WICHITA, Kan. - Keitha Adams was introduced as the new head coach for Wichita State women's basketball in a public press conference this afternoon at Charles Koch Arena. Read below for the full transcript.

---

DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS DARRON BOATRIGHT: "Good afternoon everyone. Thank you for being here. On behalf of Dr. Bardo and Wichita State Athletics, welcome. It's a great day for Shocker women's basketball, and this is something that I'm very excited about for the future of our program. I really appreciate our friends from Oxford being here, thank you for making the drive, season tickets are available, and expected.
 
First, let me thank Linda Hargrove…thank you for everything you did for our women's basketball program, and I really appreciate your help with me during the search, so thank you very much. When we started looking into this, we believed this to be a very good opportunity for someone, and the pool of candidates indicated the same. We wanted someone with minimum Midwestern ties, but we hoped we'd identify someone with Kansas ties. We wanted someone that had sat in the head coaching seat and called timeouts, called the shots, dealt with recruiting. We wanted someone who had been in the profession at various levels, that can recruit in a car. Someone that can recruit regionally, nationally and internationally, because I think it takes all three [levels] to be as successful as we want to be. And then, I had two individuals that I trust contact me and [they both said] 'I work with this gal named Keitha Adams, and she's at UTEP, has been there a long time, and I think you should at least talk to her.' And we did. And it became increasingly clear that the obvious choice was right in front of Linda and myself.
 
I am happy to introduce our ninth women's basketball coach, Keitha Adams."
 
HEAD COACH KEITHA ADAMS: "First off, I want to thank everyone for being here. This is a dream come true to become your basketball coach. I'm honored to have this opportunity. I would like to express my gratitude to President John Bardo, Athletic Director Darron Boatright and Linda Hargrove for your vote of trust to be your coach. I would like to recognize my family…and my dear friends and teammates, I wouldn't be here without you. Thank you, every one of you mean so much to me.
 
I want to especially recognize all the wonderful people at UTEP. I want to thank all the coaches and players that helped me in our program to make it special. We made history. We had great experiences that I will cherish forever. We sold out the Don Haskins Center twice, with 12,232 fans. We can make that seem dream come true here at WSU.
 
It all started in the small town of Oxford, Kansas, straight south of here. My dad was a teacher, my parents were hard workers, blue-collar, and education was key. I had a great experience growing up in this town playing sports, and that's why I fell in love with the great game of basketball. I played for a great coach in [current Oklahoma State head coach] Jim Littell, who taught us how to be winners. And that's when I knew that I wanted to be a teacher and a coach at a very young age. Coming back here has taken me down memory lane. Playing at the State tournament…going to Linda's basketball clinics…and coaching right here in [Charles] Koch Arena. I coached in here when I was coaching at Independence [Community College] for the Region [VI] Championship. So it brings back a lot of memories, the list goes on and on. But guess what? It's home, that's what it is, it's home.
 
After graduating from Southwestern College, I went right into teaching at Winfield High School. For every high school coach in Kansas, I want you to know that my door is open, you're welcome to be a part of our program, and please know that I am one of you. I see we have some coaches here, and I can't wait to reach out across the state, and when they think of women's basketball, they're going to think of Wichita State.
 
From high school, I went to Independence Community College, coaching in the Jayhawk conference. What a great experience. That's where I learned a lot about diversity, and I loved it. To all the junior college coaches in the state, my door is open, you're welcome to be a part of our program, and please know I am one of you.
 
To the community and Shocker nation, my door is open. We want you to feel connected to our program. I talked to our players about that today, and guess what? We need you.
 
To former Shocker players, we want you to feel connected to us. We will honor and respect our past players and our past coaches that have come before us. We need you, and we thank you for all that you've done.
 
I'd like to touch on recruiting. It starts right here in Wichita. To that small-town player, we will be watching you. We will be diverse, we will be local, with one goal: to be champions.
 
Speaking of champions, I've admired and cheered from afar these past years what Gregg Marshall has done with his team. I can't wait to meet Coach, what an amazing and great coach he is. I've been very fortunate to have relationships with [UTEP men's basketball coaches] Don Haskins and Tim Floyd, and I really look forward to talking hoops with [Marshall].
 
As we move forward, let the work begin. We will build this program the right way, one day, one second at a time. The challenge is front of us. We will be a team, we will work hard, and ladies [points to players], we will rebound and play defense. It won't happen overnight, but it will happen in time. I can't wait for our first practice - which will be tomorrow - and I can't wait to coach my first game as a Shocker.
 
I'd like for the ladies to come up here now, come on up. [Team comes up to the stage.] So, now this part. The group standing behind me is the reason why I do what I do. I love working with young people, I love to coach and teach the game, but this is the 'why.' This is the 'why' I do what I do. We had a great first meeting, and I can't wait to get started.
 
I want to thank you all so much for being here. Lastly, I want to say that God has put me here for a reason. I'm very thankful and grateful for this opportunity. To Shocker nation, we need you, I can't wait to get to know you, and go Shocks."