July 3, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC - George Washington head women's basketball coach Mike Bozeman has named former Colonials' star Kristeena Alexander, former UMBC assistant coach Katie Rokus and Richard Moore as assistant coaches. The trio has nearly 30 years combined coaching experience.

"I'm very excited to have our staff in place, but more importantly to have these three coaches fill the staff is exciting for GW basketball," said Bozeman, who was promoted to head coach June 24 after three years as an assistant under Joe McKeown. "Each coach brings an energy which will help keep the tradition of winning at GW intact and even take the program a step further."

GW posted a composite record of 78-20 (.796 winning percentage), including a 39-5 mark in Atlantic 10 play, during Bozeman's three seasons as an assistant coach. The Colonials have advanced past the first round of the NCAA Tournament in each of Bozeman's three seasons, highlighted by back-to-back regional semifinal (Sweet 16) appearances in 2007 and 2008.

Kristeena Alexander

Alexander, who will work with the Colonials' guards, returns to her alma mater after a one-year stint on Susan Robinson-Fruchtl's staff at St. Francis-PA, where she worked with the Red Flash's guards and served as recruiting coordinator. Prior to St. Francis, Alexander spent three seasons as an assistant at George Mason under Debbie Taneyhill.

Alexander lettered for three seasons (1998-2001) at GW after beginning her collegiate career at George Mason, where she was the 1997 Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year. Alexander, who averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 assists and 2.6 steals in 83 games during her three seasons at GW, was named Atlantic 10 Sixth Player of the Year and third team All-Conference as a junior in 2000 and second team All-Atlantic 10 as a senior in 2001. She led the Colonials to a 60-23 composite record and pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 2000 and 2001. Alexander concluded her collegiate career with 1,187 points, 467 assists and 306 rebounds.

"Kristeena was an outstanding point guard during her playing career and I'm thrilled to have a coach with her experience teaching the position," said Bozeman. "We're looking for Kristeena to help our point guards mimic the career she had at GW."

Alexander earned her bachelor's degree in human services from GW in 2000 and has completed coursework toward a master's degree in human resource development.

Alexander played professionally as a member of the WNBA's Washington Mystics for one season (2003) and then overseas for a season in Denmark. She starred scholastically at powerhouse Christ the King High School in Queens, NY, where she was named WBCA and Nike All-American as a senior. In addition, Alexander earned City and State Player of the Year awards in her final season with the Royals, who won four state championships during her career.

Katie Rokus

Rokus comes to GW after spending the previous five seasons as an assistant coach at UMBC, including serving as recruiting coordinator and top assistant on Phil Stern's staff the past three seasons. Aside from recruiting, Rokus' responsibilities at UMBC included travel, academic and equipment coordinator, film exchange, guard development and team defense. She also served as assistant director of UMBC's Nike Girls Basketball Camp and was the program's liaison to strength and conditioning, academics, compliance and sports information.

Rokus helped the Retrievers to unprecedented success on and off the court during her tenure, highlighted by the program's first America East Conference title and NCAA Tournament berth in 2007. In 2006, UMBC posted its first winning season in 12 years and boasted the highest team grade-point average among America East women's basketball members at 3.25. The 2006 squad also claimed the Retriever Cup, which is annually presented to the top UMBC athletic program based on GPA, community outreach, athletes supporting athletes and attendance at Sunday lectures.

"Katie has had to hit the ground running with our off-season recruiting, but she has a number of contacts in the area and throughout the East Coast," added Bozeman. "She will continue the trend of recruiting solid student-athletes who possess the ability to keep our program competing at a Sweet 16 level."

Rokus played in 98 games and was a two-time team captain during her four-year career at University of South Carolina Aiken from 1999-2003, which included three seasons as a player under Stern. The Lady Pacers went a combined 78-38 during her four seasons, advancing to the program's first NCAA Tournament in 2002 and capturing the 2002 Peach Belt Conference regular season championship and back-to-back PBC North Division titles in 2001 and 2002.

Rokus was named Most Outstanding Senior Student and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in communications from USC Aiken in 2003. Rokus also was salutatorian of her 1999 senior class at St. John's College High School in Washington, DC. A two-sport athlete in basketball and soccer, Rokus guided the Cadets to a 107-21 record in her four years on the basketball court and a No. 16 national ranking her senior season.

Richard Moore

A 20-year coaching veteran, Moore joins Bozeman's staff after three seasons as assistant and head post-graduate men's basketball coach at Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, VA. Moore handled basketball operations, player recruitment, development and placement, scheduling and film exchange while working with the Colonels' post-graduate team.

Most notably, Moore spent nine seasons as associate women's basketball coach at Belmont Abbey College, an NCAA Division II program in Belmont, NC, from 1992-2001. The Crusaders captured five Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference titles and participated in four consecutive NCAA Tournaments during Moore's tenure. Moore handled defensive instruction, pre- and post-season workouts and assisted in recruiting while at Belmont Abbey.

"Richard's on-court experience will be invaluable to myself and our student-athletes," said Bozeman.

Moore has also held assistant coaching positions at Quail Hollow Middle School (2001-05) and Garinger High School (1989-91) in Charlotte, NC. He has worked numerous camps at Division I institutions, including Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth.

Moore received a bachelor's degree in communication from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1989. Moore, who teamed with Bozeman to help the Knights to an ECAC Metro title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 1988, was a volunteer assistant coach at FDU as a senior.

AP TRANSACTIONS: GW names Kristeena Alexander, Katie Rokus and Richard Moore assistant women's basketball coaches.