New head coaches at Ohio and Ole Miss, Bob Boldon and Matt Insell
From Ohio:
Ohio University Director of Athletics Jim Schaus has named Bob Boldon as the new head coach of the Ohio Women’s Basketball Program at a news conference on Thursday. With six years of head coaching experience, Boldon becomes the 10th head coach in school history.
Boldon comes to Athens after spending the last three years of his head coaching career at Youngstown State. The Northeast Ohio native inherited a program which had posted a 0-30 record during the 2009-10 season and turned it into a Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) participant at the end of the 2012-13 season, posting two double-digit win seasons and one 23-win campaign along the way.
“I think the history of Ohio University as an institution is incredibly impressive,” Boldon said. “This is a place that students want to be a part of and I think it is an institution that any athlete would proud to attend, so I just think that makes a perfect combination for both the student and the athlete. I think Ohio University is a great place to go to school and I think it is going to be a great place to work. The Mid-American Conference is a very well-respected league received throughout the state of Ohio as well as nationally and I look forward to competing in this league.”
Youngstown State’s 2012-13 season was arguably the program’s best in 15 years and included a first-round victory in the WNIT. Boldon led the Penguins to a 23-10 mark (11-5 Horizon) last season en route to earning Horizon League Coach of the Year honors. In his three seasons of rebuilding Youngstown State, Boldon posted a 39-54 (.419) overall record in which included a 19-33 (.365) mark in league play. In six years as a head coach at both the NCAA and NAIA level, Boldon has gone 98-86 (.533).
“Bob Boldon is the perfect fit for Ohio,” said Ohio University Athletics Director Jim Schaus. “He has successful head coaching experience, has rebuilt programs and has won wherever he has been. He is from Ohio and knows our state well, he has tremendous energy and passion for his craft and is great with people. Bob will also bring a very exciting, offensive style of play which will be enjoyed by fans. A new era of Ohio Women’s Basketball is here and I can’t wait for him to get started!” [More]
From Ole Miss:
Matt Insell, who has spent the last five seasons as an assistant coach with the nationally-ranked University of Kentucky women’s basketball program, has been named head coach of the Ole Miss women’s basketball team, athletics director Ross Bjork announced today.
Insell has helped guide Kentucky to four 20-win seasons and four trips to the NCAA Tournament in his time in Lexington. The Wildcats have ended the last three seasons ranked in the top-25 and are currently ranked No. 7 heading into the team’s Sweet Sixteen game Saturday.
Insell, who was responsible for the guards while also having recruiting and player development duties, served as the top assistant coach and helped UK ink three top-10 recruiting classes and seven McDonald’s All-Americans.
“I’m very excited to be the new women’s basketball coach at the University of Mississippi,” Insell said. “This is an opportunity I’ve had my eye on for a long time and I just can’t put into words how excited I am to be leading this team. I promise you this – we are going to put a team on the floor that is going to make the Rebel Nation very happy. [More]
