New women's basketball coach Blair Savage officially landed herfirst recruit July 2, but it wasn't what you might think.
Instead of adding a player to her team's roster, she added anassistant coach.
Angela Crosby, an assistant at University ofTennessee-Chattanooga for four years, was named to the staff.
And it didn't take long for the newest member of the staff tohit the recruiting trail.
"She came in on a Tuesday (July 6), and we went out recruitingon Wednesday," Savage said.
Crosby said she didn't mind at all.
"It was a whirlwind," she said. "When you know how important andwonderful July recruiting is, you can accept it."
The new coach has already spent time observing talent inChicago, Atlanta and Monroe, La. At this point, Crosby has met onlybriefly with Savage and has had even less exposure to assistantcoach Tom Cross. According to Crosby, however, there are moreimportant tasks at hand.
"There's plenty of time to (get to know the coaches)," Crosbysaid. "Right now, I'm focused on recruiting, but I've heard nothingbut great things about them."
Despite her unfamiliarity with The University of Memphis Tigers,Crosby is certainly at home on the recruiting trail. She served asa major recruiter at Chattanooga, signing many of the players whohelped the Mocs to four consecutive NCAA tournamentappearances.
"She was an integral part in recruiting the players up there,"Savage said. "It wasn't all her, but she was a vital part of theirsuccess."
During Crosby's four-year tenure, the Mocs knew nothing butsuccess. Since 2000, Chattanooga owned a record of 102-23,including NCAA tournament games. Last season, the Mocs enjoyed a 27game winning streak and defeated Rutgers in the NCAA first round,before falling to No. 13 Vanderbilt in the second round.
Prior to her arrival in Chattanooga, Crosby was a successfulassistant at another SoCon school, her alma mater AppalachianState. In 1998-99, she helped lead the Mountaineers to a NCAAtournament bid.
Crosby was one of three Mocs assistants to leave following the2003-04 season, and she welcomes the chance to move into a morepowerful conference.
"Memphis has a tradition of good women's basketball, and thefact that they are in Conference USA didn't hurt either," Crosbysaid. "I felt this would be a good fit for me."
The move across state will not place Crosby in completelyforeign territory. She spent time in Memphis as a recruiter atChattanooga and knows many of the AAU and high school coaches inthe area.
"I don't know if (Savage) knew how much I was in town," Crosbysaid.
Crosby will join Savage and Cross on the Tigers bench nextseason. Savage is also expected to add one more assistant beforethe season.
