UTSA names assistant coaches for women's basketball, softball

(July 23, 2002)--UTSA women's basketball coach Rae Rippetoe-Blair has named former professional basketball player Marianne Sevin to serve as an assistant coach. Additionally, UTSA head softball coach Corrie Hill has named Lori Cook an assistant coach for the softball program.

Marianne Sevin, an Ada, Okla., native, played collegiately at Texas A&M from 1993-97. She was a member of the 1994 and 1996 NCAA Tournament teams and was named to the NWIT all-tournament team in 1995. She played for current UTSA athletics director Lynn Hickey's 1994 squad that advanced to the NCAA "Sweet 16." She received the GTE Academic Achievement Award given to Student-Athletes from 1994-97. Sevin replaces Phylesha Whaley, who resigned to accept the Director of Basketball Operations position at Oklahoma State recently.

"I have known Marianne since her high school days," said Blair. "She is a person who has a good rapport with people. She was a successful high school coach, so when the position opened up I didn't hesitate to add her to our staff. She brings extensive playing experience at both A&M and professionally overseas that will be an asset to her as a coach."

Sevin played for the Clube do Povo of Esgueira, Portugal in the League Feminine Basketball in Portugal during the 2001-02 season, helping Clube do Povo to the LFB playoffs. Prior to playing overseas, Sevin guided the Lumberton (Texas) High School girls basketball team to a 26-8 record in the 2000 season. She also served as the head basketball and softball coach at Verden (Okla.) High School in 1999.

The Roadrunners welcome seven new players after a 16-12 record and third place finish in the Southland Conference. UTSA opens the 2002-2003 season Nov. 22 at North Texas.

For more information about UTSA women's basketball call Bill Petitt at (210) 458-4907.

Lori Cook comes to the assistant coach position after being a volunteer coach at UTSA the past two seasons. She brings with her over 10 years of coaching experience to UTSA. Cook had been an assistant coach at Baylor University, California State University-Hayward, Cosumnes River (Calif.) College, and Napa Valley (Calif.) College prior to arriving in San Antonio.

A former collegiate softball player at the University of Nebraska and Napa Valley, Cook has served as a volunteer coach at UTSA since 2000. Prior to UTSA, Cook was an assistant coach at Baylor from 1999 through 2000. From 1995 through 1996 she ventured overseas to serve as a head coach in Italy. Cook was assistant coach at Napa Valley from 1991 through 1995, and in 1995 became co-head coach. Her coaching career began as an assistant coach at Cal-Hayward from 1990 through 1991. She graduated from UTSA in May 2002 with a bachelor of arts degree in sociology. She had previously received an associates degree in behavioral science from Napa Valley in 1988.

Cook has been involved in several softball camps and clinics around the country, including the UTSA, Nebraska, Baylor, Napa and Plano camps. She helps with the San Antonio Fastpitch League, and is currently a Director of Fastpitch Diamond Athletics, were she oversees her own Fastpitch Academy. Cook's duties at UTSA will include working in all aspects of field coaching as well as coordinate recruiting.

"Having Cookie as our volunteer coach the past two years has been good for the softball program," said Hill, who is beginning her fifth season as head coach for the Roadrunners. "She brings in excellent work ethic and great personality to the program. I am happy to finally have her full-time on staff and very proud of her level of persistence and drive in earning her degree after having been away from school for a time."

For more information about the UTSA softball program contact Carlos Valdez at (210) 458-4551.

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