Basketball: Middleton released at WCU

Head women's basketball coach Karen Middleton will not return to the WCU basketball program, Athletics Director Randy Eaton announced today. Assistant coach Willie Freeman, will be retained at least until a new head coach is hired.

"I want to thank Karen for all of the hard work she and her staff did representing Western Carolina over the last six years," said Eaton. "She consistently recruited quality young ladies and always placed emphasis on the `student' in the student-athletes she brought to our campus." Eaton also added that a national search for the next head women's basketball coach will begin immediately.

During Middleton's six seasons in Cullowhee, the Catamounts compiled a 63-121 (.342) record, which includes a 35-77 (.313) conference record. On the positive side, under Middleton's tenure, four Catamounts earned SoCon All-Freshman team honors and three earned All-SoCon honors. WCU twice had an Academic All-District III selection and the Catamount squads twice garnered national academic recognition from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) with its academic top 25 ranking.

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