YPSILANTI, MI - Eastern Michigan University is expected to introduce Michigan State lead assistant AnnMarie Gilbert as its head coach as early as tomorrow.
Gilbert, who recently decided that she would stay in East Lansing as new head coach Suzy Merchant's lead assistant, apparently couldn't pass up the opportunity to head up a program of here own just a 50 mile drive south.
The move is yet another blow to a MSU basketball program that appeared to have found stability after the surprising and sudden departure of head coach JoAnne P. McCallie, just weeks after she had signed a contract extension with the school.
MSU moved to settle the program by hiring Merchant who's first act was the 'recruit' Gilbert, the high-profile assistant and recruiting coordinator, who is given much of the credit for landing MSU's highly touted recruiting class of includes forwards Kalisha Keane (Hamilton, ON), Lykendra Johnson (River Forest, IL), guard Brittney Thomas (Bolingbrook, IL), forward Cetera Washington (Kalamazoo, MI) and forward Taja Wilson (Penn Hills, PA).
Washington had stated publicly that she was staying with MSU, thanks in part to Gilbert being there. It is possible that the status of all five could change with Gilbert's departure.
Further muddying the waters is the fact that EMU assistant coach Shane Clipfell joined the MSU staff over the weekend once he learned he would not be getting the EMU head coaching position.