Caracter leaving UTEP after one season for NBA Draft

It remains unclear who will be Texas-El Paso's next coach.

But this much is clear: He won't coach Derrick Caracter.

A source close to the UTEP program told CBSSports.com on Monday that Caracter informed the staff he was entering the NBA Draft even before Tony Barbee left for Auburn last week. There is no timetable for a formal announcement, the source said.

Caracter's imminent exit ensures the UTEP team that won Conference USA without any seniors won't return intact.

The more important question is whether the new coach -- whom most believe will eventually be either former Southern California coach Tim Floyd, Texas assistant Rodney Terry, UTEP assistant Randall Dickey or former Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie -- can keep Arnett Moultrie and Randy Culpepper from transferring or pursuing professional opportunities. A source said that's one of the reasons Dickey is now being considered, because school officials believe he has the best chance of keeping everybody except Caracter on campus.

Caracter averaged 14.1 points and 8.1 rebounds this season.

UTEP finished 26-7 after losing to Butler in the first round of the NCAA tournament.