For Immediate Release:  August 9, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations, (956) 381-2240

RUSSELL RESIGNS POST, TRACY ANDERSON NAMED INTERIM HEAD COACH

EDINBURG, TX– The University of Texas-Pan American women’s basketball team has a new head basketball coach.

Carol Russell, who was named head coach May 1^st, has resigned to accept a position as Head Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.

Tracy Anderson, who was formerly the first assistant coach under Russell, has been named interim Head Coach, effective immediately.

“While I am disappointed with Carol’s decision, we wish her well at Nebraska-Kearney,” said Texas-Pan American Director of Athletics William J. Weidner. “We are very fortunate to have a proven head coach on our staff in Tracy Anderson. I am confident that Coach Anderson is prepared and ready for the challenge of providing leadership and direction for our Lady Bronc basketball program as we prepare for the upcoming season. Since her arrival on our campus, Coach Anderson has earned the trust and respect of our student-athletes. She is well-versed in our department’s system of operations, recruitment strategies and all organizational aspects of the women’s basketball program. Tracy’s successful experience as a collegiate head coach and previous NCAA Division I background as the first assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Bradley University will serve her well at UTPA. We congratulate Tracy Anderson on her being appointed as our interim Head Women’s Basketball Coach at The University of Texas-Pan American.”

Anderson was pleased with the opportunity. “I’m ecstatic for the opportunity that Mr. Weidner has offered me,” said Anderson. “Bill has shown a lot of confidence in me by making this decision, and I’m excited to do my best. It’s definitely going to be to my benefit that I’ve had head coaching experience, and that I know what needs to be done in order to make us successful.”

Anderson is ready to begin. “My approach to the season won’t change, even though my title has changed,” said Anderson. “I came here to help us win games and move forward, and that vision hasn’t changed.”

A veteran with 13 years of coaching experience, Anderson spent the past three seasons as the head coach at Bethel College. Under her leadership, the Threshers tied their school record for victories (16) during the 2000-2001 season. At Bethel, Anderson was responsible for every aspect of the program, and also directed Bethel’s international recruiting efforts. Prior to coming to Bethel, Anderson was the first assistant and recruiting coordinator at Bradley University from 1996 until 1999.

Anderson began her coaching career by coaching basketball and volleyball and teaching English at Ell-Saline High School in Brookville, Kansas, where she served between 1989 and 1991. She then taught English and was the head volleyball and assistant basketball coach at Salina South High School in Salina, Kansas from 1991 until 1994. Her first college coaching job was as an assistant coach at Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kansas between 1994 and 1996. She served as the program’s recruiting coordinator, and the Tigers were ranked among the top 20 teams in the nation in both of her seasons there.

A native of Oakley, Kansas, Anderson twice earned All-District Ten honors and was named to the All-Decade Team for the 1980s while playing at Marymount College in Salina, Kansas. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in English Education at Marymount, and is studying towards her Master’s Degree in Sports Administration at Wichita State University.

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