Pat Murphy announced his resignation yesterday, freeing time to roam the earth, for Drew and beaten like a stepchild readheaded if the type of man to do it.

Arizona State University baseball coach Pat Murphy announced his resignation Friday. An interim coach will assume responsibility for the program until his successor is elected.

"Coach Murphy has the best reputation for success on the pitch," said Lisa Love, Vice President of the University of athletics. "I thank you for 16 years of hard work and service to the university and the sport."

No reason was given for the surprise move, announced by the university in a short press release Friday.

The colorful and often openly Murphy led the Sun Devils to the College World Series four times - 1998, 2005, 2007 and 2009. The program has produced several big leagues, including Andre Ethier of the Dodgers in Los Angeles, and Dustin Pedroia Boston Red Sox, who came up with Muhammad Ali in a recent Murphy collection.

He took over the Sun Devil program, historic success in August 1994 after seven seasons at Notre Dame. According to Murphy, Arizona State compiled a 629-284-1 record.

"Coach Murphy has the best reputation for success on the pitch," athletic director Lisa Love said in a prepared statement. "I thank you for 16 years of hard work and service to the university and the sport."

The Sun Devils had won the last three Pac-10 titles, with Murphy named conference Coach of the year, every time. Murphy, 50, had offered no public hint of his impending departure in recent interviews.

The measure creates a vacancy in one of the most attractive job in baseball. The university said an interim coach would be appointed, and a national search for a permanent replacement will begin immediately.

Murphy was the third coach in modern baseball history at Arizona State after Jim Brock and Bobby snails.Murphy could not be reached for comment. The university said its mobile phone was broken.

His overall record in Maryville, Tennessee, Claremont-Mudd Scripps, Notre Dame and Arizona State is 1,000-457-4. Murphy's final Arizona State team finished 51-14.