Ducks’ coach flies the coop Oregon
women’s basketball Head Coach Judy Runge, who led the Ducks
to eight straight NCAA tournaments and a share of this year’s
Pac-10 title, resigned on April 30 in the midst of an investigation
by Oregon Athletic Director Bill Moos. Moos, acting on complaints
by several current players, hired a private law firm to investigate
Runge’s program. No smoking gun was ever found, but with her
players complaining about her, Runge didn’t want to enter the
season with seemingly irreparable risks with the squad and the
athletic department. Runge, who has spent her entire head coaching
career in Oregon, has a career winning percentage of .687. She put
the Ducks program on the map. She had a home record of 87-19,
making the Pit one of the most difficult places to win a road game.
Runge also had a strong record when it came to academics. She led
all Pac-10 coaches with 33 Duck players receiving all-conference
academic honors during her eight years at Oregon’s helm.
Players on the team had complained to Moos about Runge’s
coaching methods. However, no actual complaints have been made
public. Runge will be succeeded by her former assistant Dan
Muscatell.
More honors for Michelle Greco Junior point
guard Michelle Greco was invited to attend the 2001 USA
Women’s Basketball National Team Trials, which will be held
May 18-21 at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs,
Colo. Greco led the Pac-10 in scoring and free-throw percentage
this season and has all ready racked up first-team All-Pac-10
honors. Greco was invited to the USA team trials last summer, but
she was hindered by illness and didn’t make the final roster.
This year’s final roster will be announced during the August
6-14 training camp, which will be held at the Olympic Training
Center. The World University Games will be held Aug. 22-Sept. 1 in
Beijing, China. Notes compiled by Scott Schultz, Daily Bruin
Staff.