Whoever FAU selects to replace Craig Angelos as athletics director will inherit a new women’s basketball coach.

Interim Athletic Director Melissa Dawson announced women’s basketball coach Chancellor Dugan has decided not to have her contract renewed, choosing to step down from the role she’s held since 1999.

“We wanted to offer [Dugan] a chance to stay with us,” Dawson said. “We provided that opportunity, we offered that opportunity to stay with us, and she had chosen not to accept us.”

Last season, Dugan led the Owls to a 17-13 record and birth in the WNIT. Dugan spent 13 years at FAU, leading them to the NCAA Tournament in the 2005-2006 season.

Dawson said she will “actively do a search” for the next women’s basketball coach. She will ultimately select the next women’s coach simply because of the lack of time.

“It would be wonderful if the next athletic director could select the next women’s basketball coach,” Dawson said. “But we’ve got to have a coach in place for next year.”

Meanwhile, Dawson said she has been trying to solidify the contract of men’s basketball coach Mike Jarvis, which is still in negotiations after the firing of Angelos. Dawson has met with attorneys who are attempting to create a contract that will be agreeable to the 66-year-old coach.

After a 21-11 record and winning the Sun Belt Conference in the 2010-2011 season, the Owls regressed to an 11-19 record and first round loss in the conference tournament this season.

In addition to contracts, Dawson wants to focus on marketing and outreach in an attempt to “create a better atmosphere and better excitement at some of our contests.”

Dawson revealed she had spoken with Angelos since his departure, but said “it’s just been talks to see how he’s been doing.” She believes the university will work swiftly to acquire a new athletic director, but said all searches, and any time line for filling the position, are ultimately up to President Mary Jane Saunders.

Currently, Dawson is trying to find people within Athletics to fulfill her former responsibilities so she can focus on stepping into Angelos’ shoes.

“At first it was figuring out how we can continue to stay the course,” Dawson said. Now she claims “I think it’s a time for my staff and I to get excited and look to the future a little bit.”