OKLAHOMA CITY - Two-time NAIA coach of the year M.J. Desbiens has resigned as Oklahoma City University women's golf coach to become Arkansas State coach.

Desbiens guided the Stars to two NAIA championships, a national runner-up finish and three Sooner Athletic Conference titles in three seasons with OCU.

Overall, Desbiens directed OCU to 17 tournament victories in 30 starts since taking over the Stars in 2007-08. OCU won its first six events and seven of its first eight under Desbiens' guidance.

A national search for the next OCU women's golf coach will be conducted beginning immediately. OCU has captured five national championships, the most NAIA women's golf crowns of any school.

Before British Columbia won the national title Friday, the Stars had captured an unprecedented five consecutive NAIA women's golf titles. Only Methodist (N.C.) and Rollins (Fla.) have won as many as four consecutive national women's golf crowns. Methodist has won 13 consecutive national titles - two in NCAA Division II and 11 in NCAA Division III.

"M.J. Desbiens has done an excellent job guiding the Oklahoma City University women's golf program, and we wish her the best of luck," OCU athletic director Jim Abbott said. "Women's golf is important to the university. We will be looking for an outstanding individual to lead our program and continue our tradition of success both on and off the course."

In her time at OCU, Desbiens - whose first initials stand for Marie-Josee' - mentored one NAIA individual champion, eight first-team all-Americans, four honorable-mention all-Americans, the NAIA Region VI champion, three SAC individual champions, four all-region players, 10 all-conference performers and three NAIA scholar-athlete award winners. Desbiens was conference coach of the year twice.

Desbiens had coached Ashley Sholer, who became the first OCU golfer to compete in an LPGA event when she played in the CN Canadian Open on Sept. 3-6 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

"I'm excited to pursue a new career goal," Desbiens said. "I'm really grateful to Oklahoma City University for the opportunity to be successful. I'm sad to leave because of my love of the people there. The people there have been a big part of our success."

Prior to coming to OCU, Desbiens spent 10 years as assistant to Carol Ludvigson at Oklahoma. She was involved in all phases of the OU program including recruiting, fund-raising and strength and conditioning.

During her tenure with the Sooners, Desbiens (pronounced DAY-bee-IN) aided Oklahoma to the finest season in the program's history in 2001-02, finishing sixth in the NCAA Championships and second in the Big 12 Championships. She coached nine all-conference golfers - including four-time all-Big 12 selection Lisa Meldrum - 38 academic all-Big 12 picks and 20 all-American scholars.

Desbiens has been a member of the LPGA Teaching Division since 1995. In 1991, she was a member of the Canadian Amateur Team which represented Canada at the Commonwealth Games and the British Amateur Open. As a player, Desbiens helped Oklahoma win the Big Eight championship in 1991 and was a four-year letter winner for the Sooners.

Desbiens comes from Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. She won the Canadian Junior title in 1990 and finished second in 1989.