| | SPOKANE, Wash. -- Kelly Graves of Saint Mary's College
jumped to West Coast Conference rival Gonzaga on Tuesday as the new
women's basketball coach.
Graves, 37, said he was anxious to return to Eastern Washington.
"My first job was as the women's head coach in Moses Lake, so
this side of the state has always been special for me," Graves
said.
He will replace Kellee Barney, who resigned in March after six
seasons.
Saint Mary's, located in Moraga, Calif., had a 66-26 record the
past three seasons under Graves. They were 20-10 last season and
advanced to the second round of the women's NIT.
By contrast, Gonzaga hasn't had a winning record since the
1993-94 season. Last season the team was 9-19, and just 2-12 in the
West Coast Conference.
"We are extremely excited to get a coach of Kelly's caliber,"
athletic director Mike Roth said.
Graves graduated from New Mexico in 1988. He was head coach at
Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake from 1990-92, and an
assistant at the University of Portland from 1993-97 before taking
the Saint Mary's job.
"I have loved recruiting the Spokane area and believe I've had
success recruiting in the area because I respect the coaches,"
Graves said.
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