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Webb hired to lead Aggie women
LAWTON, Oklahoma (April 17) – After more than a month and an extensive nation-wide search, the Cameron University Athletics Department this morning officially announced who will lead the Aggie women’s basketball team next season and beyond. Tom Webb, currently the associate head women’s basketball coach at Eastern Washington University (Cheney, WA), has been chosen to lead the CU program beginning next season. Webb begins his tenure at Cameron today.
“I am very excited to be coming to Cameron University and to Lawton,” Webb said. “This is a great opportunity, and I am excited with the direction that the Athletic Department and Cameron University are headed. Now is the time to move the women’s basketball program in the direction it needs to go.
Cameron Athletic Director Jim Jackson echoed Webb’s sentiments.
“Coach Webb is a proven winner and his record speaks for itself,” Jackson said. “Most importantly, he has a plan and the work ethic it takes to turn this program around. I liked his attitude and approach to the game, as well as his approach to building a program.”
Webb was with the EWU Eagles for the last four seasons, beginning prior to the 2004-2005 season. He started out as the assistant coach until just before last season when he was promoted to associate head coach. Eastern Washington University is an NCAA Division I institution, competing in the Big Sky Conference.
At EWU Webb also served as the recruiting coordinator and oversaw the post players. Four of his post players attained All-Conference honors and one went on to play professional basketball in Europe.
Webb’s emphasis is on defense and rebounding, although he was in charge of communicating the offensive and defensive philosophies throughout each practice at EWU. Webb also oversaw all facets of game preparation, developed scouting reports, and prepared game plans for each match-up. Additionally, Webb was in charge of pre- and post- game film breakdown.
Coach Webb is also a gifted coach off the court and in the classroom. Last season his team finished with the third-highest GPA (3.46) in the nation among Division I women’s basketball programs.
“I am going to certainly bring the enthusiasm and excitement this program needs,” Webb said. “As a head coach I have been very successful and I plan to build this program as I have done in the past. We want to win a lot of games and we want to do it the right way. We will be excellent examples in the community and on the basketball floor, and we will do it the right way with the right kids.”
Prior to EWU, Webb was the head women’s basketball coach for the Northwest College (Powell, WY) Trappers. At Northwest he led the team to a 94-32 overall record and posted a school record for wins in back-to-back seasons. His record of 94-32 (75%) is the highest winning percentage in school history.
Webb also was named the Wyoming Community College Athletic Conference (WCCAC) Coach of the Year, and won two WCCAC Championships. His team’s 86 points per game average is still the highest season average in school history.
The Trappers also won the 2003 National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) academic championship with a team GPA of 3.56, the highest in the entire nation.
As Northwest College’s head coach, Webb coached four All-Americans and twelve Academic All-Americans. He has also coached eight All-Region players and five All-Tournament players.
Throughout his career Webb has learned from two Hall of Fame coaching legends in Don Meyer (Northern State) and Ken Rochlitz (Northwest College).
“Tom has had the opportunity to be an assistant under a pair of legendary coaches,” Jackson said. “He has learned from the best.”
Webb attained his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Southwest Minnesota State and completed his master’s degree in teaching and learning from Northern State.
“I expect Tom will lay the foundation of a quality women’s basketball program here at CU,” Jackson said. “We want to reach the level of a national contender and he will lay the foundation. I have every confidence in the world that he is the right person for this position and that he will get us to national prominence.”
As mentioned previously, Webb will be on Cameron University’s campus tomorrow to begin work for the 2007-2008 season.
“I’m ecstatic to have Tom on board,” Jackson said. “This pool of candidates was the strongest I have ever seen for as long as I have been an athletic administrator. We had so many quality candidates, but Tom was above them all.”
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