Dick Tomey resigns after finishing the season with five consecutive losses. (AP)

Tomey, 62, was under considerable pressure after his last two teams went 6-6 and 5-6.

He told his players of his decision in the locker room after the loss.

"I just told them that I didn't think I could continue because the public debate has become so difficult for my family, for our team, for our coaches and their families," Tomey said. "I have no other choice and that's all I'm going to say. If I have something smarter to say I'll say it later."

Tomey, 95-64-4 at Arizona, had the longest tenure of any current Pac-10 coach. His departures leaves Mike Price of Washington State as the coach who has been on the job the longest at 12 years.

Tomey was 158-110-7 in 24 seasons at Arizona and Hawaii and has the most victories of any coach at both schools. He had three years remaining on his contract.

His best years were 1993, when the Wildcats were 10-2 and beat Miami in the Fiesta Bowl, and 1998, when they were 11-1 and beat Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl.

Despite his success, he could never get the Wildcats to the Rose Bowl. Arizona is the only Pac-10 game that has never played in that game.

Athletic director Jim Livengood, who had planned to meet with Tomey on Monday to assess his status, said the announcement took him by surprise.

"It's not something that was prearranged or anything like that," Livengood said.

If he had been fired, Tomey would have received $600,000 to buy out the last three years of his contract. Livengood said it would be inappropriate to discuss any financial arrangement until he had a chance to meet with Tomey and speak with university president Peter Likens.

Livengood said it was apparent that Tomey was growing weary of the pressure and the criticism that goes with his job.

"I think for any college head coach, people have no idea the pressure, people have no idea the scrutiny. There are just so many ways that people can be much more critical than they used to," Livengood said. "Dick gets a lot of credit for being a good person, which he is, but he's a good football coach, too."

The athletic department said Tomey would hold a news conference on Monday.

His resignation leaves both Arizona Pac-10 schools with coaching vacancies. Arizona State coach Bruce Snyder was fired last week, effective at the end of the season.

This season, Arizona got off to a 5-1 start, but lost its last five games. It was the first time the Wildcats had lost five in a row in one season since 1958.

Tomey, his eyes red, embraced wide receiver Bobby Wade for a full minute in full view of reporters after the game. Several players were in tears.

"It was very emotional," senior quarterback Ortege Jenkins said. "The man is the winningest coach at this school and in Hawaii's history, so for him to say he's going to leave, to step down, it hurts. The reason you come to play for Arizona is to play for Tomey."

Jenkins said the players, not Tomey, were to blame for the five-game losing streak.

"We're coached by a great coach, but the players are the guys who make the plays, and we're the guys that don't make the plays," Jenkins said.

Wade, a sophomore, was crying as he spoke about his coach.

"It's definitely disappointing," he said. "As a young player, a lot of guys think we let him down. We know it's a team effort."

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