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Borseth hired as women's basketball coach

BY ANDY REID
Daily Sports Writer
Published April 9, 2007

First came Beilein. Now, enter Borseth.

The basketball coaching shuffle that began with Michigan women's basketball coach Cheryl Burnett's retirement and men's coach Tommy Amaker's firing, reportedly came to an end yesterday when Kevin Borseth accepted the women's basketball head coaching position.

Athletic Director Bill Martin issued an official release to announce Borseth as Michigan's new coach today.

"We are excited about the future of the Michigan women's basketball program with Kevin as head coach," Martin said in the release. "He knows how to teach and coach and he has the ability to motivate student-athletes as players and people."

Borseth served as the head coach at Wisconsin-Green Bay for the past nine seasons, compiling a 216-62 record, eight 20-win seasons and nine first place conference finishes.

The Bessemer native is no stranger to postseason play, either. Wisconsin-Green Bay played in a postseason tournament every season under Borseth. The Phoenix made seven NCAA Tournament appearances, including two trips to the second round, and competed twice in the Women's National Invitational Tournament.

Before guiding the Phoenix, Borseth spent 11 seasons as head coach at Michigan Tech, finding similar success in Houghton. Accumulating 225 total wins, Borseth coached the Huskies all the way to the NCAA D-II Final Four during the 1992-93 season.

All-in-all, Borseth has coached in a postseason tournament in all but five seasons.

"This is a moment that I've thought about my entire life," Borseth said in a statement released by the athletic department. "I've always been a Michigan man. I grew up in Michigan and I've bled the colors Maize and Blue. It really is a dream come true and a great opportunity. It's an opportunity I've worked very hard for, and I will do everything I can to make the best of it."

According to Wisconsin-Green Bay Director of Athletics, Ken Bothof, Michigan nabbed the right coach for the job.

"We want to thank Kevin for his role in making our women's basketball program one that is recognized on a national level," Bothof said in a statement released through the Wisconsin-Green Bay athletic department. "Kevin's success goes beyond his wins and losses. Our community is stronger because of the success and dedication our women's basketball team has come to be known for on the court, in the classroom, and throughout Northeastern Wisconsin."

Borseth's arrival in Ann Arbor will be highlighted by another strong hire, former head coach at Division II perennial powerhouse Grand Valley State, Dawn Plitzuweit as Michigan's associate head coach.

Plitzuweit won a Division II National Championship in the 2005-06 campaign, and won 117 games in just five seasons at GVSU. Plitzuweit, who worked as Wisconsin-Green Bay's top assistant and recruiting consultant, will be reunited with her with her former boss, Borseth, at Michigan.

"Bringing Dawn to Michigan as the associate head coach brings another experienced, winning coach to our program," Martin said in a statement released by the athletic department. "To have Dawn join us gives our women's program two coaches on the staff with head coaching experience."

The new coaching staff will look to reenergize a program that has won just 10 Big Ten games in the last four seasons.

The Wolverines won 35 total games during that span.

Although Borseth or Plitzuweit could not be reached for comment, a press conference is scheduled for Friday at noon.


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