May 15, 2003
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Craig Wiginton, who led Southern Nazarene to its record sixth NAIA National Women's Basketball Championship earlier this year, has accepted a position as an assistant women's basketball coach at the University of Missouri, Head Coach Cindy Stein has announced.
"Craig is an outstanding teacher and motivator, who has had a great deal of success. We are certainly pleased to have him join our staff," Stein said. "He brings a tremendous amount of experience to Missouri, has strong knowledge of the X's and O's, and has a great personality, which will help us in recruiting."
During his seven seasons at SNU, Wiginton compiled a record of 213-44 (.828) and left as the winningest head coach in Southern Nazarene history. Wiginton took SNU to the Final Four in each of his seven years and earned NAIA National Coach-of-the-Year honors following the program's titles in 1997 and 2003. He also led the Crimson Storm to national runner-up finishes in 1998 and 2002, and was named WBCA National NAIA Coach of the Year in 2002.
Wiginton, who played for Dave Bliss at Oklahoma and lettered for the Sooners in 1976 and 1977, began his coaching career at OU in 1977 as a graduate assistant under Bliss. He then moved on to hold head boy's basketball coaching positions at Choctaw and Yukon (Okla.) High Schools. Wiginton came to SNU in 1994 and served as a men's basketball assistant for two seasons before taking over the head women's basketball coaching position in 1996. He also has experience with USA Basketball as a court coach, helping select the USA Women's National Team in 2001.
The Norman, Okla., native holds a bachelor of arts degree in history from OU in 1978, and this summer will earn a master's of science in management from SNU.
"I'm one of those people who likes a challenge, and I saw this as a new challenge," said Wiginton, who begins his duties July 1. "When I left the men's program at SNU for the women's team, that was a challenge, and the people were great. I'm just looking for a new opportunity. There's a bright future here at Missouri, and I'm looking forward to working with Cindy Stein and being a part of that."
Stein also announced that Edith Thompson, who has served as an assistant coach at Mizzou for the past two seasons, will continue to work with the coaching staff as the program's director of basketball operations. She replaces Jessica Jenkins, who resigned to pursue other professional opportunities.