Women's Basketball Program Realigns Coaching Staff
July 17, 2000 | Women's Basketball
May 8, 2000
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville women's basketball team has realigned its staff and made some new additions.
Co-head coaches Martin Clapp and Sara White will change titles. Clapp will become the head coach and White will become the director of basketball operations, taking the place of Julie Holt who resigned to spend more time with her family. In addition to the changes at the top, Clapp has added Kelley Hall and Lisa Diefenthaler as assistant coaches, with Hall also serving as the recruiting coordinator.
"I am very excited about the reorganization of our staff," said White. "My new role will allow me more time for our family, while still keeping me involved with the things that I love to do. I now have a greater opportunity to get out into the community to promote our women's basketball program. We want every young person in the Louisville area to have access to our women's basketball team."
"I am also pleased with the reorganization," said athletic director Tom Jurich. "It was very important to me that the decision to change positions came from Sara and that she feels this can make us so much stronger. The addition of Kelley and Lisa, two proven assistants, brings a lot of energy and balance to the staff. I think it will lead to a great chemistry for the women's basketball program."
"We are excited to give Sara a chance to be out in the public more and to help bring attention to our program," said head coach Martin Clapp. "It will also be easier on our family not having both of us on the road all the time. This will allow Sara to spend more time as mother and to do more school related events with Chelsea."
Hall spent three seasons as the recruiting coordinator at Auburn. His first recruiting class at Auburn included All-Americans Shana Askew, Tasha Hamilton, and Conswella Sparrow and was ranked fourth nationally by Blue Chip Magazine. Every player in his second class was named an All-American by USA Today and was ranked fifth nationally. All of Hall's recruiting classes have been ranked in the top 10 by USA Today, Blue Star and All-Star Magazines.
Prior to his stint at Auburn, Hall served as the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach at Cal-State Fullerton for two years and was an assistant at Mississippi State from 1992-94.
A 1982 Troy State graduate, Hall served as the head coach at Truett-McConnell Junior College in Cleveland, Ga., for seven seasons, compiling a 185-49 record. During his tenure at Truett-McConnell he was named the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Coach of the Year in 1991 and 1992 and guided them to three state junior college championships and four runner-up finishes.
"Kelley is one of the top recruiters in the country and is a great addition to our staff," said Clapp. "He is a veteran coach that will also help coach the post players. I feel that with Kelley's contacts, he will help to boost our program to another level."
Lisa Diefenthaler comes to Louisville from Valparaiso University where she served as an assistant the last two seasons. While at Valparaiso, Diefenthaler served primarily as the program's recruiting coordinator. Diefenthaler played at Valpo form 1992-96 and finished her career as the all-time assists leader. The Waynesboro, Va., native also ranks sixth on VU's career steals list.
"I am very excited to have Lisa join our staff," Clapp said. "She is young and energetic and has been in charge of recruiting the last two years at Valparaiso. She was an outstanding player there and has a great relationship with the student-athletes."
