After 16 seasons, Linda Kalafatis is out as Ohio State’s softball coach.

Kalafatis first came on as the Buckeyes’ coach in 1997 and compiled a 538-358 record in Columbus, but will not be retained according to a Tuesday morning OSU release.

“The athletics department chose to make a change in the softball program’s leadership,” said Dan Wallenberg, athletics department spokesman, in an email Tuesday.

Kalafatis‘ made $103,331 a year as softball coach.

“We appreciate Linda’s commitment to the institution and our softball program. She is truly an outstanding person, and we thank her for all she gave to our student-athletes and Buckeye Nation,” said OSU associate athletics director Heather Lyke in the release. “We wish her the best as she pursues her next opportunities. We will begin a national search for our next head coach immediately.”

Kalafatis led OSU to six NCAA Tournament appearances and is three seasons removed from helping the team advance to its first-ever NCAA Super Regional in 2009. The now-former coach also guided the Buckeyes to 30-win campaigns in 10-of-16 of her seasons as coach.

OSU softball went 31-23 during the 2012 season, which ended with a series victory at Penn State this past weekend. The Buckeyes went 10-13 in the Big Ten and did not advance to the postseason.