For Immediate Release: Friday, March 28, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

LADY BRONCS NAME TRACY ANDERSON ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH

EDINBURG, TX—Tracy Anderson, who led The University of Texas-Pan American women’s basketball team to a 7-21 record as the Interim Head Basketball Coach during the 2002-2003 season, has been named Associate Head Coach. She will serve as the top assistant to Head Coach DeAnn Craft this season.

Anderson has 14 years of coaching experience, including three as head coach at Bethel College in Newton, Kansas in addition to last year’s stint as the Lady Broncs’ Interim Head Coach.

Anderson joined Texas-Pan American after spending the past three seasons at Bethel. Under Anderson’s leadership, the Threshers tied their school record for victories 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 coach and recruiting coordinator at Bradley University from 1996 until 1999.

Anderson began her coaching career by coaching both 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.

Beginning her collegiate coaching career, Anderson served as an assistant coach under Craft at Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kansas between 1994 and 1996. She served as the Tigers’ recruiting coordinator, and Cowley County CC was ranked among the top 20 teams in the nation in both of her seasons as a member of the coaching staff.

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.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to serve as Associate Head Coach and work with DeAnn and the administration,” said Anderson. “This past year’s experience will be a great benefit to me and the team, and things are definitely in place here that will help us be successful and turn the corner. DeAnn and I have been very successful working together in the past, and any time you can work with someone who has the passion and the knowledge of the game that she has, it’s not only a joy, but also an honor. We are not only friends, but we have a great deal of professional respect for one another.”

Craft was excited to have Anderson on the staff. “I am very pleased that Tracy has accepted the position of Associate Head Coach,” said Craft. “Tracy will be a vital part of our program and its success in the future. If you can surround yourself with the right people, you will be successful. Tracy and I worked together seven years ago, and we are glad to have the opportunity to continue our working relationship at the Division I level. Our goal is to create a positive environment so we can be successful, and Tracy and I have always looked at the big picture. Last year, Tracy did a great job with our defense, she is tremendous at gauging the pulse of the student-athlete, and she has a great feel for academics. There will not be a key decision made without her input, and her involvement will free me to head up our recruiting effort and make more and more contacts.”

”Our administration is very appreciative of Coach Anderson’s efforts as our Interim Head Women’s Basketball Coach this past season,” said UTPA Director of Athletics William J. Weidner. “We are very pleased that she will remain on our staff as the Associate Head Coach for our Lady Bronc basketball program.”

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