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Louisville assistant Bethann Shapiro Ord was named as Weber State women's basketball head coach Wednesday. This is Ord's first opportunity as a head coach.
She brings 21 years of coaching experience to the Wildcats, including coaching in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in three of the past four seasons and the NCAA championship game in 2009.
"I am very excited to be a part of the Weber State family and I am grateful for this tremendous opportunity," Ord said. "I can't wait to get on campus and get started. It will be a process but I am ready to get to work."
Ord is the fifth head coach in Weber State women's basketball history. She replaces Carla Taylor, whose contract was not renewed following this season, her 23rd at WSU.
"[Ord] brings a great deal of experience in different programs around the country," Weber State Director of Athletics Jerry Bovee said. "She has coached in major conferences with teams that have had success in the NCAA Tournament. She will bring a high level of experience to Weber State and will make an excellent addition to our athletic department."
Ord spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach for the Cardinals. During her stay at Louisville, the Cardinals advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament three times, including the national title game in 2009. At Louisville, Ord was instrumental in the Cardinals signing three top 15 recruiting classes and one in the top five. She also helped bring two high school All-Americans to Louisville.
Prior to Louisville, Ord was an assistant coach at the University of Colorado for two seasons. While with the Buffaloes, she was instrumental in bringing the No. 29 recruiting class in the nation in 2005-06.
She spent six seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Tulsa where she was also the recruiting coordinator.
Prior to Tulsa, Ord spent one season at Dayton and one season at Auburn, where she was an assistant and director of basketball operations. She spent four years as an assistant coach at Pittsburgh from 1992-96.
She began her coaching career at Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y. where she spent one season as an assistant coach, followed by two seasons as an assistant at Wagner College.