Metro State women’s basketball coach Linda Lappe, a former Colorado player and captain of the Buffaloes’ 2003 Sweet 16 team, confirmed she interviewed Tuesday for CU’s vacancy.
“I don’t necessarily know a time frame,” Lappe said Wednesday. “CU has contacted me. I’ve talked with them. It’s up to whenever the CU search committee, (athletic director) Mike Bohn and (ex-coach and committee chair) Ceal Barry they decide. It’s still fairly early.”
The 30-year-old Lappe just finished her third season at Metro State, at 17-12 and third in the East Division of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference at 11-8. Her Metro State team’s have placed in the top three of the division all three seasons; she is 50-36 at Metro.
“I enjoy being at Metro,” she said. “It’s a great school and has a great athletic program. I love working for (AD Joan McDermott). Everyone in the Metro family is amazing. We’re just focusing on recruiting for now.
“We’ll see how the next few days or next few weeks play out.”
It’s not as clear a choice between Division I and Division II jobs as some might think. Lappe described CU’s position in the Big 12 as a challenge, calling the Big 12 the best conference in the nation.
“To take on that challenge, it will take a person who wants that challenge, who wants to get in there and do whatever they can to get the program to move up the ladder.”
Lappe is one of many former Barry players in the coaching ranks. Right after graduation, she landed at Drake as a third assistant. She was with Colorado State in 2006-07, under head coach Jen Warden.
And Lappe knows the importance of in-state recruiting ties.
“I’ve been in the state of Colorado for nine of the last 12 years,” Lappe said. “I know the club coaches, I know the high school coaches.”
In past searches, Bohn has locked in on one candidate — Dan Hawkins in football and Jeff Bzdelik in men’s basketball. He only extended searches when the first choice in women’s basketball and volleyball turned down CU.
The Buffs vacancy was created when Kathy McConnell-Miller was released after five seasons.
Natalie Meisler: 303 954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
