Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Missy Tiber named head women's basketball coach at SIU
04/23/2009 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
April 23, 2009
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Missy Tiber (Ty-ber) was named the eighth head coach in the 50-year history of the women's basketball program at Southern Illinois University during a press conference at the school on Thursday.
Tiber compiled a 167-70 (.705) record during the last eight years as head coach at Division II Tusculum (Tus-kuh-lum) College and Belmont Abbey College, including three trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament, three conference championships and a No. 5 national ranking.
"I am extremely pleased to announce Missy Tiber as our next head women's basketball coach," said Saluki Director of Athletics Moccia. "In her eight years as a head coach, she has demonstrated a commitment to academics by graduating each player who completed their eligibility. She and her teams have also been committed to community service and social projects, and her record speaks for itself."
Moccia headed up the search committee to replace Dana Eikenberg, who resigned on April 2, after five seasons at SIU.
"I am hopeful and confident that she will continue the recent tradition of great Saluki coaches who have coached in the Division II ranks, such as Chris Lowery, Matt Painter, Jerry Kill and Dale Lennon," said Moccia. "I look forward to the community getting to know her and increasing their support of Saluki Women's Basketball."
A native of Bellaire, Ohio, the 36-year-old Tiber most recently guided her team to the semifinals of the Division II Southeast Sectionals.
"Mario has given me the opportunity of a lifetime," said Tiber. "I'm aware of the great tradition of Saluki Athletics, and it is my intention to lead the SIU women's basketball program to a level in which we will compete for Missouri Valley Conference championships year in and year out."
Tiber, who agreed to a five-year contract that will pay her $100,000 annually, graduated from West Liberty State in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in communications. She played three seasons for the Hilltoppers, scoring 926 points and averaging 17 points per contest as a senior. She earned ll-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) honors and was selected to the WVIAC All-Tournament team.
After graduation, Tiber served as an assistant women's basketball coach at her alma mater. During her time at West Liberty, the Hilltoppers won three WVIAC championships and four WVIAC Tournament titles, earning four NCAA Division II Tournament appearances.
Tiber accepted her first head coaching position at Belmont Abbey prior to the 2001-02 season. She led the Crusaders to an 81-36 (.692) mark in four years. In her first season, she led Belmont Abbey to a 22-8 record, including a 16-4 mark in the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC), capturing a share of the conference championship, winning the CVAC Tournament to advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament.
In four seasons at Tusculum, Tiber has guided her teams to an 86-34 (.717) record, two South Atlantic Conference (SAC) titles in 2007-08 and again this past season. Both years, the Pioneers advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament, winning the school's first NCAA Tournament game in March.
In her first season at Tusculum, she resurrected a team that had been 8-21 prior to her arrival and led the squad to an 18-10 showing, finishing tied for second place in the SAC. The 10-win improvement was the fifth-best margin in Division II in 2005-06. For her efforts, Tiber was named the SAC Coach of the Year.
"It truly is a sad day for the Tusculum College women's basketball team, but a very happy and deserving day for Missy Tiber," said TC Director of Athletics Frankie DeBusk. "Southern Illinois is getting a quality person, a great basketball coach and a winner. I am very appreciative of everything Missy has given the community, the College, the athletic department and most importantly, her players in her four years here at Tusculum."
