Black Coaches Group Gives CSU an F for Women’s Basketball Hiring

The Black Coaches & Administrators gave CSU’s athletic department an F today in its second annual women’s basketball coaches hiring report.

The BCA said Colorado State University failed in four categories last spring when it chose Kristen Holt to be the Rams’ coach.

Holt, who is white, was named coach March 26, 2008, the same day Jen Warden was fired after a 4-28 season, the worst in the program’s history. Holt, who had been an assistant for one season under Warden, led the Rams to a 10-21 record this year, an improvement of six wins.

Holt, who originally signed a one-year contract, received a four-year extension during the season.

The BCA said CSU received Fs in the following categories: communication with the BCA, hiring/search committee, candidates interviewed and reasonable time. The school’s overall grade was an F as well.

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“We promoted internally,” Susemihl [Christine Susemihl, CSU’s senior associate athletic director] said. “I think we felt we had a very strong internal candidate and someone who had had Division I head coaching experience.”

Susemihl said Holt’s hiring was done in conformity with the university’s Office of Equal Opportunity,

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CSU received an A from the BCA when it hired Steve Fairchild, who is white, as football coach prior to the 2008 season. Zak Gilbert, CSU’s director of media relations, said the BCA provides annual report cards on the hiring of athletic directors, head football coaches and head women’s basketball coaches.

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