Bradley's Paula Buscher becomes SIUE's new head coach

Bradley University's longest and winningest women's basketball coach in the school's history, Paula Buscher, has been named Southern Illinois-Edwardsville's new coach Wednesday afternoon.

"Bradley is a very special place and it has been a privilege to be a part of the Bradley family," Buscher said in a statement on the Bradley Athletics website.

Buscher becomes the fifth coach at SIUE after Amanda Levens left the Cougars to become the Associate Head Coach at Arizona State in April. SIUE made their first postseason appearance last season in the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) before falling to Wright State 73-64 in the first round.

"It's an exciting time for both myself and SIUE Athletics, and I am thrilled to be a part of it," Buscher said in a statement on the SIUE Athletics web site. "I look forward to building upon the great work that has been done to bring championships to the 'e.'"

Buscher coached 12 seasons at Bradley, leaving with a 167-188 (.470) record after Bradley went 18-16 (7-11 in Missouri Valley Conference play) last year, including a second round appearance in the WBI before losing 85-59 to the University of Minnesota.

Bradley's Athletic Director Michael Cross will conduct a national search to find its next women's basketball coach.

"Coach Buscher has been a valued member of the Bradley Athletics staff for the last 12 years and has brought the women's basketball program its first two postseason appearances," Dr. Cross said in a statement. "We wish her the best luck at SIUE."