are better, so is the enthusiasm and the overall talent base.

"It's hard to leave these people, to leave this area. It's a difficult decision, but it's the right one for me."