Northwestern Director of Athletics Mark Murphy named Beth Combs as the new Wildcats’ women’s basketball coach on Tuesday.
Murphy needed no references to make the decision.
He gave Combs her first and only previous head coaching job when he was athletic director at Colgate.
“This is a fantastic opportunity,” Combs said. “Whatever has happened in the past stays in the past. I look to move forward and build our own system from here.”
The signing of Combs to a long term contract comes after Murphy’s decision not to renew former NU coach June Olkowski’s contract on March 10.
NU players said Notre Dame associate coach Carol Owens and Boston College assistant coach and NU alum Kelly Cole also were considered for the job.
“As I started this search, some of the things I looked for, Beth really fits the bill,” Murphy said. “She’s had head coaching experience at a school like Northwestern with very high academic standards. She also has worked with the same type of students-athletes at Colgate as we have here at at Northwestern.”
The fact that Combs had head coaching experience was important to the Cats’ players, NU junior Sarah Kwaskinski said.
Last season Combs guided Colgate to a NCAA tournament birth and its most successful season in school history.
When Combs took the head coaching position at Colgate, she inherited a squad that finished 8-20 in the 2000-2001 season. As interim head coach the following season, Combs received Patriot League Coach of the Year honors as the Raiders went 14-17. It was Colgate’s best record in more than a decade.
“What she did at Colgate is very impressive,” Murphy said. “Colgate’s women’s basketball team had not had a winning record since 1986-87.
“There was no tradition there and also had the highest academic standards in the Patriot League.”
Combs has much work ahead of her on a Cats’ squad that won only a single Big Ten game last season and has only seven conference victories in the last five years.
A native of Decatur, Ill., Combs knows all about the Big Ten.
She played college basketball at Illinois, and her familiarity with the conference should ease her transition to coaching in a stronger league, Murphy said.
“She has recruited the Chicago area quite a bit,” Murphy said. “As we look forward, establishing ties in the Chicago area will really be beneficial.
“In terms of the recruiting process, knowing how to identity those kinds of student-athletes that really value the quality of the education you can get here at Northwestern will benefit her in this position.”
Combs said she doesn’t expect NU to contend for a conference championship for a few seasons, but she said she believes there is no limit to future expectations.
“Northwestern (women’s) basketball has no place to go but up,” Combs said. “I welcome the opportunity and challenge to get the program to where it needs to be.”
Cats’ junior point guard Samantha McComb said Combs will bring a welcome change to the program.
“Any change is what we needed,” McComb said. “She brings motivation and a new attitude to this team. It’s just nice to have someone to go to now to call coach.”
But in taking this new challenge, Combs had to leave her former players behind at Colgate.
“We were shocked and very surprised when we found out (Combs) was leaving,” Colgate senior Emily Damuth said. “Everyone was looking forward to next season, and you always expect your coach to be back also, but in the back of your mind you’re always wondering if a better opportunity will arise.”
According to players at Colgate, senior Malissa Burke had a very close relationship with Combs. Burke actually wanted to come with Combs to NU as a graduate assistant, but the position was already filled.
“I am very excited for Beth,” Burke said. “This is a great career opportunity for her, and we always knew she wanted to coach at a bigger program. At Northwestern, Beth will have the chance to rebuild a struggling program, which is what she did at Colgate.
“In heart and mind, she has always been a Big Ten coach.”
