June 25, 2012

MILWAUKEE - Head coach Kyle Rechlicz has named Frank Goldsberry, Jess Wilhite and Janese Banks to the women's basketball coaching staff at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

All three will be assistant coaches, while Wilhite will also serve as recruiting coordinator.

"I couldn't be more excited about the staff we have put together," Rechlicz said. "All of them have very different paths that have led them here, which should create an environment for creativity and new ideas. It was important during the search process to find a team of individuals with core values similar to mine that I could trust, on and off the court, and I whole-heartedly believe we have accomplished this. My excitement for this program has grown with the addition of my assistant coaches."

Goldsberry had served as the women's director of basketball operations and video coordinator at Dayton University since 2003 before adding the title of assistant director of compliance to his duties last season.

"I am thrilled Frank has decided to be a part of my staff," Rechlicz said. "I value him as a coach, confidant and friend. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team and I know the players will share with me a great sense of respect for what he has accomplished. His coaching philosophy is very much in-line with the direction I am hoping to take this program. I am looking forward to learning from him on the court this year and I know we will both grow and gain knowledge from this experience."

Goldsberry brings along an impressive coaching resume, most notably putting together a 170-16 record from 1996-2003 at Chaminade-Julienne High School in Dayton. Goldsberry led C-J to two Ohio Division II state championships (1999, 2003) and to the USA Today's No. 1 ranking in the country in 2002. The Eagles were also state runners-up in 1998 and 2001.

In three of his final four seasons at Chaminade-Julienne, the team claimed the top spot of the final AP poll. He was named Division II State Coach of the Year in 1999 and District Coach of the Year in both 1998 and 1999.

Players that Goldsberry coached at the high school level include National High School Player of the Year and current Minnesota Lynx forward Tamika Williams, who helped guide Connecticut to 2000 and 2002 NCAA titles. He also coached Notre Dame point guard Megan Duffy and Ohio State's Brandie Hoskins. Overall, he coached nine NCAA Division I players.

Prior to his stint at C-J, Goldsberry was head coach of the boys basketball team at Northmont High School from 1993-1996. There, he posted a 42-24 overall record and led Northmont to its first district final in 20 years.

Wilhite returned to her alma mater last year as video coordinator and remains with the staff this season as the recruiting coordinator and as an assistant coach.

"It was important for me to connect the past and the present on this staff," Rechlicz said. "As a successful Panther and person of such high character and standards, we have done just that in hiring Jess. She and I share similar views of the type of character players we want to bring into the program and I know she will work exceptionally hard to make sure that they, their coaches and the Milwaukee community know who we are and what we stand for. Jess' organizational skills and determination have already begun to propel us in the right direction."

Wilhite starred for UWM from 1999-2003, scoring over 1,400 points and hitting 277 three-pointers in her career. When she graduated, she was the program's leading scorer at the Division I level and held school and Horizon League records for career three-pointers made.

The Glen Ellyn, Ill., native earned all-league honors twice including a first-team selection in 2000-01 when she led the team to its first league title and NCAA Tournament appearance. That year, she scored a team-high 15.3 points per game and hit a school and league-record 93 three-pointers.

Banks spent last season as a graduate assistant at Auburn University, assisting in all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the women's basketball team. Following a three-year professional career, she got back into coaching as a volunteer coach at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, Ind., in 2010.

"Janese is a person I have wanted on my staff from day one," Rechlicz said. "I know the players, recruits and Milwaukee community will be drawn to her charismatic personality. She knows the game really well and is ready and excited to develop our players. Janese's compassion for others, desire to serve and mentality to go after things are intangibles that will equate to great success in her future as a Panther."

Banks played at Wisconsin from 2004-08, averaging 12.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game over the course of her career. She was named Third-Team All-Big Ten in 2008, Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in 2006 and 2007, and Academic All-Big Ten in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The Badgers made two postseason appearances during her tenure, advancing to the WNIT in 2007 and 2008, earning runner-up honors in 2007. Banks also finished her career as just one of 10 Wisconsin players to score more than 1,500 career points.

Following her time at Wisconsin, Banks played professionally for three seasons in the Ukraine, Switzerland and Iceland. She played her final professional season in 2010-11, taking the court for U.M.F. Grindavik in Iceland.