Texas women’s coach Conradt steps down

Texas women’s Coach Jody Conradt resigned Monday after her team failed to reach the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year.

Conradt, 65, is second on the Division I college basketball victory list, behind only Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt.

“The easiest thing to change is the leadership,” Conradt said.

Conradt had the nation’s top recruiting class this season, but injuries, inexperience and immaturity hurt the Longhorns. Texas (18-14) entered the Big 12 tournament having lost six of its last seven conference games and then lost in the first round.

Conradt, who led Texas to a 34-0 record and its lone NCAA title in 1985-86, fought back tears several times during the emotional news conference. Her players stood off to the side, many of them sobbing and hugging. Conradt picked up her 900th win Tuesday in the first round of the Big 12 Conference tournament.

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Wyoming Coach Steve McClain was fired after the Cowboys ended a fourth consecutive season without reaching postseason play.... Colorado State Coach Dale Layer was fired after a 17-13 season and sixth-place finish in the Mountain West Conference.... Ron Jirsa was fired by Marshall after a 13-19 season.

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Weber State Coach Randy Rahe was so busy preparing for the NCAA tournament game against UCLA that he hadn’t heard he was named Big Sky Conference coach of the year Monday. “I think that award could have gone to two or three other coaches,” he said.

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It’s a game no NCAA tournament team believes it should be in -- the play-in game that fills out the field of 64. This year, Florida A&M; and Niagara are feeling insulted they have to play tonight in Dayton, Ohio, for a chance to take on Kansas on Friday in Chicago.

“If we’re the 65th-best team in this tournament this year, that surprises me,” Florida A&M; Coach Mike Gillespie said.

“We feel disrespected,” Niagara forward Charron Fisher said.

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Yoseph Yaisrael’s basket with 8.5 second left gave Cal State San Bernardino (25-5) a 68-66 win over host Humboldt State in the NCAA Division II West Region championship game and a berth in the Elite Eight.