Under the dark cloud of an NCAA investigation, Tom Peterson made an abrupt departure from the BYU men's volleyball team.

Peterson, who replaced the legendary Carl McGown in 2002 and led BYU to the 2004 national title, resigned his position on Thursday, effective immediately.

A BYU news release didn't give a reason for Peterson's resignation, but athletics director Tom Holmoe confirmed that the men's volleyball program was under NCAA investigation.

"We are currently under review," Holmoe said. "We are taking this matter seriously and have given our complete support and compliance (to the NCAA)."

Holmoe declined additional comment on the investigation. When asked for the reasons behind Peterson's resignation, Holmoe said, "You'll have to ask him about that."

Peterson did not return phone calls to the Daily Herald on Thursday night.

Holmoe said assistant coaches Shawn Patchell and Ryan Millar will be co-coaches for the entire 2007 season as BYU conducts a search for a new head coach.

There has been resentment toward BYU men's volleyball from other college coaches for years concerning the school's recruiting of foreign players. In April 2004, UC-Santa Barbara coach Ken Preston led a group of college coaches in turning over information to the NCAA questioning the eligibility of BYU middle blocker Victor Batista (Dominican Republic) and outside hitter Joe Hillman. A week later those players were cleared to play by the NCAA, but other coaches, including UCLA's Al Scates, continued to accuse the BYU program of improprieties.

In May 2004, BYU defeated Long Beach State in a thrilling five-game match for the NCAA title, led by Batista and Brazilians Fernando Pessoa and Carlos Moreno, who was named the NCAA Player of the Year.

In 2006, BYU welcomed Cuban defector Yosleyder Cala to the program. Cala, who played for the Cuban national team, had to sit out the first eight matches of the year as mandated by the NCAA.

Lewis University and Hawaii had to vacate national titles won in 2002 and 2003, respectively, when the NCAA uncovered recruiting violations, all involving foreign players.

It was McGown who took BYU to the NCAA level in 1990. Knowing that recruiting California athletes against schools like UCLA and Pepperdine was a difficult proposition, McGown began looking overseas for talent. Millar was an All-American when BYU won its first title in 1999, but BYU also benefited from two Puerto Ricans -- dynamic outside hitter Ossie Antonetti and setter Hector Lebron. When the Cougars won the 2001 title, Lebron, Pessoa and Joaquin Acosta (Brazil) were key members of the team.

Peterson was once the BYU club volleyball coach before leaving for Penn State, where he led the Nittany Lions to an NCAA title in 1994. He coached women's programs at Utah State and New Mexico before BYU tabbed him to replace McGown, who resigned in 2002 with two NCAA titles to his credit.

In 2006, BYU was ranked No. 1 earlier in the season but lost in the first round of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation playoffs to Long Beach State, finishing 22-9 overall. The Cougars are expected to be a contender in 2007 behind Cala and Ivan Perez (Puerto Rico), both outside hitters.

In the BYU release Peterson said, "I am grateful for the opportunity I have been given to serve as the head men's volleyball coach at BYU for the past four seasons. I express my appreciation to my assistant coaches, staff and players, and for the great fans at BYU."

Peterson posted a 90-30 (.750) record over four seasons at BYU.

Daily Herald Sports Editor Darnell Dickson can be reached at 344-2555 or by e-mail at ddickson@heraldextra.com.

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This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A1.