BOULDER — In Colorado’s search for a women’s basketball coach, it appears preference will be given to those with head coaching experience.
That’s the feeling of former CU coach Ceal Barry, who was selected Tuesday to chair the search committee. Barry has remained at the school since retiring after the 2004-05 season and is an associate athletic director.
“My personal feeling is that if you’re going to coach in the Big 12 Conference, you need to have coached a game,” Barry said. “I think it’s really important to have someone that has managed a program before — called timeouts, run players’ meetings, run a bench. The jobs of head coach and assistant coach are very different.”
The position opened officially Monday when Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn announced the firing of Kathy McConnell-Miller.
McConnell-Miller, a former Tulsa head coach, compiled a record of 65-88 in five seasons at CU. Her last two teams went 11-18 and 13-17 overall, each going 3-13 in Big 12.
All seven members of the search committee are employed by CU and will report to Bohn. Among those joining Barry on the committee are senior athletic director Tom McGrath, faculty representative David Clough, compliance director Julie Manning and Kris Livingston, director of academic services for athletes. The school’s training staff and human resources department also are represented.
CU has not given a timetable for the hire.
Barry, the program’s all-time leader in coaching victories with a record of 427-242, said she already has received dozens of phone calls, texts or e-mails from prospective candidates.
“It’s a very desirable job because of location with Boulder, the academic reputation of CU and because of the Big 12,” Barry said. “There were seven Big 12 teams in the top 25 of the polls. If you’re in this conference, you know that you have a chance to make a name for yourself every week.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
