Bama Does Not Hire Wagner

[hookdown]

Wonder what happened?


Crimson Tide have fallen out of NCAA picture

Associated Press





TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Middle Tennessee State coach Stephany Smith was hired as Alabama head coach Monday.

Smith replaces Rick Moody, who retired after 16 seasons. The Crimson Tide, once one of the Southeastern Conference's top programs, hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 1999.

Smith posted a 153-88 record in eight seasons with Middle Tennessee State, leading the Lady Raiders to three NCAA Tournament appearances.

[RealityCheck]

Wonder what happened?

No head coaching experience compared to proven NCAA Tournament head coaching success is likely what happened.

[TechDawgMc]

Supposedly MTSU had signed Smith to a long term deal (why should we do that at the height of her marketability is beyond me), so a lot of people were probably making assumptions about Bama's choices based on the idea that Smith wasn't a candidate.

I bet Wagner shows up in the list for Colorado or Clemson.

[nadB]

I bet Wagner shows up in the list for Colorado or Clemson.

Looks like Borseth to Colorado.

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,...811652,00.html

[nadB]

Looks like Borseth to Colorado.

Oops, Borseth jilts CU :

"Borseth Declines Colorado Coaching Job At Last Minute

Kevin Borseth turned down the coaching job at Colorado on Thursday just two hours before a news conference to announce his hiring

April 14, 2005

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Wisconsin-Green Bay women's basketball coach Kevin Borseth turned down the coaching job at Colorado on Thursday just two hours before a news conference to announce his hiring.
"I had every intention of coming here to take this job," said Borseth, who decided the position would take too much time away from his family and the move would be hard on his five children.

"It took five or six years to get adjusted to Green Bay, and the children are just getting started with the things they are doing, and then they would have to start that all over again," he added. "It's tearing at my heart, it really is."

Borseth would have replaced Ceal Barry, who resigned as Colorado's coach at the end of this season after 22 years.

Borseth's change of heart came on Mike Bohn's first full day on the job as Colorado athletic director.

"This is no more than a great opportunity for us to shine and recruit and show that we've got a tremendous environment," Bohn said. "It's about a fit and having to find another high-quality person that's the right fit."

Borseth had not resigned from Wisconsin-Green Bay and will remain women's coach there, sports information director Brian Nicol said. Nicol said Borseth had received previous coaching offers, but "this is the closest he's been to accepting another offer."

Borseth led Wisconsin-Green Bay to a 27-4 record last season, and the Phoenix nearly upset Maryland in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

He is 164-51 in seven seasons at Green Bay. He also coached at Michigan Tech and Gogebic Community College in Ironwood, Mich."

CU to raid Vandy ??

"Reopened Colorado job has Vandy’s Balcomb in picture


By MAURICE PATTON
Staff Writer

Colorado, which had received permission from Vanderbilt to speak to Melanie Balcomb about its women's basketball coaching vacancy, had been prepared to introduce Kevin Borseth as the successor to Ceal Barry yesterday.
However, hours before the scheduled news conference, Borseth informed school officials of his decision to stay at Wisconsin-Green Bay.

As a result, Colorado has reopened its search, and Balcomb — who arrived at Vanderbilt under somewhat similar circumstances — is considered to be among the options.

Three years ago, former Colorado State coach Tom Collen was named to replace Jim Foster when he left Vanderbilt to take the Ohio State job. However, Collen resigned a day later due to a resume discrepancy, resulting in the eventual hiring of Balcomb from Xavier.

Balcomb, who stated earlier this week that she would not discuss her involvement in any coaching searches, continues to be mentioned in connection with vacancies at Miami and California, both of which received permission from Vanderbilt to speak with her as well.

Paul Dee, athletics director at Miami, confirmed that she had interviewed this past weekend and is being considered for an on-campus meeting next week along with Temple's Dawn Staley, North Carolina-Charlotte's Katie Meier and Miami assistant Robin Harmony. The Hurricanes are looking to replace veteran coach Ferne Labati.

Cal is thought to have zeroed in on Richmond's Joanne Boyle to succeed Caren Horstmeyer, fired after going 53-92 in five seasons. Balcomb interviewed at the Pac-10 school during the search that resulted in Horstmeyer's hiring.

Borseth was the only candidate brought on campus during the Colorado hiring process. He met with school officials and the team on Wednesday — the same day that Mike Bohn was named as the school's new athletics director."



Maurice Patton covers Vanderbilt women's basketball for The Tennessean. He can be reached at 259-8018 or mopatton@tennessean.com.