Top Story
June 10, 2010
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Metro State announces new leadership for basketball programs
Metropolitan State College of Denver Athletic Director Joan McDermott recently announced new head basketball coaches for both the men’s and women’s teams.
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Derrick Clark has served as assistant coach to Mike Dunlap, the winningest coach in Metro State history. Photo Courtesy of University of Colorado. |
Former Metro State Assistant Coach Derrick Clark takes the reins of the men’s team, while Tanya Haave, head coach at the University of San Francisco, will lead the women.
"We are extremely excited to bring Derrick back to Metro State," McDermott said. "He has proven to be an excellent coach at both the Division I and Division II levels. He has all of the qualities we were looking for in our next coach, both on and off the court. Derrick will be a great addition to our staff."
"I have great respect for Metro State," said Clark, who joins Metro State after spending the past three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Colorado, where he was responsible for off-campus recruiting, scouting opponents, summer camps and day-to-day operations for the Buffaloes. "It’s proven to be an elite program and a place that competes nationally. I look forward to getting started with the players and to start meeting them."
In Clark’s final season at Colorado, he helped CU improve from a 9-22 season in 2008-09 to a 15-16 finish in 2009-10. Clark also spent two successful years at the Air Force Academy as an assistant coach. Prior to his time at Air Force, Clark was on Metro State’s coaching staff for eight seasons from 1997 through 2005, including the final five years as a full-time assistant.
He helped make Metro State a national powerhouse, serving under the winningest coach in Metro State history, Mike Dunlap. During Clark’s first stint with the Roadrunners, they won national championships in 2000 and 2002, and made three other trips to the Division II Elite Eight. Read more about Clark at Metro State athletics.
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2005 University of Tennessee Lady Vol Hall of Fame player Tanya Haave to lead Metro State women’s basketball. Photo courtesy University of San Francisco. |
About Haave, McDermott said she "has excellent ties in the Denver area and is a local legend. It’s exciting to have someone with her great background guide our program. I believe she is the perfect fit to lead Metro State women’s basketball."
"I’m chomping at the bit to get started," said Haave. "We obviously hope to compete for NCAA berths and RMAC championships. It’s certainly a big challenge. I know from my time at Regis that there are some great coaches in the RMAC and I have great respect for the conference."
Prior to her four years at USF, Haave coached in the Denver area for seven seasons, including stints at Regis University, CU and DU. Before pursuing her coaching career, Haave played professionally in Europe and Australia for 14 years. She earned 10 all-star selections and also coached one year in Sweden.
Haave was a starter for the Lady Vols for three years at the University of Tennessee and compiled All-America and All-SEC honors in helping her team to three Final Four appearances. Haave was inducted into the University of Tennessee Lady Vol Hall of Fame in 2005. Read more about Haave at Metro State athletics.
Men’s 2009-10 Season
- Finished 24-7 overall
- 14-5 in the RMAC
- Tied for first place in the East Division.
Women’s 2009-10 Season
- Finished 17-12 overall
- 11-8 in the RMAC
- Third place in the East Division
