Aug. 16, 2005

SPOKANE, Wash. -Gonzaga University head women's basketball coach Kelly Graves has announced the hiring of Jodie Kaczor as an assistant coach on the Bulldogs staff. Kaczor is no stranger to the Gonzaga program having served as the coordinator of basketball operations the last two seasons. She replaces J.R. Payne who left earlier this summer to become the top assistant at Boise State University.

Kaczor played four years at Western Washington University finishing her career as the school's career leader in 3-pointers and free throw percentage. She earned All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference honors in 2001 and 2002. During her four-year career WWU posted a 95-24 record making four straight trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

She graduated from Western Washington in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in general studies and worked for one season as a student assistant coach before joining the Gonzaga staff.

"Jodie is a great fit for this position," mentioned Graves on his new hire. "She has been around our program for the past two years and will help us maintain the level of program we have built. She is an extremely hard worker and I'm excited about having her as a full-time coach."

Gonzaga is coming off its best season in school history with a 28-4 record, West Coast Conference regular-season championship and first national ranking. The Bulldogs open the regular-season on Nov. 18 at San Jose State University with the home opener set for Nov. 20 against Eastern Washington University.