Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com
Published - Sunday, April 27, 2008
SMU names Landrum men’s basketball coach
Saint Mary’s University hired Todd Landrum to be its next men’s basketball coach Wednesday.
As a coach, Landrum has been a part of his fair share of winning.
He’s been on the staff of three NCAA Division I tournament teams, an NIT championship team, served several capacities in the CBA and is currently the youth/scholastic basketball coordinator for the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves.
Now he’s eager to get to work transforming the Cardinals, too.
“My decision to accept this job was based on a strong desire to return to coaching and competing,” said Landrum. He will “officially” assume the SMU reins on August 1, but will juggle his position with the Timberwolves and with SMU in the meantime.
“College basketball head-coaching positions are not easy to secure,” Landrum said, “and it is particularly exciting to have the opportunity to coach at an outstanding university in a great league.
“Coach Landrum quickly rose to the top of a very large national pool of applicants,” said SMU athletic director Nikki Fennern. “His history of success, his relentless energy and his vast knowledge of the game will be instrumental in building our program.”
Prior to his current stint with the Timberwolves, Landrum was a member of the UW-Platteville coaching staff — first as an assistant coach under Bo Ryan, and then as the team’s head coach following Ryan’s departure.
He has also spent 10 years as an assistant coach in the Big Ten — first at Wisconsin and then at Ohio State, where the Buckeyes reached three NCAA tournaments and earned an NIT title.
“Many people are part of a team,” Landrum said. “I feel very fortunate to have been an assistant at two programs (UW-Platteville) and Ohio State) that had great success.”
Landrum is hoping to use that experience as he and the Cardinals — who worked through a 2-23 season this season — begin their climb up the conference ladder.
“The struggles of the Saint Mary’s men’s basketball program have been well-documented, but it has not been because of lack of effort by some outstanding coaches and players,” said Landrum. “I am going to rely heavily on my previous experience
coaching in top-level programs and a recruiting network cultivated over several years in basketball to hit the ground running.”
Landrum becomes SMU’s 12th men’s basketball head coach, replacing Mike Trewick, who stepped down following last season.
“In my mind, the slate is clean. The past is the past, and the future is bright,” Landrum said. “The league is loaded with great players and great coaches, and we need to be ready to step up to the challenge. The window of opportunity for a college student-athlete is only four years, and we hope our players will embrace the idea of making the most of that opportunity.”
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