Butler Women's Basketball Program Fills Assistant Coaching Positions

June 6, 2002

INDIANAPOLIS, IND.- First year head coach Beth Couture has taken the first steps towards a successful tenure at Butler University with the recent hiring of three capable assistants, Seph Hatley, Gene Hill and Monica Claridge, who will guide her in leading the Bulldogs during the upcoming seasons.

Couture's most familiar hire was of assistant coach Joseph "Seph" Hatley, who assisted her during the 2001 season at Presbyterian College. Prior to working at Presbyterian, Hatley was the head women's basketball coach at Newberry College from 1999-01 where he helped the squad compile the most South Atlantic Conference wins in the program's history.

Hatley also served as assistant women's basketball coach at his alma mater, Pfeiffer University from 1996-1999. In addition, he also served as Pfeiffer's head coach for men's and women's cross country teams, assistant softball coach and sports information director.

He will be in charge of on-court coaching as well as scouting reports.

"Seph is a wonderful teacher of the game," said Couture. "He has great vision of the game as it is being played and is really knowledgeable in terms of on-court strategies."

Hatley earned his degree in sports management from Pfeiffer University in 1994. Before coming to Pfeiffer, Hatley spent two years at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla. where he earned an Associate of Arts degree in 1992.

Gene Hill joins the Butler women's basketball staff after serving as the interim head women's basketball coach at East Carolina University during the 2001-02 season. He will be the staff's primary recruiter and will assist with on-court coaching.

"Gene brings a wealth of experience in recruiting from the Division I and II level," Couture stated. "His contacts will help us immediately. His personality will help our staff to continue to establish relationships in the state of Indiana that will enable us to recruit more locally."

Prior to his stint at East Carolina, Hill was the head women's basketball coach at University of South Carolina - Spartanburg from 1999-01. Hill also served as an assistant women's basketball coach at Lander University (1997-99) and was the head women's basketball coach at Coker College, his alma mater, from 1994-97. He earned a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1997.

Couture's third assistant, Monica Claridge, also brings local connections to the program, as she has both playing and head coaching experience in the state of Indiana.

Claridge, a 2000 graduate from Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Ind., was the head coach Michigan City High School for the past two seasons, where she was responsible for all facets of the girls' basketball program. In her short stint with the team, Claridge's accomplishments were noticed, as she was named the News-Dispatch All-Area Girl's Basketball Coach of the Year for the 2000-01 season.

"Monica is enthusiastic about coaching and is excited about the opportunity to continue her coaching career at the next level," Couture said. "She relates to the girls very well and will help us tremendously in working with our perimeter players."

In addition to assisting with on-court coaching, Claridge will also assist in team travel, recruiting and scouting.

Claridge entered the coaching profession after a standout career at Saint Joseph's, where she was a member of the academic all-conference team from 1996-99. As a four year letterwinner, she was also named the team's most improved player during her sophomore season. A Dean's List honoree throughout her collegiate career, Claridge earned a bachelor's degree in physical education in 2000.

Claridge has also been involved in numerous other basketball-related activities, including coaching AAU and serving as a camp counselor for camps at the University of Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Saint Joseph's and Purdue.

Couture enters the Butler women's basketball season after serving as the head coach at Presbyterian College for the past 13 years, where she compiled an impressive 258-117 (.688) overall record, including eight 20-win seasons. The Bulldogs welcome back ten letterwinners, including four starters, from last year's team.