Mar 16, 2010 9:24:47 AM

Notre Dame (Maryland) will resume sponsorship of women's basketball during 2010-11 after stopping play last season after one game.

"This is an announcement I have been looking forward to making for almost four months," said Athletics Director Michael Spinner. "I am absolutely thrilled to announce that basketball is back at College of Notre Dame."

Spinner announced the hiring of a new coach for the program, which competes in the Colonial States Athletic Conference.

The school cited a depleted roster due to injuries for shutting down the program last fall following Notre Dame's season-opening 73-19 loss at Goucher.

"Canceling this past season was hopefully the most difficult decision I'll ever have to make as athletics director, and I hope to never have to make a decision like this one again," Spinner said. "But at the same time, the level of support the athletics department gained from our campus community, student-athletes, and alumnae was just incredible, and I am very proud of everybody involved."

Soccer coach Kirsten Russell stepped in as interim coach after the resignation of three-year head coach Rob Long.

"Kirsten Russell stepped into a difficult situation, and worked diligently to keep our basketball student-athletes engaged," Spinner said. "She developed a recruiting plan for our basketball program that is going to lead to an outstanding freshman class next season and set the stage for a successful transition to a new coaching staff.

"Kirsten may have never coached a game as our head basketball coach, but I think she left a very positive mark on our program, and I am proud of her."

Notre Dame hired Kristi Ellenberger, who has coached the girls' team at Baltimore's Northeast High School since 2007, as its new coach.