June 10, 2002

Chicago, Ill. - New University of Illinois at Chicago women's basketball coach Lisa Ryckbosch did not completely leave Conference USA when she made the move from DePaul University.

She brought some of it along to the West Side of Chicago.

Ryckbosch announced her coaching staff on Monday morning with the hiring of former Conference USA assistants Kevin McManaman, Sadiaa Jones and Katrina Merriweather.

"It wasn't a conscious effort," Ryckbosch said. "It was more the fact that I'd dealt with them and knew them and certainly respected each of the programs in terms of what they had achieved."

McManaman, who served as an assistant coach for Marquette University over the last two seasons, will be Ryckbosch's top assistant.

McManaman, a native of LaGrange, Ill., spent seven seasons with the St. Mary's athletics staff, where he was an assistant women's basketball coach and assistant softball coach, prior to his stint with Marquette.

"I think Kevin's background in coaching, teaching, his Chicago roots and his experience in Conference USA were all traits that would make for an excellent assistant coach," Ryckbosch said. "His enthusiasm, ability to teach and relate to young people and get the job done will serve our program and our players at UIC very well."

Jones, who had served as an assistant coach for South Florida over the past two seasons, enjoyed a standout career at Southeastern Oklahoma State and went to the Junior College National Tournament as a member of Seminole State in 1997.

"Sadiaa is someone that has really had to work hard to put herself in a position to be where she's at," Ryckbosch said. "She's going to set a great example for our girls.

"She's a hardworker and that's a prerequisite for me."

Merriweather, a four-year standout for the University of Cincinnati, spent last season on the Bearcats' bench as a graduate assistant. She has honed her coaching skills as a coach for The Family, a well-respected AAU team based out of Indianapolis, Ind., that is run by her father.

"Katrina is young, but she is experienced beyond her years," Ryckbosch said. "I think she has the potential to be an outstanding coach.

"She's very personable, carries herself in a professional way and I think she will be a big asset to the program."

Ryckbosch is hoping that this opportunity will help prepare the trio for the future.

"My philosophy is that I want to put these coaches in a position to become a head coach at some point," Ryckbosch said. "I would like everybody to have their hands on all phases of the program."