WAVERLY, IOWA . . . Rockford College (Ill.) head coach Bob Amsberry has been named head women's basketball coach at Wartburg College.

Wartburg Director of Athletics Rick Willis announced the appointment today.

"We are excited to have Bob join our staff at Wartburg," Willis said. "His accomplishments as the head coach at Rockford College are extremely impressive. Bob has both the experience and energy necessary to lead our women's basketball program confidently for many years to come."

When Amsberry took over as the women's basketball coach at Rockford College in 1997, the program was in the midst of a national record 70-game losing streak. In just his third season, the Regents posted one of the best turn-arounds in NCAA history, going from 6-19 to an 18-8 record. Over the course of the next six seasons, the Regents were awarded four bids to the Division III NCAA tournament and won the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference regular season and tournament title three times. Amsberry earned NIIC Coach of the Year honors in each of the last three seasons.

"I am honored and humbled for the opportunity to lead the Wartburg College women's basketball program," Amsberry said. "Wartburg College is a special place with proud traditions, and I am excited to move the program forward.

"I'd like to thank Rick Willis, President Ohle, and the Wartburg family for the tremendous opportunity to lead one of the premier programs at one of the most well-respected institutions in the country," he added.

Amsberry has guided Rockford to seven consecutive winning seasons. During that stretch, his teams won more games than any other seven-year stretch in the 34-year history of the program. Prior to arriving at Rockford, Amsberry served as an assistant coach at MacMurray College in Illinois. A native of Dunlap, Iowa, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1990 from Buena Vista College and his Master of Science degree in Physical Education from Western Illinois University in 1996.

Amsberry and his wife, Erin, are the parents of two children, Joseph (11) and Paige (5).

-30-