Xavier's most successful basketball coach — Melanie Balcomb — will be staying after all.

        The Muskies warded off another suitor, this time Minnesota, by sweetening Balcomb's contract at XU. XU athletic director Mike Bobinski said Balcomb told him she had pulled her name out of consideration for the Minnesota job. Minnesota named Ball State's Brenda Oldfield its new women's coach Friday, replacing Cheryl Littlejohn.

        Bobinksi would not discuss the details of Balcomb's improved contract.

        “At the end of our season, we had a conversation with Mel about her (situation) at Xavier, and at that point we committed to do some things,” Bobinski said. “... We've wrapped it up and finalized it, and that (commitment) reaffirmed to her that this is a good situation for her personally and professionally.”

        Balcomb, 38, is 123-59 in six seasons at XU, including 57-8 the past two seasons and a trip to the Elite Eight in March. Other schools that have courted her the past three offseasons are Oregon, Michigan State, California, Purdue, Northwestern and Washington State.

Xavier Stories

Balcomb staying at Xavier

Reds 7, Indians 4
Memorable night for Selby
Deion gets first shot at DH
Larkin, Boone still not ready
Rose, 31, undeterred by release
Reds box, runs
Satterfield gets mixed reviews at draft camp
Bengal comes home to find city divided
SULLIVAN: Bowler dies in his prime
Riverfront Classic future in doubt
Kenseth, Skinner won't be at Speedway
La Rosa's names finalists for prep award
Boone Co. advances in Ky. softball tourney
All-Ohio baseball teams
Local boxer gets world bronze
Moeller's Murphy ineligible at UK

• Return to Xavier front page...