Montana women's basketball coach retiring after 38 seasons

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) - Montana women's basketball coach Robin Selvig has yelled at his last referee, called his last time-out and confounded his last opponent.

Selvig, who turns 64 next month, announced his retirement Wednesday after 38 seasons and an 865-286 record.

"Over 38 years, there weren't many days I wasn't excited to come to work, but I've started to lose that excitement," Selvig said in a statement released by the school. "I don't like not being fired up for next year. The players deserve me at my best, and I don't know if I have the energy to keep doing it."

Selvig was sidelined briefly by an undisclosed illness last winter, the Missoulian reported. But he finished the season strong and there was no indication he would retire this summer.

His last day in the office will be Aug. 31.

The search for Selvig's replacement is underway, school officials said. Selvig plans a news conference Thursday morning.

Selvig, a native of Outlook, Montana, played basketball at Montana and became the women's coach in 1978. His teams produced 36 winning seasons, 24 conference championships and 21 NCAA Tournament appearances. Selvig was voted the conference coach of the year 21 times.

He is among the Top 10 women's basketball coaches for games won, behind the likes of the late Pat Summitt of Tennessee (1,098), Stanford's Tara VanDerveer (980) and Connecticut's Geno Auriemma (955).

"I've been extremely fortunate to experience the things I have with the people I have," Selvig said. "Your lives become intertwined, and that's what makes it a family."

Selvig's assistants all played for him. Annette Rocheleau spent 32 years on Selvig's staff before retiring three years ago. Shannon Schweyen just finished her 24th year and Trish Duce her 22nd. Sonya Stokken has been an assistant for three years.

Selvig says he looks forward to spending more time with his family, including 2-year-old granddaughter Sofia.