ATHLETICS: AD Collins says field hockey opening still in search process

Athletics department yet to find a replacement after Annette Payne was fired in November

The Ball State University athletics department now has one head coaching position left to fill after Wednesday's hiring of new Ball State soccer coach Craig Roberts.

Director of Athletics Tom Collins said Wednesday afternoon that the field hockey position is still open, but couldn't say much beyond that.

"We're in the midst of that process right now," Collins said. "There's been some good interest."

Ball State had three head coaching spots to fill after the coaches in women's tennis, soccer and field hockey were all fired within a one month period in October and November.

Collins filled the tennis spot, formerly held by longtime coach Kathy Bull, with interim coach Amy Behrman Jan. 11. He said he's been happy so far with Behrman's performance, as the women's tennis team currently holds a 3-1 record.

"I think she's jumped in with both feet, and I think she's got a good rapport with the student-athletes," Collins said. "She's out there working hard with the student-athletes, trying to help them, develop them and putting them in a position where they can be successful, and I think so far, that's worked."

Though Behrman officially has the title of interim coach, Collins said his staff is not going to re-evaluate the position until this season's completion.

As for the hiring of Roberts, Collins said he was encouraged by a large number of qualified candidates for the job.

"I thought we had a very good pool of candidates and they all brought something a little bit different," he said. "I think that was great about the search process — you get to see some different people and hear some different ideas."

Roberts comes from the University of Tennessee at Martin, a school that on Monday was selected to play the Ball State men's basketball team in the ESPNU BracketBusters game on Feb. 20 at Worthen Arena.

Was there any connection between the UT Martin soccer and men's basketball programs that might've helped Roberts land the job at Ball State?

That's a negative, according to Collins.

"It's purely coincidental," he said.


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