Versyp returns to alma mater

Sharon Versyp, IU fans hardly knew you. \nAlmost a year to date since she took the job, Versyp resigned Friday as the head coach of the IU women's basketball team to take the head coaching job at her alma mater, Purdue.\nLast week, Purdue coach Kristy Curry resigned to take the head coaching job at Texas Tech University, leaving a vacancy for the Boilermakers. Purdue lost to North Carolina in the Sweet 16 during the women's NCAA Tournament.\nAccording to an April 8 article in The Indianapolis Star, the IU women's basketball players were not aware of Versyp's resignation until IU Athletics Director Rick Greenspan told them Friday morning. Versyp was unable to tell her team because she has been on vacation this past week.\n"We all heard rumors, but were shocked," freshman guard Kim Roberson said in the article. "We were also a little hurt because we weren't personally told by her."\nAlso in the article, freshman forward Whitney Thomas said, "(Versyp) is a good coach who helped me get better, and I'm glad for that one year. I wish it could have been longer, but what happens, happens, and we have to move on."\nVersyp's resignation comes just two weeks after the Hoosiers' season-ending WNIT Elite Eight loss to Marquette \nUniversity.\nIn her first season with the Hoosiers, Versyp led IU to a 19-14 overall record, with a 9-7 mark in the Big Ten. The 19 wins were the most for the Hoosiers since the 2000-01 squad that went 20-11 and lost in the second round of the WNIT. The 2006 WNIT was the first postseason action IU had seen since the 2002 NCAA Tournament, where the cream and crimson fell at the hands of Texas Christian University in the first round.\nVersyp is returning to Purdue where she was a four-year starter from 1984 to 1988. In 113 career games, she averaged 13.8 points, 3.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds \nper game.\nHer 1,565 career points ranks ninth in the Purdue women's basketball record books while her 418 career assists stands in seventh place all-time.\nOn April 8, 2005, Versyp was introduced as the head coach of the IU after former head coach Kathi Bennett resigned March 1, 2005. She quickly turned around a program coming off three straight losing seasons.\nOn the season, IU made it to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis before losing to Purdue and also earned a bid to the WNIT Tournament. After two victories against Rice University and Indiana State University, the Hoosiers traveled to Milwaukee for an Elite Eight matchup with Marquette, where they lost 57-54.\n"We appreciate Sharon's efforts at IU and wish her well in her future endeavors," Greenspan said in a statement.\nAccording to Purdue's athletics Web site, www.purduesports.com, Versyp is scheduled to be in West Lafayette today to meet with the administration and team to "finalize a few remaining administrative details."\n"Sharon is our choice, and she is excited about returning to her alma mater," Purdue Athletics Director Morgan Burke said in a statement.\nGreenspan will now begin a national search to find Versyp's replacement as the head coach of the IU women's basketball team, just weeks after he finalized a similar search for the men's head coach replacement.