Ohio U hires WVU's Randall to coach women's basketball

ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University has hired an assistant basketball coach at West Virginia University to lead the Lady Bobcats.

Ohio Athletics Director Jim Schaus announced Semeka Randall as the new head women's basketball coach on Friday.

The former Tennessee all-American and WNBA player joined West Virginia University's women's basketball staff last year. Before WVU, she spent three seasons at Michigan State.

The Cleveland, Ohio, native said it's always been her dream to coach at OU.

While Randall will be missed at WVU, Mountaineer head coach Mike Carey says he has no doubt she will be successful at Ohio University.

Randall was part of the 1998 NCAA Championship team while at Tennessee, where she scored 1,915 career points.

Her pro career included stops in Seattle, Utah and San Antonio. She also played in the National Women's Basketball League and in professional leagues in Israel and Greece.

Carey says a national search for her replacement will begin soon.