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Sunday, May 20
Burnett one of five candidates on Oregon short list
Associated Press
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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Southwest Missouri State women's
basketball coach Cheryl Burnett said she has talked with the
University of Oregon about its coaching vacancy.
"We did not talk specifics," Burnett said Friday after
returning from a trip to Oregon that included a visit to the Oregon
campus in Eugene.
Burnett, who took the Lady Bears to the NCAA Final Four this
past season – her 14th – is one of five coaches who are believed to
be on Oregon's interview list.
The Ducks already have interviewed former Oregon player Bev
Smith, the Canadian Olympics coach; Xavier coach Melanie Balcomb
and University of the Pacific's Sherri Murrell.
Utah coach Elaine Elliott is scheduled to make her visit Monday.
Oregon athletic director Bill Moos has said he hopes to name a
coach by June 1.
Burnett said she is happy at Southwest Missouri but "in this
case, I was already there, I got contacted, so (decided) I'd just
go look at it."
She said the visit was "very healthy in a business sense."
"You realize things our program needs – support staff,
salaries, the number of support staff – and appreciate a lot of
things we have in our program.
"Hammons Student Center is the best place to play in women's
basketball. And our offices are beautiful."
But she said it's important to look at the opportunities
available.
"Any time an opportunity is afforded by major college football,
national television, then that kind of opportunity, I would be
silly as a business person not to at least educate myself about
it."
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