WKU announced in a release Monday that assistant men’s basketball coach Allen Edwards has left the program to accept an assistant position at Wyoming.

The release cited Edwards’ relationship with Wyoming coach Larry Shyatt and his family as one of the reasons for Edwards’ departure.

“This was a tough decision, but it is a move I felt I needed to make,” Edwards said in the release. “I’ve known Coach Shyatt for a while, and he’s been a mentor for me in this business. This is an opportunity for me to move up in the coaching ranks and get back under a coaching tree I was so familiar with at VCU.

“I appreciate what Coach McDonald, the athletic department and WKU as a university did for me and my family in this short year. But in the end, this is an opportunity that is too good to pass up.”

Edwards, a former player at Kentucky, joined the Toppers before the 2010-2011 season as the replacement for former assistant David Boyden.

“This is a promotion for Allen that he could not turn down, and we understand that he is leaving for a great opportunity,” WKU Head Coach Ken McDonald said. “He is able to join a coach he has known for many years under a system he is very familiar with. He was a valuable member of our staff last season, and we thank him for his contributions to our program and wish him all the best with Coach Shyatt.”

Todd Stewart, senior associate athletic director, said there’s no exact timeline for WKU to hire a replacement for Edwards.

“We will be diligent and hire the person who is the best fit for our basketball program,” Stewart said.