I had intended to cover three more “majors/mid-majors” in their quest to name new head coaches for their women’s basketball programs, but what a difference several days make -- two of those three positions have already been filled. The University of Michigan today named Kevin Borseth to replace Cheryl Burnett and yesterday Missouri State University chose Nyla Milleson to replace Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. Kevin Borseth leaves the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, so that D-1 position is now open. In Borseth’s nine seasons at UW-Green Bay, he compiled a 216-62 record and the Horizon League regular-season championship each of those years. The Phoenix won seven conference tournaments under Borseth and made seven NCAA Tournament appearances.

Milleson is of special note: She comes to Missouri State University from a D-2 school whose program she built from the ground up: Drury University. When she took the position at Drury, they had never before fielded a women’s basketball team. In her seven seasons there, her teams posted a 185-36 record, won six conference titles and made five appearances in the NCAA Division II tournament, where they finished as national runners-up in 2004. Milleson reportedly signed a 5-year contract worth $115,000 annually.

In other coaching news, the University of Central Florida named Joi Williams Felton as their new head coach. Williams Felton comes to UCF from Murray State, so that D-1 job is now open. Her 2006-2007 Murray State team finished with a 21-10 record and an invitation to the WNIT. Prior to her 4-year stint at Murray State, she was an assistant at Clemson, and had previously served as a twelve year assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Florida under Carol Ross.

To recap my earlier article, #1 opening LSU is set to interview Van Chancellor some time this week. #2 Florida is still wide open, but Holly Warlick’s name has been mentioned by the rumor mill as a possible candidate. I don’t give much credence to this rumor; Holly is right where she wants to be at UT, with a shiny new trophy right down the hall (and a shiny new Mercedes) and all the pieces falling into place for another one next year. Still no word on whether my #3 choice Duke will land Joanne Boyle as Coach G’s replacement. So let’s take a look at my #4 opening…

4. PENN STATE UNIVERSITY

Rene Portland resigned as head coach at Penn State University on March 21 after 27 years with the Nittany Lions and a record of 606-235. Portland had come under fire in recent years for her stated anti-lesbian policy, which had led to a lawsuit by a former player against her, the athletic department and the university. The lawsuit was settled out of court in 2006. Athletic Director Tim Curley denies she was forced out, but had no comment when asked if the lawsuit and the university’s subsequent disciplinary action against Portland played a part in her decision. Portland’s overall career record in 31 years of coaching was 692-265 and included stints at St. Joseph’s and Colorado. She is one of only nine coaches to notch 600 wins with one university. Portland was named Big Ten Coach of the Year four times, Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year once and National Coach of the Year by various organizations on five different occasions. Her teams won six Atlantic 10 Tournament championships and five Big Ten regular-season titles. Before her last two losing seasons, Portland had taken Penn State to NCAAs in 21 of 24 years, including a streak of seven straight appearances between 1999 and 2005. The Lady Lions reached the Final Four in 2000.

Leading candidates so far are Chris Dailey, Suzie McConnell-Serio, and Susan Robinson Fruchtl. Dailey was the first name mentioned by AD Curley, as she has been an assistant coach, recruiting coordinator and associate head coach in 22 years at UConn, and has been a part of five National Championships under Geno Auriemma. McConnell-Serio was a Penn State All-American, 2-time Olympian, WNBA player and had served as coach of the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, where she was named Coach of the Year in 2004. McConnell-Serio, as of last week, had not been contacted by the university, but the search committee was just finalized on Friday. She is scheduled to interview for the head coaching position at Duquesne this week. Robinson Fruchtl was an All-American and Wade Trophy winner at Penn State who served as an assistant coach under Portland from 1993-1998, and from 2004 to the present. Given the controversy that surrounded Portland’s departure, I look for PSU to go for an “outsider” to fill their coaching vacancy.

Of note: The University of Kentucky is expected to make a “major announcement” regarding their women’s basketball program in the morning. And the carousel just keeps on spinning…