MSU Billings Coaching Search Underway (July 18, 2003)

BILLINGS, MT – The national search to fill the women’s basketball coaching position at MSU Billings is in full swing and school officials anticipate having a coach on board by the middle of August.  Dr. Gary Gray, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, said Friday that scheduling and recruiting are also proceeding, noting that he is close to completing the schedule and is maintaining verbal contact with prospective student-athletes.

Even before the job announcement was published in the biweekly NCAA News, MSU Billings received several applications from across the country.  The list of applicants thus far includes former Division I head coaches, current Division I assistant coaches, and several current head and assistant coaches from universities in Divisions II and III.  There are also candidates from NAIA schools and junior colleges.  The pool of candidates is expected to grow further in the next week.

The first official meeting of the search committee will take place Monday afternoon with the review of applications beginning later in the week.  The search committee is comprised of a variety of people including athletics staff; university faculty, staff and students; former and current student-athletes; and community members.  Dr. Gray anticipates on-campus interviews of candidates to begin by the first week of August.

“We expect the process to move quickly,” said Gray.  “Depending on the availability of candidates, I would anticipate campus visits to start as early as August 1, and I think we will have a coach selected by the second or third week of August.  That will give the successful candidate adequate time to wrap up any scheduling or recruiting needs for the upcoming season.”

Gray also added that the women’s basketball schedule is about 90-percent complete and could possibly be finished as early as Monday.  “We have more than enough required ‘up games’ (games versus Division II or higher competition),” affirmed Gray, “and we’re very close to reaching deals for our final two West Region games.  At that point, we will have room to insert three or four NAIA games into the schedule.