FRANK NAMED INTERIM COACH

 
Ole Miss athletics director Ross Bjork announced Tuesday that Brett Frank, who was previously listed as the associate head coach, will serve as the acting head coach of the Ole Miss women’s basketball program for the upcoming season.
 
Rebecca Kates-Taylor will continue serving as an assistant coach, and Taja Edwards has been promoted from coordinator of video services to assistant coach. Bjork said that they will go into the season without hiring a third assistant coach, but he did indicate there will be administrative additions to the staff.
 
“We believe Brett is the leader and stabilizing presence our team and program needs during this difficult time,” Bjork said in a statement. “I have been impressed with how our team has responded to Brett and the staff during the past few days.  In addition, our players expressed great support for Brett, and we are confident he has the strength and love for our student-athletes necessary to lead them athletically, academically and socially.  I want to thank the entire Ole Miss family for the support expressed for our team and program.”
 
The announcement came just a few days after Bjork terminated Adrian Wiggins’ contract in the midst of an ongoing joint investigation between Ole Miss and the NCAA over “impermissible recruiting contacts and academic misconduct” that also led to the immediate termination of assistant coaches Kenya and Michael Landers.
 
Bjork said there were numerous conversations that explored several options over the past few days.
 
“We have great history here at Ole Miss, so we looked at all of our options that are available in the industry and legends that are connected to Ole Miss as well as assessed the state of our team,” Bjork said in an interview. “We felt this was best course of action for the program, for the university and for our team and getting through this season and supporting them at the highest level.”
 
Bjork also said that having someone who was familiar with the team was an important factor in the decision process, so the team would be as comfortable as possible with the season just a couple of weeks away.
 
“The timing was the most difficult part of this,” Bjork said. “So understanding the system that they’ve been working out in and practicing in for the last five months, it was important that there were some continuity, some normalcy, and this was a way to continue that.” 
 
Now, the focus shifts to moving forward with the basketball season and getting the program back on its feet. Frank, who is in his 17th season in the college coaching ranks, has been successful everywhere he’s been, earning five NCAA Tournament appearances and eight total postseason appearances at the Division I level.
 
“I care deeply for these student-athletes, and I will do everything in my power to help them move forward and compete at a high level both on and off the court,” Frank said in a statement. “I am grateful to Ross for the support he has shown our team and the confidence he has expressed in me. These are challenging circumstances, and I look forward to seeing these talented young women continue to mature and remain focused on this season.”
 
The joint investigation surrounding the program is ongoing and more information could come out in the days or months to come, but Bjork said Frank and the two assistant coaches have not been included in any wrongdoings.
 
“We are confident in the investigation around the program as it relates to those three individuals,” Bjork said.
 
Frank came to Ole Miss from Fresno State, where he spent nine years in the women’s basketball program, including the last two seasons as the associate head coach. During his time with the Lady Bulldogs, Frank helped Fresno State set a school record for wins (28) in the 2011-12 campaign, while also helping the Bulldogs advance to their fifth-consecutive NCAA Tournament. Before his tenure at Fresno, Frank served as an assistant coach at Southeastern Oklahoma State from 1994-97 and 1998-2002. 
 
Ole Miss opens its season on Nov. 9 against Southeastern Louisiana.
 
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