Women's Hoops Coach Burnett Announces Retirement
3/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. --- University of Michigan head women's basketball coach Cheryl Burnett informed director of athletics Bill Martin today (Tuesday, March 6) of her decision to retire from coaching effective immediately. Burnett notified Martin of her decision during an evaluation meeting this morning.
Burnett
"Michigan is a very special place of which I've been privileged to be a part," said Burnett. "Our staff has worked extremely hard to build a foundation that will bring tremendous success in the future for Michigan Women's Basketball. I wish the players, administration and fans great success in the years to come."
"We wish Cheryl and her staff all the best in their future endeavors," stated Martin. "Our search for a new women's basketball coach will begin immediately."
Burnett just completed her fourth season as head coach at Michigan with an 81-59 loss to Wisconsin in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament this past Thursday (March 1) in Indianapolis, Ind. It was the third straight 20-loss season for the women's basketball program.
Burnett took over the helm at Michigan in 2003 and led the Wolverines to a 14-17 overall record and a 6-10 mark in Big Ten play, good for a seventh-place finish in the conference. It was the best showing for the program during her four seasons at the helm.
The Wolverines proceeded to post 11th-place finishes the following two seasons and this past season U-M went 10-20 overall and 3-13 in conference play, finishing 10th in the league.
A native of Centralia, Mo., Burnett developed Southwest Missouri State into one of the elite programs in women's college basketball during a 15-season stint (1987-2002) in which she compiled a 319-136 (.701) career mark, won or shared nine conference regular-season championships and made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, including trips to the Women's Final Four in 1992 and 2001.
Members of the current coaching staff may remain to help with the transition of a future staff.
Contact: Marc Ressler (734) 763-4423
