Ole Miss head football coach Ed Orgeron announced Thursday that assistant coach George DeLeone has resigned in order to accept the position of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Temple University.

DeLeone was completing his first year as running game coordinator and offensive line coach at Ole Miss, having joined Orgeron's Rebel staff in January of 2005.

"George DeLeone is one of the best assistant football coaches in the country," Orgeron said. "I understand his leaving for personal reasons, and it is in the best interest of his family. We wish him the best of luck."

DeLeone, who has coached 35 years on the collegiate level and one season in the NFL (San Diego, 1997), said "it is with mixed emotions that I am leaving Ole Miss to accept the offensive coordinator job at Temple University. As for those mixed emotions, it is quite obvious that Coach Orgeron is on the verge of building a championship program at Ole Miss, and it would be exciting to continue to be a part of that process.

"On the other hand, my wife's health will be better served being closer to doctors in the Northeast and Coach (Al) Golden has offered me a tremendous opportunity at the same time to rebuild a championship program at Temple. I am both excited and grateful for the opportunity at Temple.

"It was an honor for me to serve by Coach Orgeron's side during this past year at Ole Miss. I wish the Ole Miss family all the best."

Prior to joining the Ole Miss staff, DeLeone was the associate head coach and offensive line coach at Syracuse. With the exception of that one season with the Chargers in 1997, he coached at Syracuse from 1985-2004.

During DeLeone's 20 seasons at Syracuse, he was SU's offensive coordinator for nine years (1987-96). DeLeone first joined the SU football program in 1985. Prior the 1999 season DeLeone moved back to the offense as SU's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, in addition to retaining his duties as associate head coach. DeLeone was on the opposite side of the ball in 1998 as SU's associate head coach and defensive coordinator.

DeLeone went to Syracuse from Holy Cross, where he was the offensive coordinator for one season in 1984. He started his coaching career in 1970 at Southern Connecticut State as an offensive line coach. He was promoted to head coach in 1976, a spot DeLeone held through 1979. DeLeone moved to the Division I level in 1980, coaching under Frank Burns at Rutgers from 1980-83. At RU he served as the Scarlet Knights' defensive coordinator.

A native of New Haven, Conn., DeLeone and his wife, Roberta, have two sons, Andy, a Penn graduate, and Mark, a student at the University of Iowa.

Orgeron also announced Thursday that running back Jamal Pittman of Columbia, Miss., will not be returning for his senior year.

"Jamal informed us that he plans to transfer to another school for his final year of eligibility," Orgeron said. "We appreciate Jamal's contributions to the Ole Miss football program and wish him well in whatever he chooses to do."

Pittman earned three letters during an injury-plagued career at Ole Miss as he played in 18 games, starting four. His career totals included 353 yards rushing on 77 carries, with one touchdown. He also caught 12 passes for 95 yards.

After being redshirted in 2002, Pittman played in five games in 2003, but sustained a season-ending injury when he suffered a significant tear to the ACL and a moderate sprain of the MCL in his left knee in a game against Arkansas State. He underwent successful reconstruction surgery.

He saw action in the final four games of the 2004 season and then played in nine games in 2005.

In the spring of 2003, Pittman suffered a knee injury during a non-contact drill and had to have ACL reconstruction surgery.