UW-Platteville has narrowed the search for the UW-P head women’s basketball coach and physical education lecturer, to five finalists.
The finalists include Brad Fischer, current UW-Parkside assistant women’s basketball coach; Michelle Guyant-Holloway, head women’s basketball coach of Shenandoah University; Keith Lindahl, Minneapolis Community and Technical College women’s basketball head coach; Sarah Tracy, Minnesota State University, Mankato assistant women’s basketball coach; and Megan Wilson, former UW-Stevens Point assistant women’s basketball coach.

“We will conduct interviews all week [one per day] and then once a decision is made, we will hold a press conference to introduce the new coach and lecturer,” Paul Erickson, sports information director said.

Every candidate has a tie to the Midwest region, with all five finalists coaching, at some point in their career, in either Wisconsin, Michigan or Minnesota.

Brad Fischer, UW-Parkside assistant coach
According to the UW-Parkside sports information Web site, Fischer completed his fourth year as the Rangers’ top assistant and recruiting coordinator. His 10th season in coaching with previous stops at both the collegiate and high school levels. Prior to joining the Rangers, Fischer was an assistant coach with the women’s basketball program at Div. III UW-LaCrosse.

Michelle Guyant-Holloway, Shenandoah University head coach
Guyant-Holloway, according to the Shenandoah sports information Web site, was only the second full-time women’s basketball coach in Shenandoah history. Shenandoah won 17 games in 2006-07, including nine in the USA South conference, and won the Lebanon Valley and SU Shootout in-season tournaments. Guyant-Holloway came to Shenandoah in June 2006 after serving as the lead assistant coach at Div. II Northern Michigan University from 1998-2005.

Keith Lindahl, Minneapolis Community and Technical College head coach
Lindahl, MCTC head coach, led the 2009 team to a 25-6 record and 8th in the National Junior College Athletic Association, according to the MCTC sports information Web site. Before moving on to MCTC, Lindahl coached at Anoka-Ramsey Community College from 2000-05, compiling an overall record of 100-37. He left upon the conclusion of the 2005 season, after winning a National Championship.

Sarah Tracy, Minnesota State University women’s basketball staff
Tracy joined the Minnesota State Universities women’s basketball staff in 2008. According to the MSU sports Web site, Tracy spent four seasons at Grand View College in Des Moines, Iowa, as an assistant coach. During her time there the Vikings compiled a 64-49 record, including a 20-12 record in 2007-08. Tracy is a 1999 graduate of Luther College, where she earned a degree in physical education.

Megan Wilson, former UW-Steven’s Point assistant coach
Wilson served as assistant coach for the UW-Steven’s Point Pointers as recently as 2009, according to the UW-SP sports Web site. Wilson is a Barneveld native and she attended UW-SP and was a member of the women’s basketball team from 1999-2003. During her time at UW-SP, she was winner of the Pointer Award in 2001, 2002 and 2003 as voted by her teammates.

The week-long coaching selection marathon has each candidate participating in a search and screen committee and a meeting with athletic director, Mark Molesworth, and Curt Fatzinger about the Pioneer Activity Center facilities. Also, meetings will be held with Colleen McCabe, program coordinator of the health and physical education department, current assistant coaches and Carol Sue Butts, interim chancellor, who approves the final decision.

The coaching candidates will also have lunch with UW-P men’s basketball coach Jeff Gard. The finalists will be allowed to go over teaching areas and drills in front of the players.

“This was coach Gard’s idea, after a long day of meetings it’s a good way to end with what coaches find more natural teaching,” Erickson said.