April 9, 2008

Vermillion, SD (UWIRE) -- Less than two weeks after its historic season came to a disappointing end, the USD women's basketball has been rejuvenated with the announcement of a new head basketball coach to take the reins for the retired Chad Lavin.

Ryun Williams, the winningest women's head basketball coach in the history of Wayne State College (Neb.), was named the new head coach for USD last Friday and will lead the Coyotes into their first year at the Division I level.

On Tuesday, USD athletic director Joel Nielsen introduced Williams as the new coach in a press conference in front of fans, players, coaches and the media in the Al Neuharth Media Center.

"I know we hit a home run here," Nielsen said. "I'm very excited, as is the institution."

Williams, who was recruited by USD men's basketball coach Dave Boots 18 years ago as a transfer from Sheridan College (Wyom.), said he was excited to return to coach his alma mater.

"The minute I stepped in that Dome and (coach Boots) sold me on Coyote basketball,For more on Williams or more on Coyote athletics, visit the Volante Sports Blog by clicking here. this is where I knew I wanted to be," Williams said. "It's great to be back to the place where I started."

Williams said that when he sat down with Nielsen during the coaching selection process, the two discussed the trials of leading a team into Division I.

"Yes, there are going to be some uphill bumps," Williams said. "We know that. But we're going to take them on. We're going to climb that Division I mountain and do the best we can."

Williams is already familiar with leading programs to success. In 10 seasons at Wayne State, he coached the Wildcats to a 182-106 record. WSC recorded over 20 wins in three of his last four seasons.

Before coaching at Wayne State, Williams was the coach at Sheridan College (Wyo.). This was the same time that Lavin was coach at Wyoming. Lavin said he developed a relationship with Williams during this time and the two have been friends ever since.

Lavin said that USD couldn't picked a better man to be his replacement.

"This guy is the guy to hire," Lavin said. "This is the guy that I feel, nationwide, is the best person to take over this program and be with these young ladies. These young ladies mean a lot to me and I'm so very happy for them."

Jasmine Mosley, who turned down Williams' offer to play for the Wildcats after her high school career at Bellevue, Neb., said she is excited to play for Williams this time around and is looking forward to the upcoming season.

"He told us that he's ready to work," Mosley said. "He's ready to do everything he can to get us ready to go for this next season. He says he's going to push and that's exactly what we need."

Bridget Yoerger, who will be a senior for USD next year, said she was also impressed with Williams after he spoke to the team.

"He's so passionate about basketball," Yoerger said. "That's what we all noticed. He came in so confident; he knows what he wants to do. You can't ask for more than that."

The 39-year-old Willams is making the move to Vermillion along with his wife Lyndy, who is also a USD graduate, and their daughters Natalie, 10, and Emily, 7.

(C) 2008 Volante via UWIRE