University of Minnesota Athletics
Melissa McFerrin Promoted to Associate Head Women's Basketball Coach
2/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
"I'm very appreciative to Pam and the administration and pleased that they felt my contributions warranted such a promotion," said McFerrin. "Minnesota has made a commitment to women's basketball and this is a reflection on our entire staff and the players who are making us successful."
"Melissa is very deserving. She brings a lot to our program," added Borton. "To keep a program headed in the right direction, you need stability. It's important to keep good people here."
McFerrin is the Gophers' recruiting coordinator and played a major role in bringing a nationally acclaimed class of freshmen to the Minnesota program in 2003-04. She also is charged with guard development and oversees the Gophers' offensive efforts.
McFerrin returned to the collegiate game after five years of experience in the WNBA ranks. She served as an assistant coach with the Washington Mystics for the 1999 season, before accepting the position of general manager in April of 2000. Previously, McFerrin spent two seasons with the New York Liberty, including the 1997 campaign in which the Liberty were the WNBA runners-up.
McFerrin's Big Ten ties come from a stint as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Ohio State from 1990 to 1997. During McFerrin's stay in Columbus, the Buckeyes were the national runners-up and Big Ten champions in 1993 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 1996. Her 1992 recruiting class, which included current WNBA and Minnesota Lynx all-star Katie Smith and the Connecticut Suns' Adrienne Johnson, was tabbed the top-rated class in the nation.
McFerrin also spent six years as an assistant coach at Central Michigan from 1984-90, during which time she earned a master's degree in physical education in 1988. She also spent one season at Wayland Baptist as a graduate assistant coach.
A 1983 graduate of Missouri, McFerrin was a four-year letterwinner for the Tigers. She helped Missouri to the 1983 Big Eight title and to NCAA Tournament appearances in 1982 and 1983. As a senior, McFerrin was honored as the Big Eight Scholar-Athlete and later graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in secondary education. She was also an All-Big Eight Honorable Mention selection in 1983.
A native of Cassville, Mo., McFerrin is a member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and previously served on the USA Basketball National Team selection committee.
