Todd Strop has submitted his letter of resignation as head football coach at UW-Stout.

The resignation, announced Jan. 11, comes four weeks after a Stout senior football player was arrested in an operation in which police seized cocaine, marijuana and more than $6,000. Luke Steffen, a linebacker, led the Blue Devils (3-7) this past season with 101 tackles and had a pair of interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. Steffen was due in court Jan. 16.

Another defendant, UW-Stout football player Nicholas OrRico, also faces a pair of cocaine and marijuana charges and police said they also found steroids at his house. He"s due in court Jan. 22.

Duey Naatz, an assistant head coach who has worked with the offensive line and as the offensive coordinator, has been named interim head coach for the 2007 season.

Naatz came to Stout in 1990 and has spent the past eight years as assistant head coach and offensive line coach. He has assisted three Stout head coaches with a variety of assignments.

A graduate of Moorhead (Minn.) State and a varsity football letterwinner, Naatz is Stout's strength and conditioning coordinator for all sports. He has served as an assistant track coach where he worked with the weight events, producing a national champion and numerous All-America winners.

A national search will be conducted to fill the head coaching position permanently.