Date: April 2, 2003
Contact: Brian Laubscher (540) 458-8676
Release: Upon Receipt

W&L NAMES MANDY KING HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH
Former Bloomsburg Assistant To Take Over Reins

MANDY KING

LEXINGTON, Va. -- Washington and Lee athletic director Mike Walsh has announced the appointment of Mandy King as head women's basketball coach and assistant professor of physical education. King will begin her duties effective May 1.

"We are extremely pleased to offer Mandy our women's basketball position," said Walsh. "She was a very successful Division III basketball player and has significant coaching experience on the Division II and Division III levels. She is committed to athletic excellence within the structure of a liberal arts education. We had a very strong applicant pool and she emerged as the clear top choice for the position."

King comes to Washington and Lee after serving as the assistant women's basketball coach at Bloomsburg University for the past two seasons. She also was a graduate assistant coach at the College of New Jersey for two seasons following graduation from the University of Southern Maine where she earned a bachelor of science in sports medicine in 1999.

"I'm very excited to be part of an institution that strives to be outstanding both academically and athletically," said King. "As soon as I saw the opening, I visited the campus and just fell in love with the school. I believe that there is tremendous potential to build a top-notch women's basketball program at W&L and I am eager to begin."

During her time at Bloomsburg, King helped the Huskies achieve a 36-17 overall record and two berths to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament. The 2001-02 squad finished the season 21-6 overall and was ranked as high as second nationally in Division II. As assistant coach, King served as recruiting coordinator and was responsible for on-court coaching, scouting and game preparation.

At the College of New Jersey, King helped the Lions to a New Jersey Athletic Conference title and a Division III "Elite 8" appearance in 2001. King earned a master of arts in teaching/health education from TCNJ in the spring of 2001.

As a player at Southern Maine, King was a four-year starter at point guard serving as team captain her final two seasons. She helped lead the team to three Little East Championships and three appearances in the Division III "Sweet 16". As a senior, USM advanced to the national championship game before falling to Washington (Mo.). She received the National Comeback Athlete of the Year Award from Training and Conditioning Magazine after suffering her second career threatening knee injury in 1995.

"It is very exciting to have Mandy King take over the women's basketball program," said Austin Calhoun, a senior captain for the Generals in 2003. "I think that she will be an energetic and enthusiastic addition to the W&L community."

"When we met her, it was very apparent that she was the ideal choice to head up the program," said fellow senior captain Elizabeth Igo. "I look forward to following her successes in the future."

-- GENERALS --