Athletic Report
May 7, 2002

DAN BUZARD HIRED AS ENMU'S HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH
PORTALES, NM – Dan Buzard, who has served as assistant women’s basketball coach at Eastern New Mexico University the past 13 seasons, has been named head women’s basketball coach, Athletic Director Mike Maguire announced today. Buzard, who replaces Wayne Moore, will begin his new duties immediately. Moore announced his resignation after 22 seasons effective at the end of the current semester.

ENMU conducted telephone interviews with eight candidates, then interviewed three candidates on campus, before choosing Buzard as ENMU’s next head coach. “We are extremely fortunate to have Dan Buzard as our head women’s basketball coach,” Maguire said. “He has shown great loyalty to ENMU over the past 13 years, and we expect to see great things in the future.”

Buzard, pronounced Buh-ZARD, has been an assistant women’s basketball coach since 1989-90. He became a full-time assistant coach in 1993-94. Buzard earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from ENMU in 1992 and received a Master of Science degree in Physical Education from Eastern in 1994. He helped Moore guide 11 teams to records of .500 or better, including nine above the .500 mark.

Buzard was an assistant when ENMU achieved its best-ever record of 23-5 in 1992-93. The 1992-93 team also won the LSC regular season title at 12-2. Buzard helped the Zias qualify for the Lone Star Conference Tournament 11 times. In recent years, he has worked with Eastern’s inside players at the post and forward positions.

In addition to his coaching duties, Buzard has been an instructor in the Department of Health and Physical Education at ENMU. He has been directly involved in the on-the-court and administrative duties associated with the women’s basketball program. He has also worked at several summer camps as an instructor and counselor, including the University of Connecticut girls’ basketball camp in 1996 and 1998, and the Kay Yow Basketball Camp at North Carolina State University in 1999 and 2000. He will continue his teaching duties at ENMU. He also will be active in the search for a new assistant women’s basketball coach.

“I look forward to the opportunity that Coach Maguire and Dr. Gamble (ENMU president) have given me to coach the women’s basketball team here at Eastern New Mexico University,” Buzard said. “It is an honor and a privilege to follow in the footsteps of Coach Moore. I will do my best to carry on the tradition that he has established over the past 22 years. I am really happy to be staying in the ENMU family,” Buzard added.

“We have a great bunch of student-athletes returning to next year’s team. With the addition of Elizabeth Richards and Jennifer Roberts from Texico (early signings last fall), we should be on our way to bigger and better things.” Eastern New Mexico University is a member of the Lone Star Conference. ENMU competes in NCAA Division II.