This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

After searching for a month and a half, Utah athletic director Chris Hill announced Monday that Lynne Roberts will helm a Utah women's basketball program that struggled through injuries for the last two seasons but may be primed for a turnaround.

The 2014-15 West Coast Conference Co-Coach of the Year, Roberts was 51-99 in her first five years at Pacific and 84-45 thereafter, going 21-10 last year and playing in the WNIT.

Roberts told The Tribune by phone Monday that she was attracted to the tradition of excellence at Utah and, above all, the leadership of Hill and senior woman administrator Nona Richardson.

"It was the people that really sold it for me," she said.

The Tribune learned that other finalists for the position were Westminster's Shelley Jarrard and Albany's Katie Abrahamson-Henderson.

Previous head coach Anthony Levrets was fired in early March on the heels of a combined 21-40 record over his last two seasons. Levrets went 78-87 overall in five seasons, winning the Mountain West Conference tournament in 2010-11 and losing in the WNIT Championship game in 2012-13.

Hill talked about finding a candidate who could create a new culture for Utah women's basketball, mirroring the efforts of men's basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak.

"Lynne is well-respected in the profession, not only for her winning track record, but also for her recruiting skills, emphasis on student-athlete welfare and desire to actively engage the community," he said in a statement Monday.

Senior-to-be Dani Rodriguez said the hire has gone over well so far with the team. Waiting so long for a new coach was tough, "but I didn't want them to pick somebody in a week or two weeks. ... This really made me more sure that they were going to make the right decision."

Utah was without a half-dozen expected rotation players at times this past season, and though the Utes lose all-conference senior Taryn Wicijowski to graduation, the return of the likes of Emily Potter, Paige Crozon and Malia Nawahine provides cause for hope.

Freshmen Tanaeya Boclair and Joeseta Fatuesi also showed promise, and Levrets had been bullish on incoming Sacramento point guard Erika Bean as an eventual replacement for Rodriguez. (Coincidentally, Roberts recruited Bean and once visited her family's house in Sacramento.)

"I'm really looking forward to working with them," she said. "As a player, this is hard. Change in coaching staffs is hard. I know they've had some adversity with injuries, but there's some talent on that roster, that's for sure."

Utah may have also been an attractive destination because of a $36 million basketball facility due to open later this summer and renovations to the Huntsman Center that create a more intimate game-day atmosphere for lesser-drawing sports.

Roberts had yet to address the team and was in transit Monday afternoon.

Neither Rodriguez nor Roberts knew of any players who plan to leave the program.

Twitter: @matthew_piper —

Lynne Roberts file

Hometown • Redding, Calif.

Pacific • Coached for 10 years at the University of Pacific, compiling a 135-144 record, including a 21-10 record and trip to the WNIT last season.

Before Pacific • Assistant at Seattle Pacific (1997-2002) and head coach at Chico State (2002-06).

Playing career • Played at Seattle Pacific (1993-97), setting six school records for 3-pointers, including most in a season (82) and career (196).