Nebraska has its second new coach in four days, with the announcement of former Creighton Coach Conni Yori's hiring as the new women's basketball coach.

Athletic Director Bill Byrne made the announcement at a Monday afternoon news conference at Memorial Stadium. Yori replaces Paul Sanderford, who resigned because of health reasons on June 13 after spending five years as Nebraska's head coach.

"When we started our search for a women's basketball coach less than two weeks ago, we wanted to bring in a coach who could instill Nebraska values of hard work, dedication, academic excellence and competitive fire into our student-athletes," Byrne said. "We wanted a coach who could serve as a role model to our players and push them to achieve at their highest levels on the court, in the classroom and in the community.

"We didn't have to look very long, or very far to find a person that displays all of these qualities. We are confident that Connie Yori will build upon the success and excitement that Paul Sanderford established here at Nebraska."

Yori, the 2002 Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year, has spent the past 10 seasons as the head coach at Creighton University in Omaha. Last season, Yori led the Bluejays to Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles and a trip to the NCAA Tournament after posting a 24-7 overall record and a 16-2 mark in league play. The Bluejays also set school and conference records with 249 made three-pointers, while ranking fifth nationally with 8.0 three-pointers per game.

"I would like to thank the University of Nebraska administration and Bill Byrne for giving me the opportunity to be part of what I feel is a top-five athletic department," Yori said. "I am really excited about an opportunity to coach in the Big 12 Conference and compete at this level.

"Although I grew up in Iowa, I feel like I've been a Nebraskan now for 20 years, and I think this is a great fit. I know the state of Nebraska. I have spent my whole adult life here, and I am committed to the same ideals and work ethic the people of Nebraska have shown over the years.

"As a Nebraskan, I know the rich athletic traditions at Nebraska. But until I came here and toured all of the facilities and met the people in the department, I didn't realize what a great working atmosphere this could be. Nebraska definitely has all of the resources to make a successful basketball program. It's a school with great facilities, tremendous fan support, excellent academic and athletic support services and an outstanding athletic tradition."

The 38-year-old native of Ankeny, Iowa, owns a 195-140 (.582) career record in 12 years as a head coach, including a 170-115 (.596) mark in 10 seasons at Creighton.

"I was given a scholarship to Creighton 20 years ago. I was given the head coaching job at Creighton 10 years ago. I'm very appreciative of the opportunities Creighton has given me," Yori said. "There are good people there, and I am going to miss them, but there are good people here at Nebraska, and I am looking forward to developing the strong relationships at Nebraska like I had at Creighton."

Yori, who said she expects to start full time as Nebraska's head coach on Wednesday, said the transition will be made a bit easier because of her familiarity with the Husker program.

"I already know how to get to the Devaney Center," Yori said. "I have a pretty good feel for the players on the team and what to expect from their abilities because Creighton played Nebraska every season that I was the head coach."

Yori inherits a Nebraska program that has qualified for six NCAA Tournaments in the past 15 seasons, including three tournament appearances in five years under Sanderford.

The Huskers have struggled through back-to-back losing seasons in 2000-01 and 2001-02, including a 14-16 record and a 4-12 mark in Big 12 Conference play last season.

"We have some work to do, and it may take some time to re-establish the foundation for a winning basketball program," Yori said. "I think my ideals and principles as a head coach really mirror the ideals for all the great winning programs at Nebraska."

Overall, Yori has spent 17 seasons at Creighton, including four seasons as a guard (1982-83 through 1985-86) and three seasons as an assistant coach (1986-87 through 1988-89) under Bruce Rasmussen.

Between stints as an assistant coach and head coach at Creighton, Yori spent one year (1989-90) as the head softball coach at St. Thomas University in Miami, Fla., where she earned her master's degree in sports administration.Yori spent two seasons as a head coach at NCAA Division III Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, (1990-91 and 1991-92).

After two years at Loras College, Yori returned to her alma mater to take the reins from her mentor, Rasmussen, who accepted an associate athletic director position at Creighton in 1992, and has since become CU's athletic director.

Yori graduated from Creighton with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1986. As a player for the Bluejays, Yori ranks third on the school's all-time scoring list with 2,010 points. A 1992 inductee into the Creighton University Athletic Hall of Fame, Yori owns school records for career scoring average (20.3 ppg) and career steals (292). She also owns school game records for points (42) and field goals made (20). She ranks second in career field goals made (797) and free throws made (416), fourth in rebounds (746), fifth in field goal percentage (.542) and assists (399) and seventh in blocked shots (69).

A 1982 graduate of Ankeny High School, Yori is a two-time inductee into the Iowa Girl's High School Athletic Union Hall of Fame as a basketball and softball player. She led the Hawkette basketball squad to a state title in 1980 and a runner-up finish in 1981. She scored 3,068 points in her prep career playing six-on-six basketball. An all-state shortstop, Yori also helped Ankeny to state softball titles in 1979, 1980 and 1981.

Yori, who is married to Kirk Helms, has been active in the community as a volunteer at Omaha area schools along with several other service projects.

Monday's announcement of a new women's basketball coach followed Friday's announcement that baseball assistant Mike Anderson would be the new head coach, replacing Dave van Horn, who resigned to take the same position at Arkansas. Rob Childress, the pitching coach, was named associate head coach.

1990-91 Loras College (NCAA Div. III) 10-15 .400 7-11 .389

1991-92 Loras College (NCAA Div. III) 15-10 .600 10-8 .556

1992-93 Creighton 20-8 .714 12-4 .750

1993-94 Creighton 24-7 .774 14-2 .875

1994-95 Creighton 18-9 .667 12-6 .667

1995-96 Creighton 15-13 .536 10-8 .556

1996-97 Creighton 8-19 .296 7-11 .389

1997-98 Creighton 16-12 .571 11-7 .611

1998-99 Creighton 16-14 .533 9-9 .500

1999-00 Creighton 12-15 .444 7-11 .389

2000-01 Creighton 17-11 .607 11-7 .611

2001-02 Creighton 24-7 .774 16-2 .889