By Tim Eberly
Joan Steffen, an assistant coach of the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team, has not taken over as the Skylights interim coach but is running the team, athletic director Ted Spatkowski said today.
MSU-N Chancellor Alex Capdeville on Wednesday put head coach Kevin Emerick on leave with pay. The action came after Capdeville reviewed the report of an investigation he ordered when Emerick accused a former assistant coach of inappropriate conduct in an e-mail addressed to all MSU-N staff and faculty.
Steffen did not attend practice Wednesday. Spatkowski said she was taking time to make a decision about her future with the program.
Steffen returned Thursday to direct the team in practice, but has not taken the title as interim head coach.
"There's no title change but she's in charge of running practice right now," Spatkowski said this morning. "I have every confidence in Joan's ability to maintain the excellence of the program as we search for a head coach."
In the two days since Emerick's departure, Spatkowski has been contacted by at least 20 people interested in the position a list that he has already narrowed down to three. "I'm still getting calls," Spatkowski said.
