Perkins arrives to lead Jayhawks
KU coaches enthusiastic for future
In recent years, the world of college sports has associated the University of Connecticut with outstanding women’s basketball.
“I always tell people, there are some places — believe it or not around here — when you call out the name of a school they think, ‘Women’s basketball.’ They don’t think something else,” Kansas University women’s hoops coach Marian Washington said Monday. “Connecticut is definitely one of those schools. I’ve been up there. The people will tell you they are in love with their women’s program.”
The Huskies were hardly slouches in men’s hoops during the Lew Perkins era — UConn won the men’s NCAA title in 1999 with Perkins, KU’s new athletic director, in charge — but the Huskies have been dominant in women’s hoops, winning NCAA titles in 1995, 2000, ’02 and ’03.
Perkins will be introduced as Kansas’ new AD at a 2 p.m. news conference today. The conference will be televised live on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6.
“It means a lot,” Washington said of the 58-year-old Perkins’ background in women’s sports. “I mean, that is such wonderful news, really. You have to have people who have an understanding, an appreciation. The fact he is right there will make a lot of difference.”
Washington, who is under fire to improve her squad next season in the final year of her contract, said she was tickled Kansas had hired a respected AD following the tumultuous two-year reign of Al Bohl. Perkins was athletic director at Wichita State and Maryland before landing the UConn job.
“I think we are ready for everything to settle down,” Washington said. “We have someone who can help everybody have everything we need so we can get moving forward.”
KU men’s basketball coach Bill Self Monday said he was “very excited about what’s about to transpire,” referring to today’s news conference to name Perkins. “But I’d like to wait until after Lew gets here (to comment), out of respect to the administration.”
KU football coach Mark Mangino also declined comment until today.
New Kansas University Athletic Director Lew Perkins, left, arrives for dinner at the Hereford House with his wife, Gwen, and KU interim athletic director Drue Jennings, right. Perkins will be introduced as KU's new athletic boss at a 2 p.m. news conference today.
Jayhawk volleyball coach Ray Bechard said he liked everything he had heard about Perkins, known for spearheading the construction of new football and track facilities at UConn.
“From what I’ve read, he is so balanced. He has been in a lot of different situations,” Bechard said. “I don’t think anything here is going to surprise him. He has obviously taken football from one step to the next with the elevation of their (UConn’s) football program to Division One. That’s exciting. He obviously has enhanced facilities. That is exciting to me as I talk to our tennis and softball coaches.
Former Connecticut athletic director Lew Perkins, left, holds the 2003 NCAA women's basketball championship trophy with NCAA Player of the Year Diana Taurasi, center, and coach Gino Auriemma April 9 in Storrs, Conn. Perkins will be named Kansas University athletic director at a 2 p.m. news conference today.
“He’s been there, done that. It’s great news for Kansas.”
Bechard applauded KU for tapping a respected AD.
“He has a tremendous amount of credibility,” Bechard said. “I think it’s great we don’t have to bring somebody here to establish his name here when he’s already done that. I don’t think KU should have to settle for anything else.”
Softball coach Tracy Bunge, whose team’s Jayhawk Field will be upgraded this offseason with future renovations planned, also is enthused.
“I am thrilled we have somebody in place and very excited about getting a chance to meet him after hearing many good things about him,” Bunge said, noting she would comment more after meeting the AD.
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