March 10, 2000

SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University women's head basketball coach Kellee Barney today announced her resignation after six years with the program.

"I believe it is in the best interest of the program for me to resign. From a personal and professional standpoint I'm disappointed with the inability to turn the corner with the program," Barney said in a prepared statement. "After meeting with athletic director Mike Roth we mutually decided it was in the best interest of the program for a change to be made. While I believe there have been many positive steps accomplished in my tenure, the program has not progressed to the level I envisioned when I arrived on the Gonzaga campus."

Barney, who joined the Bulldogs for the 1994-95 season after nine years as an assistant to former Washington State University head coach Harold Rhodes, was 45-117 in her six years. The Bulldogs were 9-19 this season, and finished 2-12 in the West Coast Conference. Gonzaga failed to win a WCC Tournament game in Barney's six seasons.

"Kellee and I met following the season, and obviously wins and losses were a topic of our discussion," Roth said. "But we felt aside from that issue the overall program had not progressed to the competitive level we felt we should be after six seasons. Kellee and her staff have done some very positive things to take this program to the next level. I don't think there's a person in our department or anyone on this campus that isn't saddened by her departure. We wish her the best in her future endeavors."

Roth said assistant coaches Heather Gores, Kelli Kronberger and Kari Hutchinson will remain on staff during the transition, but it will be up to the new coach if any of the current staff will be retained.

A national search is currently underway, and Roth said he would move quickly to fill the position.

"This is a critical time for recruiting. We will move cautiously but quickly to fill this position so we can move ahead with as little interruption as possible," Roth said.