Slinker gets new contract?

GrandGreen · May 8, 2006

Tina Slinker signed a new contract on Friday, capping a big week for the longtime North Texas women’s basketball coach.

Slinker came to terms with UNT on a two-year deal with a clause that could extend the contract to five years, signed a pair of highly regarded transfers, shuffled the responsibilities of two members of her staff and received an invitation for her team to participate in the 2006 preseason WNIT.

Slinker led the Mean Green to the Sun Belt Conference West Division title last season in the final year of a contract that paid her $127,418, a total that included a radio stipend.

The exact parameters of Slinker’s new contract were not available, but Slinker said the deal does include a provision that would extend her contract from two to five years if UNT reaches the NCAA Tournament.

Slinker will enter her 18th season with the Mean Green in the fall with a 218-249 record, including a 133-95 mark over the last eight years. UNT has won the SBC West in two of the last five seasons.

[uNT adds two to spring class]

Capturing another division title could be a little easier for UNT after Slinker went the international route last week while adding a pair of transfers, including one who was an impact player last season in the Big 12.

Former Colorado point guard Yari Escalera and Midland College post Lyza Koubiteb signed national letters of intent to play for the Mean Green late last week and joined shooting guard Mamie James from Tyler Junior College in UNT’s spring recruiting class.

“I am excited about bringing all three of them in,” Slinker said. “They are the three players we targeted in recruiting. Signing them sets us up well for the future. I feel good about our depth again and it will take some of the pressure off of our sophomore class by giving us additional experience.”

Escalera will sit out the 2006-07 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Koubiteb and James will be eligible to play for the Mean Green this fall after spending two seasons playing on the junior college level. All three players have two years of eligibility remaining.

Escalera is among the top recruits UNT has signed in the last few seasons. The 5-6 point guard started 20 games for Colorado last season in which she averaged 7.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

Perhaps the most impressive of Escalera’s achievements came on the international level, where she played for the Puerto Rico Junior National team. Escalera averaged 10.9 points per game for Puerto Rico during the FIBA Women’s U19 World Championship in Tunisia, Africa, last year.

“Having a player who has competed internationally will help us,” Slinker said. “She will get to learn our system while she sits out a year and might play internationally again this summer.”

Colorado coach Kathy McConnell-Miller released Escalera from her scholarship earlier this spring.

Koubiteb is expected to make an immediate impact in her first season with the Mean Green. The 6-3 post player from Cameroon averaged 6.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for Midland last season, her first full campaign in the U.S.

Koubiteb only played the first semester of her freshman season at Midland.

“Lyza will continue to get better,” Slinker said. “She is very physical and will improve offensively.”

[Assistants take on new roles]

Slinker has promoted longtime UNT assistant coach Angela Ortega to associate head coach in a shuffling of the Mean Green’s staff.

Ortega is headed into her 15th season at UNT and has served as the Mean Green’s recruiting coordinator the last several seasons.

“With the loyalty she has shown to the program and the success we have had, I feel like the promotion is something Angela deserves,” Slinker said.

Janice Dziuk, who is entering her ninth year on staff, will take over as the Mean Green’s recruiting coordinator.

Slinker said the staff would take a year to make a gradual transition between recruiting coordinators. Ortega, who helped UNT land all three players in its spring class, will continue to recruit for the Mean Green.

Briefly …

Slinker said UNT has been invited to participate in the preseason WNIT next season and could play an in-state rival.

“It’s a good reflection on the program to be invited to the WNIT,” Slinker said. “It’s a compliment to the team and what we have accomplished.”

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.

Edited May 8, 2006 by GrandGreen