The search began the moment Marianna Freeman left.

Twenty-four hours after Freeman stepped down as women’s head basketball coach, Syracuse Director of Athletics Jake Crouthamel had already sent a release through the NCAA wire service. He also received two phone calls — from Texas and a Louisiana school — offering recommendations, though he refused to name individuals.

In the release, Crouthamel elucidated the qualifications: five years head-coaching experience, preferably at the Division I level.

‘When we hired Marianna, she fulfilled the qualifications we were looking for at that time,’ Crouthamel said. ‘We were not as specific then as we are now to head-coaching experience. That doesn’t mean we would eliminate a Marianna Freeman from 10 years ago, today. But this time, head-coaching experience is very important.’

The early candidates include:

(BULLET) Cheryl Burnett, who is considered one of the nation’s top coaches. Southwest Missouri State’s head coach for 15 years, Burnett resigned following last season. She compiled a career record of 319-136, two Final Four appearances, five Missouri Valley Conference tournament titles and 10 20-win seasons.

Burnett was pegged to go to Minnesota last year but backed off. She was reportedly worried by the uncertain situation — the Gophers were naming a new athletics director and facing possible NCAA sanctions.

Syracuse has a 60-81 record over the last five seasons and is one year removed from finishing 18-13. Burnett considered taking Minnesota’s job when the team had compiled a 51-89 record over its previous five years, though it was coming off a 22-8 season.

‘I know Burnett wants to get back into coaching before next year,’ ESPN.com analyst Mechelle Voepel said. ‘The thing is, she’s stayed in the Midwest her whole life. I don’t know if she’d want to go out east.’

(BULLET) Kevin Borseth, who is in his fifth season as Wisconsin-Green Bay’s head coach. The Phoenix’s record has improved each year since Borseth took over, and Wisconsin-Green Bay is 27-3 this season.

The No. 8-seed Phoenix are in the NCAA Tournament, preparing to face No. 9-seed Washington on Saturday. UW-Green Bay has reached the NCAA Tournament all five years under Borseth, something Syracuse has accomplished three times in the program’s history.

Borseth is also rumored to replace Jane Albright — who resigned last month — at Wisconsin.

Crouthamel said he’s trying to fill the job as quickly as possible, but the NCAA Tournament could delay a decision.

‘This is not really a good time to find a coach,’ Crouthamel said. ‘You’ve got the NCAA tourney. There would be people we may be interested in involved with that. We’re not going to talk to anybody whose team is in the tournament until after they’ve been eliminated.’

(BULLET) Lisa Stone, who coaches at Drake. The Bulldogs are 64-27 in three years under Stone’s guidance. Before this season’s 16-12 finish, Stone led Drake to a 25-8 record last year, guiding the Bulldogs to their first Sweet 16 appearance since 1982.

Stone — an Oregon, Wisc., native — is also considered a top candidate for the Wisconsin job.

‘Syracuse is an attractive job for a mid-major coach who wants to move to a major conference,’ Voepel said. ‘If you’re coaching a major conference team, it’s not an attractive job based on how they’ve sold the program.’

(BULLET) Michelle Bento, who spent four years as an assistant to Freeman before moving on to become head coach at Santa Clara this past season. The Broncos went 20-10 this year and qualified for the WNIT.

Bento worked as SU’s recruiting coordinator, helping Syracuse attract the nation’s No. 15 recruiting class her last year.

Bento is a Mountain View, Calif., native and played college ball at Fresno State. She spent two seasons as an assistant at San Jose State. Now, after returning to California to coach the Broncos, Bento may be reluctant to leave.

‘She’s a one-year head coach,’ Crouthamel said. ‘Our release says five years. I would consider her an assistant at this point.’

Crouthamel said SU players will be invited to sit in on interviews, but he will make the final decision.

If Crouthamel decides to stay within the program, two-year assistant coach Darren Bennett seems a likely choice. Though Crouthamel stressed that he wants the new coach to have five years experience, he added, ‘We haven’t eliminated anyone yet, including the current assistants.’

‘I would guess that the next coach would have Syracuse ties,” Voepel said. “But it could really be anyone.’

Published on March 19, 2003 at 12:00 pm