An emotional Carolyn Peck stepped to a lectern Monday confirming what had been rumored for several months: The coach of the Florida women's basketball team has been fired.

''Where we both [athletic director Jeremy Foley] envisioned for this program to be five years ago has not reached that point,'' said Peck, while getting choked up.  "The thing that I want everyone to know is I love the University of Florida. I'm really appreciative of this opportunity, because this is a great place.''

Peck will finish coaching the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, Foley has begun searching for a replacement. "This does give us a luxury of a couple weeks to try to hone down a list, find out who might be interested and might not be interested,'' Foley said. ``I don't expect to have a coach here for a number of weeks.''

Closing out the season won't be easy for Peck. The Gators have become the laughingstock of the Southeastern Conference, going 6-20 overall and 0-11 in the conference.   Florida is riding a 13-game losing streak, tied for the worst in school history. The other time it happened was in 2002-03, Peck's inaugural season.

She has a 69-74 overall record with the Gators since being hired from the WNBA's Orlando Miracle, where she was the head coach and general manager.

The outgunned Gators, who had just two players taller than 6-0 on their roster at the beginning of the season, reached a disastrous low during the winter break when Peck released freshmen LaKendra Phillips and LaToya Bullard and sophomore Jessica Jackson from scholarship.

Then, during an 80-58 loss to Tennessee on Jan. 11, the Gators watched the Volunteers race to a 25-0 lead.

''It's an emotional day,'' Foley said. "It's a tough day. These are the no fun days in this business.''