USA - Goestenkors leaves Duke, expected to take Texas job

DURHAM (NCAA Women) - Gail Goestenkors, who turned Duke into a national power but never won a championship - officially resigned on Tuesday and is expected to be named the new coach at Texas.

Goestenkors, 44, is an assistant coach on the US women's national team. She became the leading candidate for the Texas job when Hall of Fame coach Jody Conradt retired last month.

Goestenkors visited the campus in Austin last week and met with women's athletic director Chris Plonsky.

"Gail informed us earlier today that she will no longer be the coach at Duke University," director of athletics Joe Alleva said.

"In the end, it came down to her seeking a new challenge at this stage in her career and her life. We respect her decision and wish her the best of luck in her new role."

Texas has yet to schedule a news conference regarding the coaching vacancy.

Duke ended the regular season as the top-ranked team in the country but were upset by fourth-seeded Rutgers in the NCAA Tournament regional semifinals and finished 32-2.

A seven-time Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year, Goestenkors compiled a record of 396-99 in 15 years at Duke. She guided the Blue Devils to four Final Four appearances and two trips to the national championship game.

Conradt coached at Texas for 31 seasons, winning the national title in 1986. She is second on the all-time wins list with 900, 45 behind all-time leader Pat Summitt of Tennessee.

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