Keitha Adams says goodbye to friends and colleagues at UTEP

Former UTEP women’s basketball coach Keitha Adams spent a lot of time at the Don Haskins Center in her 16 seasons with the Miners.

On Thursday, however, she may have visited the Haskins Center for the last time, at least for the foreseeable future.

Adams, who was introduced as the head women’s basketball coach at Wichita State on Monday, greeted former players and colleagues on the floor of the Haskins Center Thursday afternoon before holding one final news conference with local media.

Adams reflected on her 16 years with the Miners and made it clear that choosing to leave was no easy decision for her. In the end though, Adams chose to go back home to Kansas. She grew up just 36 miles from the campus of Wichita State.

“I love El Paso, I love UTEP, I love Miner fans,” said Adams who won 284 games with UTEP. “You know, I’m really a lucky girl because I can say that I have two homes. You know, how many people can say that they’ve had two homes. Really, El Paso became my home.”

UTEP athletic director Bob Stull said Thursday that UTEP’s top assistant, Ewa Laskowska, is not in the running to be the new women’s coach, despite meeting with her earlier this week. He said the Laskowska will instead join Adams at Wichita State.

Stull also stated there are approximately 15 candidates in the running to become the next head coach. He says he hopes to reach a decision on a new coach within the next two weeks or so.

“Well, this is a really good job now,” said Stull, who originally hired Adams. “You know, we have great facilities, it pays really well, we have great fan support. And everybody knows that. So, we’ll have a lot of really good quality candidates.”

Coach Adams reiterated on Thursday that although she is leaving, the future of the Miners is bright.

“You know, we went through some challenges this year. I’d like to see them next year really reap the benefits. I mean, by the time those freshmen are are seniors, I think they could be really special.”

The Miners finished the year with a record of 8-23 last season.