It’s CU vs. CSU, but for the two new women’s coaches, tonight’s game in Fort Collins isn’t much more than that.
So determined are Jen Warden of Colorado State (2-1) and Kathy McConnell-Miller of Colorado (2-2) to keep the rivalry from becoming personal, it almost sounds as if they got together to rehearse their pregame comments.
Said McConnell-Miller: “I think anytime there’s two in- state schools with great programs and strong traditions, there’s going to be some rivalry, obviously in the recruiting wars, and just the pride thing. I don’t think it’s anything personal. It’s just a natural rivalry, and it’s a good one, it’s a healthy one.”
Said Warden: “A game’s a game. We’re just looking forward to playing again period, because we’re getting better and better every time we go out. But in-state rivalries are always exciting, especially when you’re not in the same conference. This isn’t about the coaching staffs; this is about the players and what they’re trying to accomplish this season.”
Warden and McConnell-Miller are new to their teams, but they are not new to each other. Both coached in the Western Athletic Conference, with Warden at Boise State for three years and McConnell-Miller at Tulsa for six years before taking their new jobs last summer.
Warden played at Denver Christian High School and at CU before getting into coaching as an assistant under Ceal Barry. She was the first coach mentioned as a possible replacement for the legendary Barry, but withdrew her name from consideration early in the process. She campaigned hard for the CSU job after Chris Denker resigned under pressure.
McConnell-Miller, a star point guard at Virginia who comes from a prominent Pittsburgh coaching family, was recruited for the CU job after Kevin Borseth of Wisconsin-Green Bay backed out two hours before a news conference to announce his hiring.
McConnell-Miller holds a 4-2 advantage over Warden from their WAC days and is 1-0 against CSU, having led Tulsa to a 67-64 victory at Moby Arena in December 2000, putting a stop to the Rams’ eight-game winning streak.
CU has a 27-9 lead in the series and has won the past three.
Joseph Sanchez can be reached at 303-820-5458 or jsanchez@denverpost.com.
