MSU women’s basketball coach resigns

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Minnesota State women’s head basketball coach Pam Gohl stepped down Tuesday to take a job in South Dakota.

July 3, 2012

MSU women’s basketball coach resigns

Gohl leaving coaching for job at University of Sioux Falls

By Shane Frederick Free Press Staff Writer The Mankato Free Press Tue Jul 03, 2012, 11:46 PM CDT

MANKATO — After winning a national championship as an interim head coach in 2009, Pam Gohl appeared to be starting a long career at the helm of the Minnesota State women’s basketball team.

But after four years on the job, Gohl has decided to move on from MSU and from coaching.

On Tuesday, she resigned in order to take a position in the athletic department at the University of Sioux Falls. Gohl will be the school’s compliance coordinator and senior women’s administrator.

“It was an opportunity to move forward professionally in a different direction and get closer to (husband) Eric’s family, which was also critical,” Gohl said.

Gohl, who has two young children, said it was the right job coming up at the right time.

“It was a really tough decision,” said Gohl, who had one year remaining on a four-year contract signed following the national championship.

The resignation was effective on Tuesday; Gohl said she will begin her new job on Monday. A national search for her replacement will begin immediately. According to Minnesota State athletic director Kevin Buisman, the goal is to have someone hired before the school year begins in late August.

“She indicated to me that she was very happy here, but Sioux Falls always had a special place in her heart,” Buisman said of Gohl, an Augustana graduate. “I certainly understand her perspective and the importance of family.”

Gohl compiled a record of 78-39 during her four seasons. Thirty-two of those wins came during a memorable first season on the job when the Mavericks captured the NCAA Division II title.

“So many great coaches go so long without getting to that game,” she said. “When it happens to you at 32 years old, I’m not sure if you appreciate it. But it was a magical, magical moment. I think I’m going to be able to look back and appreciate it now.”

Besides the title season, Minnesota State went to the NCAA tournament this past year. Three of her teams qualified for the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament.

After serving as head coach at Briar Cliff University for three years, Gohl became a Mavericks assistant to Lori Fish for two years. Gohl was named interim head coach in the summer of 2008 after Fish left MSU to coach at St. Cloud State. The Mavericks went 32-2 that season en route to winning the championship in San Antonio.

“I am so thrilled that the administration took a chance on me as an interim coach,” she said. “I was able to coach a national championship team and try to build the program after that.”

Buisman said Gohl inherited a good team and situation but also met the challenges and pressures that come along with that.

“She made the decision to remove the interim tag a fairly easy one,” Buisman said.

Gohl’s next two teams went 28-26, but this past season the Mavericks went 18-11 and returned to the NCAA tournament.

“She leaves a great nucleus of young players,” Buisman said.

Gohl said she has emailed and texted all of her players and has heard back from a few of them.

The women’s basketball position might not be the only opening Minnesota State’s athletic department has to fill this summer, as it was recently announced that Mike Powicki, MSU’s associate athletic director for development and strategic partnerships, is a finalist for the athletic director position at Wayne State College (Neb.).

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