New women's coach

[1972Shocker]

Nice article from the El Paso times from about a year ago.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/sports/basketball/2016/01/31/adams-passion-built-womens-basketball/79603314/

Sounds like a very good candidate to me. I can see Linda Hargrove's influence and contacts at work here.

[rrshock]

So is this position going to go to a woman, no matter what? Are there any woman head coaches at WSU currently?

I only ask because of what I have seen in the past.

[1972Shocker]

So is this position going to go to a woman, no matter what? Are there any woman head coaches at WSU currently?

I only ask because of what I have seen in the past.

No, I don't think it is automatic or required that this position go to a woman. However, at the present time WSU has only one female head coach and that is Softball Coach Kristi Bredbenner. HCKB has done a pretty good job with the softball program. With that said if it comes down to everything esle being equal between a male coach and a female coach I think the female coach would have the advantage.

They have also interviewed Lane Lord from Pitt State. There may well have been other interviews as well but these are the only two that have been reported.

Both are good candidates.

Hutchinson Juco Coach John Ontjes whose team was upset in the 2nd round of the NJCAA Tournament last Wednesday to finish the season at 33-2 has also been mentioned on this board as a possible candidate.

Keitha Adams has 16 years D-1 experience at UTEP. Lord and Ontjes have no experience a the D-1 level. Adams' UTEP team struggled this past year going 8-23 after going 29-5 the previous year.

[xazshox]

Other women's head coaches

Kristi Bredbrenner is the WSU softball coach & she's been doing a great job. WSU just beat the U of Ne last week, 7-5. WSU has won 2 of the past 3 MVC titles, & they have a strong team again this year. Kristi is bringing in a flame thrower type pitcher next year, too.

[1972Shocker]

Isn't Shane Dennis also from Oxford, Kansas? Not that means anything in particular. Wonder if he knows Keitha at all?

[pinstripers]

Isn't Shane Dennis also from Oxford, Kansas? Not that means anything in particular. Wonder if he knows Keitha at all?

no, Uniontown

[1972Shocker]

no, Uniontown

Yeah, that's right. Thanks.

[1972Shocker]

My guess is Keitha Adams, with 16 years of D-1 coaching experience at UTEP, would be the most expensive of the names that have been mentioned so far.

According to this information Keitha Adams was the highest paid coach at UTEP at $306.000 according to this information (not sure what year this is for but it says this was last updated 06/21/16). More than the UTEP men's basketball coach and more than the UTEP football coach.

[shockerfanmas]

Not sure how reliable the source, but I've heard that Lane Lord has already started planning to be back at Pitt State next season. Apparently, the attitude now is that since Keitha Adams, a lady with 16 years D1 experience has interviewed, he feels he has no chance now. Again, not sure how true that is, but it seems Adams is the front runner right now.

[AndShock]

Umm...can we not hire someone who just went 8-23? That seems like a good guideline to follow when hiring a head coach.

[BOBB]

Umm...can we not hire someone who just went 8-23? That seems like a good guideline to follow when hiring a head coach.

This does seem to be a solid guiding principle.

[rrshock]

Umm...can we not hire someone who just went 8-23? That seems like a good guideline to follow when hiring a head coach.

Why would they even consider her with that record?

[flyingMoose]

Umm...can we not hire someone who just went 8-23? That seems like a good guideline to follow when hiring a head coach.

And can we not interview some up and coming assistant coach? Someone successful at a lower mid-major? Someone that Linda Hargrove does not know? Someone from a number of types of sources? ADDB should have already had a list of names in mind when he made his decision earlier this year.

[shockmonster]

And can we not interview some up and coming assistant coach? Someone successful at a lower mid-major? Someone that Linda Hargrove does not know? Someone from a number of types of sources? ADDB should have already had a list of names in mind when he made his decision earlier this year.

Keitha Adams reminds me a little of Jane Albright. But you looking for a up and comer MId reminds me of Jane Adams. We do need a good recruiter and should stay away from the names Jane and Adams.

[1972Shocker]

Why would they even consider her with that record?

Perhaps because in the previous 10 years she was 221-97 (0.695) at UTEP and her career coaching record in D-1 basketball is 284-209 (.576) over 16 years. Keitha Adams had a 127-37 (0.774) record in 5 years at Independence CC. Jody Adams-Birch had a career record of 161-115 (.583) at WSU in 9+ years at WSU which is by far the best winning % by a WSU Women;s BB coach. In the 25 years before Keitha Adams took over at UTEP they had 5 winning seasons with 18 being the most wins in a season. She has already been inducted into the UTEP Hall of Fame.

So of the names that have been mentioned so far she has by far the most experience and, whether you like it or not, I think the fact she is a woman gives her an advantage for this position. However, there is little question that she is a highly qualified candidate not withstanding the down year in 2016-17.

Whether she approached Wichita State or whether Wichita State approached her is hard to say. She is already apparently making $300,000+ per yer and while Jody Adams was much below that can we really justify that kind of money for a sport that is a poorly supported as WSU Women's basketball. Personally, I think Chris Lamb should be our most highly compensated women's coach based on his record and the support for the Volleyball program that he has built.

Perhaps there is some thinking the Shocks need an experienced D-1 coach if they are going to move to the AAC as that will be a big step up from the women's basketball that is currently being played in the Missouri Valley Conference.

I don't know if Keitha Adams is the best candidate but I do think she is a qualified candidate with a solid resume.