Utah basketball coach Rick Majerus will resign at the end of the season after his latest health problem put him in the hospital with chest pains.

Utah head coach Rick Majerus watches from the sidelines during the second half of his team's 44-76 loss to Connecticut in the consolation game of the pre-season NIT in this Nov. 28, 2003 photo, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Majerus was hospitalized with heart problems and will resign after the season, the school announced Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004. Majerus, 55, felt chest pains Tuesday night, Jan. 27, and contacted a cardiologist in Santa Barbara, Calif., where he went for treatment. [AP]

Majerus, 55, was being treated in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Wednesday. His condition was not released.

Assistant Kerry Rupp will coach the Utes in the interim, though Majerus could return and finish out the season if his health allows. Rupp will guide the team when it plays Saturday against BYU.

Majerus is the second coach this week to take a leave because of health reasons. Louisville's Rick Pitino took an indefinite leave Monday to determine the cause of the urological-related pain.

"Its been a strange week for the coaching fraternity — first Rick Pitino and now Rick Majerus," said Kentucky coach Tubby Smith, whose Wildcats beat Utah in the 1998 title game. "This profession can be physically and emotionally demanding."

The health of the portly Majerus has always been a concern, especially after he had heart bypass surgery in 1989 — just six games into his first season at Utah. Since then, he has led the Utes to the NCAA tournament 10 times.

"Everybody that knows Rick and cares about Rick has mentioned that he needs to take care of himself," Utah athletic director Chris Hill said.

"I think coaches' lives in general are stressful. I think every year is stressful because of the pressure they put on themselves," he said. "I think they're all very, very intense and maybe Rick is maybe on the high end of intense."

Majerus felt chest pains late Tuesday in Salt Lake City. He was flown to southern California for treatment by his cardiologist.

Rupp and his fellow assistants heard about Majerus early Wednesday. Players were kept away from the media until after a late afternoon practice.

Utah (15-5, 3-2 Mountain West) has lost its last two games, falling at Air Force on Monday night 62-49. Majerus had one of his youngest teams this season with just two seniors, no juniors and a host of underclassmen.

In Rupp's only game as head coach, Utah beat BYU 79-75 last season in Provo after Majerus left to attend the funeral for the stepfather of former Utah standout Andre Miller.

Majerus came to Utah from Ball State in 1989, and the 1990s saw Utah ranked eighth among NCAA Division I programs in both wins (250) and winning percentage (.767).

Majerus has twice taken extended leaves in two other seasons since he started at Utah.

Along his bypass surgery in December 1989, Majerus coached one game in the 2000-2001 season before leaving to deal with health issues and care for his ailing mother.

Majerus is well-known for his demanding coaching style and frequent outbursts. His program had a high turnover rate, with many players leaving after getting frustrated with Majerus' oft-abrasive treatment.

Utah was placed on three years' probation by the NCAA last summer after an investigation confirmed several minor violations, including meals Majerus bought during meetings with players. The NCAA rule has been changed to allow for such meals as long as each one is documented.

Reacting to the reprimand, Majerus flashed his disdain for the NCAA's complex rules.

"I don't think anybody ever said we gained a competitive advantage because, 'I had that hamburger with Majerus.' Or in recruiting, somebody would say, 'Hey, if I only become a Ute I'll be able to go to Crown Burger with Majerus,'" he said after the Utes were placed on probation.

Utah may still participate in postseason tournaments and no restrictions were placed on TV appearances.

Just this month, Hill said Majerus was cleared in an investigation into a complaint by a former player who claimed the coach berated him about his partial hearing loss.

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