UCF has parted ways with Donnie Jones as coach, the school announced Thursday.

Jones, 49, just finished his sixth season with the Knights, going 12-18 overall and 6-12 in the American Athletic Conference.

He was a career 100-88 at the school.

"After a great deal of thought and deliberation, we have determined that a change in leadership for our men's basketball program is necessary," athletic director Danny White said. "Donnie and his staff have been dedicated to ensuring our student-athletes become successful young men, and we are grateful for their hard work and dedication to UCF, our students and the entire Knights community over the past six years. However, our athletics department, university and community expect our men's basketball program to compete for American Athletic Conference titles and make regular postseason appearances, and unfortunately, we have not reached these expectations."

White said a search for a new coach would begin immediately.

Prior to arriving at Central Florida, Jones spent three seasons as the head coach at Marshall and was 55-41 there. In 2010, he took the Thundering Herd to the postseason for the first time in 22 years.

Jones was also a longtime assistant for Billy Donovan at Florida and was on the bench for the Gators' national titles in 2006 and '07.