2008 Woodie Awards
Basketball coaches get vote of confidence
David Cordill
Issue date: 9/29/08 Section: Sports
In separate releases last week, the UMKC Athletics department announced the contract extensions of men's basketball coach Matt Brown and women's basketball coach Candace Whitaker.
Brown's sweetened deal, which will keep him at the hoop's helm through the 2012-13 season, was made public on Sept. 24.
On Sept. 26, UMKC Athletics Director Tim Hall said Whitaker also signed an agreement with the university through the 2012-13 basketball year.
In the announcements, Hall praised the efforts of both coaches. Speaking about Brown, he said the Athletics Department felt good about lengthening the stay of the coach, who is in his second year.
"Matt Brown is conducting his program in a first-class manner in all areas," Hall said. "He is laying the foundation for future success for UMKC men's basketball and the more broad Athletics Department. Building a strong foundation takes time and I want to assure Matt, his staff and future recruits that we are committed to building something long enduring."
Hall, who also received a contract extension through 2012 on Aug. 11, voiced enthusiasm in support of Whitaker as well.
"Candace is one of the brightest and hard-working, up-and-coming coaches in Division I women's basketball," he said. "She has done everything we have asked and more in relation to building a preeminent women's basketball program … I want Coach Whitaker and her staff to have the necessary time it takes to recruit the best and brightest to our campus and to continue the quest of being one of the top programs in The Summit League."
Whitaker began her career at UMKC in 2004 as an assistant under former women's basketball head Bo Overton. When Overton bolted to the WNBA in December of 2006, Whitaker took over the reins on an interim basis, and guided her team to an appearance in the championship game of the now defunct Mid-Continent Conference.
She was eventually named Head Coach in March of 2007. In her two-and-a-half seasons at UMKC, Whitaker's record stands at 19-31 overall.
Brown entered the UMKC men's basketball program in April of 2007 after the firing of Head Coach Rich Zvosec. He was a former assistant at coach at West Virginia University under John Beilein. He also served as an assistant under Billy Donavan at Marshall University and the University of Florida. Brown went 11-21 with the Kangaroos in his first season.
According to the most recent edition of the State of Missouri Blue Book, Brown is making $130,000 a year while Whitaker takes in $86,000 annually at their respective jobs. Incentives and details of the original contracts and the extensions were not available.
dcordill@unews.com
Brown's sweetened deal, which will keep him at the hoop's helm through the 2012-13 season, was made public on Sept. 24.
On Sept. 26, UMKC Athletics Director Tim Hall said Whitaker also signed an agreement with the university through the 2012-13 basketball year.
In the announcements, Hall praised the efforts of both coaches. Speaking about Brown, he said the Athletics Department felt good about lengthening the stay of the coach, who is in his second year.
"Matt Brown is conducting his program in a first-class manner in all areas," Hall said. "He is laying the foundation for future success for UMKC men's basketball and the more broad Athletics Department. Building a strong foundation takes time and I want to assure Matt, his staff and future recruits that we are committed to building something long enduring."
Hall, who also received a contract extension through 2012 on Aug. 11, voiced enthusiasm in support of Whitaker as well.
"Candace is one of the brightest and hard-working, up-and-coming coaches in Division I women's basketball," he said. "She has done everything we have asked and more in relation to building a preeminent women's basketball program … I want Coach Whitaker and her staff to have the necessary time it takes to recruit the best and brightest to our campus and to continue the quest of being one of the top programs in The Summit League."
Whitaker began her career at UMKC in 2004 as an assistant under former women's basketball head Bo Overton. When Overton bolted to the WNBA in December of 2006, Whitaker took over the reins on an interim basis, and guided her team to an appearance in the championship game of the now defunct Mid-Continent Conference.
She was eventually named Head Coach in March of 2007. In her two-and-a-half seasons at UMKC, Whitaker's record stands at 19-31 overall.
Brown entered the UMKC men's basketball program in April of 2007 after the firing of Head Coach Rich Zvosec. He was a former assistant at coach at West Virginia University under John Beilein. He also served as an assistant under Billy Donavan at Marshall University and the University of Florida. Brown went 11-21 with the Kangaroos in his first season.
According to the most recent edition of the State of Missouri Blue Book, Brown is making $130,000 a year while Whitaker takes in $86,000 annually at their respective jobs. Incentives and details of the original contracts and the extensions were not available.
dcordill@unews.com
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