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ISU confirms coach Jim Wiedie contract will not be renewed
School announced Tuesday women's basketball coach suspended for rest of season
TERRE HAUTE — Indiana State head women’s basketball coach Jim Wiedie’s tenure appears to be over.
Athletic director Ron Prettyman announced Tuesday that the two-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year was suspended for the remainder of the season, his 10th with ISU.
Neither Prettyman nor anyone with the university would disclose reasons for Wiedie’s suspension.
“This was a difficult decision that needed to be made for the welfare of our program and our student athletes,” Prettyman said in a news release. “We wish Jim Wiedie well as he pursues other opportunities, and thank him for his years of service to Sycamore Athletics and the women’s basketball program.”
Prettyman confirmed in an e-mail to the Tribune-Star on Tuesday night that “most likely, with this suspension, his contract will not be renewed.”
Wiedie’s contract expires in June. He was offered an extension several weeks ago, but “a contract was not fully executed,” Prettyman wrote in another message.
Repeated attempts to reach Wiedie for comment Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Johnny Cooley, father of junior forward Kelsie Cooley, said Wiedie personally texted Kelsie to tell her of his suspension.
“He had nothing but good things to say to Kelsie as he gave her the news today … She was wanting to get in touch, but he had already cleaned out his office,” Johnny Cooley said.
Multiple sources have confirmed that Wiedie had cleared out his office in the ISU Arena.
Johnny Cooley said his daughter had a lot of respect for Wiedie.
“Coach Wiedie’s always been very fair to Kelsie. He believed in her when no one else did,” Cooley said.
He added, “Hopefully this change will be a positive one for both Wiedie and the players.”
ISU has lost its past three games, falling to 11-10 overall and 2-8 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Indiana State’s assistant coaches will take over the team, the school said in a press release. Top assistant Clint Weddle and No. 2 assistant Melanie Boeglin, a former standout player for Wiedie, did not return calls to their cell phones Tuesday.
Wiedie is the all-time wins leader for women’s basketball at ISU with a record of 166-118. He led the Sycamores to a school-record win total in 2005-06 when Terre Haute South graduates Boeglin and Kristen Weddle led the Sycamores to a record of 27-6 overall and 16-2 in the MVC to take the regular-season title.
After a loss in the MVC tournament championship, the Sycamores settled for a third berth to the WNIT under Wiedie’s direction.
After a 19-11 season in 2006-07, the Sycamores have finished under .500 the past two seasons. Wiedie’s teams have also been among the top 35 in the nation in fan attendance and even stronger academically. ISU won its third “national title” in 2008-09 for having the highest team grade-point average.
Tribune-Star sports reporter Craig Pearson can be reached at (812) 231-4357 or by e-mail at craig.pearson@tribstar.com.
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