May
11, 2006
Release courtesy of Bryan Boettcher, Coe College sports information
director
CEDAR
RAPIDS , IOWA . . . Coe College announced that Melissa
Bruner has resigned her post as the head women’s
basketball coach and assistant athletics director and will be
named director of women’s basketball operations at Florida
State University later this month. The search for a new basketball
coach will begin immediately.
“This
is a great opportunity for Melissa,” said Coe director
of athletics John Chandler. “She has been a tremendous
asset to the college both as a student and as a professional.
Her hard work and dedication will be missed.”
Bruner
compiled a 28-75 record in her four seasons with the Kohawks.
She led the team to three consecutive Iowa Conference Tournament
appearances (2004-06) while placing fifth in the league standings
over the past two years. Five players have been named to the
all-Iowa Conference team under Bruner, including Amber Karkosh
who broke Coe’s single-season scoring record this season.
“I
have enjoyed being a part of the Coe community in many different
roles and have been blessed to work with some extraordinary
people during my time here,” said Bruner. “I am
grateful for my experiences at Coe, but I couldn’t pass
up the opportunity to join the staff at FSU and become a part
of an extremely successful basketball program. I look forward
to the new challenges in my career and am confident that the
Kohawks are on track to take their program to the next level.”
Prior
to her arrival to Coe, Bruner spent seven years as the director
of women’s basketball operations at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison.
Bruner
received her business administration and accounting degree with
a minor in physical education at Coe in 1994. She earned her
master’s degree in physical education with a concentration
in athletic administration from Ohio University in 1995.
As
a Kohawk, Bruner earned Academic All-Midwest Conference honors
in softball, basketball, tennis and volleyball. In recognition
for her athletic and academic achievements, she was named a
national GTE Academic All-American her senior year.
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