Feb. 18, 2002
Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University has suspended Women's Basketball Head Coach Shawn Campbell indefinitely for inappropriate conduct, according to WKU Athletics Director Dr. Wood Selig.
"A series of disturbing events involving Coach Campbell and his conduct throughout the season have forced us to take this disciplinary measure," Dr. Selig commented. "An accumulation of incidents have led us to make this decision. This decision has nothing to do with wins and losses. And, it is something that we must address now.
"Lady Topper basketball has a long, rich tradition of excellence, on and off the floor, nationally - and certainly in our community." Dr. Selig continued. "The long-standing support Lady Topper basketball has received is the envy of the overwhelming majority of women's basketball programs across the country. We want our student-athletes, our fans and everyone to know that we value that reputation and will do everything we can to preserve it.
"At this point, we will continue to look into the leadership and direction of the Lady Topper program and make necessary decisions in the best interest of Lady Topper basketball," he concluded.
Campbell, who was named head coach of the Western women's program last July, was suspended Sunday following his team's return from Saturday night's game at North Texas. The Lady Toppers are 14-11 overall and 8-5 in the Sun Belt Conference East Division.
Marti Whitmore, an assistant on the new Lady Topper staff this season and a former head coach at St. Bonaventure, will take over as Acting Head Coach immediately. Western plays at the University of Georgia tomorrow (Tuesday, Jan. 19) evening.
A 1985 graduate of St. Bonaventure where she was an outstanding basketball athlete, Whitmore served as head coach of the Bonnies for seven years (1993-00) after putting in four seasons ('88-92) as the head coach at Elmira College.
Campbell came to Western from Temple where he served one season as associate head coach in the Owls' program. Prior to that, he spent 15 years (1985-2000) as an assistant (and later associate) coach at the University of Virginia.
The Lady Toppers close out 2001-02 regular season play Friday (Feb. 22), hosting Sun Belt Conference rival Middle Tennessee at 7 p.m. (CST) in E.A. Diddle Arena. The winner of that contest will be the number two seed in the East Division - and get the first round bye that goes with it - in the SBC Tournament in New Orleans, Feb. 28-March 5.
