PULLMAN – Washington State University Head Women’s Basketball Coach Sherri Murrell has resigned, Cougar Director of Athletics Jim Sterk announced Thursday.
Murrell, who became the sixth coach to lead the WSU program in March 2002, owned a 27-114 record during her five-year tenure with the Cougars. WSU student-athletes garnered 18 academic honors and seven athletic accolades from the Pacific-10 Conference during her time in Pullman. The Cougars placed one student-athlete on the All-Pac-10 Academic First Team during each of Murrell’s five seasons.
“This decision to move on in my career was a very tough and emotional one to make,” said Murrell. “I want to thank the Cougar family for their incredible support and for the lifelong friendships that have developed over the years. I thank Jim Sterk and President V. Lane Rawlins for their commitment to this program and staff. I have the utmost respect for this administration and university.
“I truly love my team and leaving them was the hardest part of this decision. I know these young women will be successful and will continue to improve this program. I appreciate all their hard work and dedication.”
Murrell recruited and coached four-year letter-winner Kate Benz, the Cougars’ all-time leading rebounder with 899 and the 11th student-athlete to score 1,000 point in WSU women’s basketball history. As a sophomore in 2005, Benz became the first Cougar to lead the Pac-10 in rebounding and repeated the feat in 2006.
WSU’s student-athletes coached by Murrell occupy 17 spots on Cougar career top 10 lists and nine on WSU single-season top 10 lists. In 2005-06, Katie Appleton and Amanda DuRocher each made 50 treys to set the WSU freshman record for 3-pointers in a season.
Current WSU assistant coaches Mark Lewis, Lisa Fisher and Tara Sanchez are all under contracts that expire this summer.
