Kevin McGuff speaks at a news conference today. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        Xavier introduced Kevin McGuff as its new women's basketball coach today in a 3 p.m. news conference. The 32-year-old Hamilton native had been a Notre Dame assistant for six years and has been lauded as one of the nation's top recruiters.

        “Being the head coach at Xavier is a dream come true for me,” McGuff said. “I've always regarded Xavier as a very special situation.”

        Xavier Athletic Director Mike Bobinski said: “He comes to us from a Notre Dame program with a very similar emphasis on academics and integrity, but with the added benefit of having been part of competitive success at an elite level during his time there."

        At Notre Dame, McGuff was part of four Sweet 16 teams, including the 2001 NCAA championship team. His efforts helped the Irish land five consecutive top-20 recruiting classes. In 1999, McGuff was named the third-best assistant coach in the country by Women's Basketball Journal.

        He previously spent three years as an assistant at Miami University.

        McGuff replaces Melanie Balcomb, the winningest coach in XU history (135-78), who left two weeks ago for Vanderbilt.

        McGuff interviewed last week with Xavier athletic director Mike Bobinski in Indianapolis, one of five candidates to be interviewed off campus.

        Bobinski is a Notre Dame alum, and he worked there for six years in the 1980s in several roles in the athletic department.

        The other candidates interviewed in this search were Wisconsin-Milwaukee coach Sandy Botham, Evansville coach Tricia Cullop, Cincinnati State coach Gary McDaniel and Iowa assistant Jan Jensen.

        As a player, McGuff helped lead Badin to a 28-0 mark and the 1988 Ohio Division III state title. He played collegiately at St.Joseph's (Ind.) College.

        McGuff's initial contact with Bobinski came shortly after Balcomb left XU — despite the fact McGuff was in Italy on a team trip with the Irish.

        McGuff had interviewed last spring for the Saint Joseph's (Pa.) job and this spring for Providence's coaching position, but he withdrew his name from consideration both times.

       The Associated Press contributed to this report

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