The news wasn’t even an hour old before a local daily newspaper posted on their website a list of possible candidates to succeed Pam Borton as Minnesota women’s basketball coach. Not one, however, of the eight current head coaches and six assistant coaches suggested for the position was of color.
The Gophers probably hadn’t gotten back in town after last Thursday’s loss at South Dakota State before Minnesota AD Norwood Teague simply inserted the final date on Borton’s “Dear Jane” dismissal letter — the same type letter that former coach Tubby Smith received last year. Every time I saw Teague at a Gopher game during the season, he looked like he was just counting days, hours and minutes before he could zap her out. The former coach had been on shaky ground since last season.
“We wish Pam well,” offered Teague in his March 28 press release.
A previously published “Another View” unsuccessfully made a case to keep Borton. This week’s “View” presents for Teague to truly consider another list of coaching candidates, each of whom is well qualified to coach at Minnesota. But unlike last week’s published White list, our list — in no particular order — is inclusive:
Photo courtesy of U of M
1. Carol Owens, Notre Dame associate head coach: 21 years coaching experience, including Northern Illinois head coach (2005-10)
2. Tia Jackson, Rutgers assistant coach: 19 years coaching experience, including four years as Washington head coach and assistant jobs at UCLA, Stanford, Duke and VCU (Teague’s former employer)
3. Danielle O’Banion, Kent State head coach: 13 years coaching experience, including five years as a Gopher assistant coach (2002-07)
4. Candice Jackson, Duke assistant coach: 14 years coaching experience, including stops at MSU, Richmond and Wake Forest
5. Chelsea Newton, Rutgers assistant coach: Helped recruit three top-10 recruiting classes
6. LaKale Malone, Illinois assistant coach/recruiting coordinator: 14 years coaching experience, including stops at Texas, Nebraska, Bradley, Wagner College
7. Marcia Foster, Fullerton (CA) College head coach: 12 years coaching experience, including four of her 10 seasons as Cal State Fullerton head coach and one season as Cal Poly head coach
8. Ty Grace, University of New Haven head coach: 16 years coaching experience, including stops at Hartford, Farleigh Dickenson, West Point, and Seton Hall as top assistant coach
9. Kevin Chaney, Nebraska-Kearney head coach: 20 years coaching experience, including stops at Minnesota-Duluth and four other schools
10. Laquanda Dawkins, Southern Polytechnic State (GA) head coach: 14 years coaching experience with 11 years as a Division I assistant coach, including Florida International (where current Gopher Coach Richard Pitino coached for one year)
11. Jamelle Elliott, Cincinnati head coach: 18 years coaching experience, including 12 years as a UConn assistant
12. Alisha Mosley, Washington (MD) College head coach: 14 years coaching experience, including stops at Loyola University Maryland and Georgetown
13. E.C. Hill, Arizona assistant coach: 10 years coaching experience, including six at Northern Illinois (where Gopher Football Coach Jerry Kill came from)
14. Tavares Jackson, Ohio University assistant coach: 14 years coaching experience
Seattle Times beat writer Jayda Evans also suggested that longtime assistant coaches Charmin Smith (California), Niele Ivey (Notre Dame), Samantha Williams (Louisville) and Marisa Moseley (UConn and former Gopher assistant) all “would make great head coaches.”
If it’s true that among the top qualifications for the next U of M coach Teague reportedly wants are the ability to recruit, being a good communicator and being a good leader, then he should seriously look at these candidates and not just the ones the White newspaper recommends.
Read more on the next Gopher women’s basketball coach on “Another View Extra” on this week’s website.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman @ spokesman-recorder.com.
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I agree with all that Mr. Hallman has stated in his article. Why not consider someone who is born & raised here right in the state? Someone who has several years of experience and is one of the most successful high school coaches in Minnesota’s basketball history, Hall of Famer,Faith Johnson Patterson. Taking into consideration not only her records, but also that she is very recognizable in the State of Minnesota and probably would be a great draw for young women to the U of M program. She fulfills many of the qualifications Mr. Teague is looking for in his next coach. She would have far more success than Pam Borton ever could imagine in recruiting and retaining the Minnesota talent. Ms. Patterson also had an outstanding collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin. She knows the game well not only as a coach but also as a former player (high school & college). Mr. Teague should also consider Faith Johnson Patterson. You should be adding her name to your list of potential candidates as number well.