Charlotte 49ers head men’s basketball coach Alan Major is taking a leave of absence due to health issues.

“After discussing my health with my family and our Athletic Director Judy Rose,” Major said. “I have decided to take a medical leave of absence. My family has a history of heart and eye issues, and I plan to have procedures done over the next couple of months to address them. I want to thank Judy and her staff, my coaching staff and our players for their support and love during this process. I’m looking forward to getting back to the game. I am very blessed to be at such an incredible University."

Coach Major just completed his fourth season at the helm of the 49ers men’s basketball program.

“We are all wishing Alan a speedy recovery,” said Judy Rose, Charlotte 49ers Director of Athletics. “There is never an easy or good time for a coach to be away from his team, so this has been a very difficult decision for Alan. Quite honestly, he put his personal health on hold for the entire season.”

Under Major’s guidance, the 49ers have captured the 2013 Great Alaska Shootout and 2014 Puerto Rico Tip-Off titles and earned a bid to the 2014 NIT. This past season, the 49ers received votes in the AP and the Coaches Polls for the first time since December, 2009. In 2013, the 49ers won 21 games which marked the program’s first 20-win season since 2007-08, and with another winning season in 2014, the 49ers posted back-to-back winning campaigns for the first time since 2007. Charlotte has posted a victory over a top 15 team in three of the last four years.

The 49ers men’s basketball program, which has averaged 19 wins over the last two seasons, returns 12 letterwinners and four starters off last season’s Puerto Rico Tip-Off title team.

Out of respect for Coach Major’s privacy no additional information will be disclosed.