So who is Officially......

[mslacat]

What is the word from Bozeman? Who officially the new coach? How was the press conference?

[Bobcat4Ever]

Tricia ("Trish") Bader-Binford.

She affirmed her commitment to the current team and to getting some recruits on board -- but won't sign anyone until the team meets them as she does believe in team chemistry. Very driven personality, but seems to be a player's coach. She met with the current team members last evening.

Go 'Cats.

[BleedsBlue&Gold]

Thanks for the word. I am excited for her to get started. Hopefully we can build some stability in the WBB program.

My fear is that she will have great success and bigger schools will start looking at her. Hopefully she will want to stay in Bozeman for awhile.

[wbtfg]

Thanks for the word. I am excited for her to get started. Hopefully we can build some stability in the WBB program.

My fear is that she will have great success and bigger schools will start looking at her. Hopefully she will want to stay in Bozeman for awhile.

One of my biggest fears with her is that she has a one year old son, and she may not know the time commitment that is required for a division 1 coach, and that she may want to spend more time with her toddler than what the job allows. (This is coming from a person without any children, and has no idea what it takes to raise kids)

[Cat Grad]

I think having kids around practice, travelling to games, and growing up in a college atmosphere is a plus for both the parent and the kids, not to mention the players. Having watched numerous families actively involved in coaching, the problem I've seen more often than any other is what about the spouse? Unless something has changed in and around the Gallatin, it's hard to find employment for both husband and wife. Haven't heard anything about our new coaches husband.

[wbtfg]

What is the word from Bozeman? Who officially the new coach? How was the press conference?

MSU women's basketball: Bader-Binford named new head coach


The Associated Press

BOZEMAN - Tricia Binford, an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Utah State, was named coach of the Montana State women's basketball team Wednesday.

Binford, who has been at Utah State the past two seasons, played professionally in the WNBA for the Cleveland Rockers and Utah Starzz before moving to Logan. Before that, she played point-guard at Boise State and was a three-time All-Big Sky Conference performer.

She also played in Australia for two years and was an assistant coach at Boise State from 1999-2001.

Athletics Director Peter Fields said Binford ushers in a new era for MSU's women's program.

"It's no secret what our program has been through," he said. "We believe that she will establish a new course in our future."

The MSU program was 15-14 in 2003-2004; 9-18 this past season.

In just two seasons, the reestablished Aggie program with Binford's assistance went 5-22 in the 2003-2004 season and was 14-14 this past season.

"I want every player to walk out with her diploma, feel a sense of allegiance to the university and community, be confident in entering the world and know how to keep fighting for her dreams," Binford said in a prepared statement.

"Montana State is getting a great one," said June Daugherty of Seattle, the Washington coach who coached Binford at Boise State. "It's exciting to see a former Big Sky Conference great come back to the league and coach."

Binford and her husband, Todd, have a 1-year-old son, Justin.

[wbtfg]

Here is a better article from the USU athletics website

Utah State's Tricia Binford Named Head Women's Basketball Coach At Montana State
Binford was an assistant at Utah State for two years under head coach Raegan Pebley.


April 13, 2005

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State women's basketball assistant coach Tricia Binford was named the new head women's basketball coach at Montana State by athletic director Peter Fields, it was announced Wednesday. Binford takes the reigns of the Bobcat program that went 9-18 overall last season and finished seventh in the Big Sky Conference with a 3-11 record.

"I really owe this opportunity to [Utah State Head Coach] Raegan Pebley for the amazing job she has done with the program at Utah State," Binford said. "I will miss Utah State, but I'm ready to help the players and program at Montana State get, and stay at the top of the Big Sky Conference."

During her two seasons at Utah State, Binford helped resurrect the women's basketball program that had been nonexistent for 16 years. The program was discontinued following the 1987 season due to state-wide budget cuts, then returned to play during the 2003-04 season.

"This is a great opportunity for Tricia and her family," Pebley said. "Montana State is getting a great coach and this will be a good fit for both parties. Tricia getting this job says a lot about Utah State and what the players have accomplished the last few years. It will be impossible to replace her, but we hope to find someone that can add to our program as much as she did."

The Aggies went 5-22 in their infant season and made it to the Big West Tournament with a 5-13 conference record. The five wins were four more than the 1987 team had compiled (1-26). Despite once again entering the season with a roster void of seniors, Utah State excelled in its sophomore season, falling just one win shy of tripling its win total from the previous season (14-14), finishing sixth in the Big West with a 9-9 mark and making its second straight BWC Tournament appearance.





"I am very impressed with how involved the athletic director and president are in women's sports at Montana State," Binford said. "You can tell they are behind the program and that will help us succeed from the get go."

Prior to joining the Aggie coaching staff Binford was a member of the WNBA's Cleveland Rockers for four seasons, and worked as an assistant women's basketball coach at Boise State from 1999-2001.

Binford was the 31st pick in the 1998 WNBA draft and spent 1998 and part of 1999 with the Utah Starzz. She played for the Rockers from 1999-02, and was on the 2001 Eastern Conference Championship team.

A 2001 Boise State Hall of Fame inductee, she is the BSU career assist leader (448), second among steals leaders (271) and fifth on the total points list (1,171).

Binford was the Idaho NCAA Woman of the Year in 1996 and graduated with honors from Boise State with a degree in criminal justice.

Binford and her husband, Todd, have one son: Justin, born April 3, 2004.