Michigan sports fans are already familiar with MSU head women’s basketball coach Joanne P. McCallie:
Last season, McCallie guided a depleted MSU squad to a 17-12 overall record and its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1997, as the Spartans earned a No. 8 seed in the East Regional. Despite numerous injuries that left MSU with a core of just six players getting nearly all of the minutes, she led Michigan State to its best Big Ten finish since 1997, as MSU tied for fourth in the league with a 10-6 record.
The Spartans improved by four wins over the previous season?s Big Ten win total – more than any other team in the conference. McCallie, whose three-year record at MSU stands at 46-43, earned her 200th career win Dec. 5, 2002, at Oakland and currently has a career record of 213-116 in 11 seasons as a head coach.
McCallie guided one of the nation?s top shooting teams last season. The Spartans ranked third nationally in three-point field goal percentage (.397), fifth in free throw percentage (.783) and 30th in field goal percentage (.448), becoming one of just four teams to rank nationally in all three shooting categories.
The Spartans also demonstrated a tough side, leading the Big Ten and ranking 11th nationally in rebound margin (+7.7), while ranking second in the league for the second straight year in scoring defense (60.7).
Now they know she’s also a huge fan of Dagny Taggart.
UPDATE: More information about Joanne McCallie and her successes during the past year.