Western Carolina head coach Kellie (Jolly) Harper was chosen as the third head coach in the 35-year history of North Carolina State women’s basketball. She succeeds the late Kay Yow, who passed away January 24 after battling breast cancer. In five years at Western Carolina, Harper led the Catamounts to two Southern Conference tournament titles, two NCAA tournament berths and two WNIT appearances. As a player, she was a member of three national championship teams at Tennessee.

Other transactions

Men’s basketball -- Xavier elevated Chris Mack to head coach to succeed Sean Miller, who took the same position at Arizona. Mack, who has spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach with the program, formerly was the Musketeers director of basketball operations and an assistant at Wake Forest before most recently returning to Xavier in 2004.

Volleyball – Christi Kelsey was hired as head women’s coach at Williams. Kelsey, who replaces Fran Vandermeer, has been first assistant at Harvard for the past three years.

Conferences

The Northeast Conference promoted Michelle Boone to assistant commissioner (sports services). She formerly was director of sports services for the league.

Sandra Hunt was appointed as coordinator of women’s soccer officiating for the Pac-10. She will implement the conference's officiating program and identifying, recruiting, training, assigning and evaluating referees for conference and non-conference matches. In 17 years as an on-field official before retiring in 2004, Hunt twice officiated the NCAA Women’s College Cup; was part of the 1999 and 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup and 2000 Olympic Games officiating crews; and in 1998, became one of the first two women to ever referee a game in Major League Soccer.