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Last Updated: Oct 16th, 2008 - 13:33:17 |
It was only four years ago that Linda Lappe was running up and down the basketball court, helping the University of Colorado at Boulder to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2003. Now, instead of leading her teammates on a fast break, she is leading Metro's women's basketball team, with hopes of making another deep run in the NCAA Division II Tournament as a head coach.
"Metro has very good tradition," Lappe said. "I knew that before even looking at the job. I told myself that if that job ever opened up, I would love to have it."
Athletic director Joan McDermott is excited about bringing Lappe into the women's basketball head coaching position.
"We are just thrilled to have Linda on our staff," McDermott said. "She brings outstanding credentials as both a player at Colorado, under Ceal Barry, and as a coach. She has championship experience, which will be valuable to our team. I am confident that she will continue the success of the program."
Lappe comes to Metro with substantial college basketball experience, having both played and coached at the Division I level. Lappe played four years for the Buffaloes, and helped her team earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament three straight years, from 2001-2003. Her team reached the Elite Eight in 2002, and the Sweet 16 in 2003. Lappe played under legendary college coach Ceal Barry at CU-Boulder, and credits her new position to her former coach.
"The thing with Coach Barry is that she is just a great person," Lappe said. "She does things the right way. She is just a classy lady, and her programs were always first-class programs. As players, she instilled that into us, and one of the biggest things I hope to do is to have Metro State run like a first-class program."
After her graduation from CU-Boulder in 2002, Lappe ventured back to her home state of Iowa and became an assistant coach at Drake University. She led the Bulldogs to two Women's National Invitation Tournaments in 2004 and 2005.
She then found herself back in Colorado as an assistant coach for Colorado State University, where she spent a season helping secure 11 recruits for the Rams for the upcoming 2007-2008 season.
"I am definitely a Coloradan at heart," Lappe said. "I love this state, ever since I lived here six of the past nine years of my life. I have a real passion for the people of Colorado (and) its communities. I have no problem selling the state (to possible incoming recruits)."
Lappe becomes Metro's sixth women's basketball coach in its 25-year history. She takes over for Dave Murphy, who served five years as Roadrunner head coach, leading his team to a 24-7 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance in the previous season.
Murphy abruptly retired in June, leaving behind a senior-laden team that has all the parts to make a serious run at a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title, as well as an NCAA Tournament championship.
"I have to say that Coach Murphy and his staff did a great job of leaving the cupboard very full for whoever took over this program," Lappe said. "We have a lot of depth, some senior leadership, but I think it will be a matter of how well we gel together."
Metro will return six seniors for the 2007-2008 season.
Lappe says she brings her Division I tournament experience to the Roadrunners and hopes to build on the school's already successful program.
"I hope to continue that, getting to the Sweet 16, getting to the Elite Eight and hopefully competing for a national championship," Lappe said. "That's a realistic goal we can set for ourselves, if not for this year, then in years to come. I am not going to be satisfied with being mediocre or in the middle of the pack of the RMAC. I think we can be better than that."
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