Being a Division I athlete in any sport, at any school requires an incredible amount of dedication. Whether they are in the gym, a tough practice, or a crucial game, the idea of giving up or quitting doesn't often enter the minds of the athletes or the coaches. Typically, it's just not a part of their personality.

When volleyball coach Pati Rolf resigned two weeks ago with four games left in the season, you can probably imagine my cynical outlook on the situation. Why would a coach of close to seven years quit with a decent chunk of the season remaining?

Although the year wasn't going particularly well, it wasn't a disaster. Rolf resigned when the Golden Eagles were 10-15. The team had a big win against St. John's (last year's Big East champions) earlier in the season, but also had lost eight of their previous 13 Big East games. It was a combination of highs and lows.

And it's not as if the Rolf or the athletic department were used to incredibly successful seasons and suddenly couldn't handle the 10-15 record. During Rolf's tenure her record was just three games over .500, 103-98 overall.

Coaches most likely leave a school for one of two reasons. They find another job which pays better (i.e. Tom Crean) or they can not get their team to perform to their potential and the athletic department either fires them or asks them to resign.

But if the athletic department asked Rolf to resign based on the team's performance, they would have probably waited until the end of the season. Replacing Rolf as interim head coach is assistant Erica Heisser, a former Marquette player who graduated only four years ago.

Heisser said she plans on changing little in terms of coaching style for the remainder of the season.

The athletic department did not wish to comment on Rolf's resignation or the reasons behind it, until the end of the season at the very least.

Rolf did not with to comment either and there has been no news as to whether she was offered a job at another school.

Based on these circumstances, I think it is reasonable then to assume there is some other force at work here. Maybe Rolf had personal reasons for resigning, or maybe there was some disagreement between her and the athletic department.

But as a journalist, I'm not in the business of assuming. I have to go on facts not rumors. Unfortunately, there is more of the latter circulating campus right now.

If men's basketball coach Buzz Williams resigned before the end of the season it would be national news. The athletic department would be forced to be more transparent with the situation because it would receive so much attention from the media.

But although the volleyball team has a significantly smaller fan base, with no national audience, doesn't it still deserve transparency?

Shouldn't all those considering signing with Marquette deserve to know why the head coach resigned before the season even ended?

At this point it is unknown whether recruits who have already signed with Marquette will be let out of their agreements. Last year when Tom Crean left, the athletic department released any signed recruits who wished to leave, but it is not required to do so.

It is also unknown whether current players were given the full details of the resignation.

The day after Rolf resigned, Hailey Viola, a junior defensive specialist on the team told a Tribune reporter, "Everybody was shocked and confused yesterday. Everyone's sticking together and helping each other through it."

Because the team was preparing for its final tournament of the season, players could not be reached for further comment as of press time.

Perhaps when the season ends next week, the athletic department will release more information or at least be more willing to comment on the situation. The current players, the future players and the fans deserve at least some sort of explanation.