UW Coach Gobrecht Visits Florida State Washington Athletic Director Hopes Successful Coach Stays

University of Washington athletic director Barbara Hedges praised the success of the women’s basketball program Friday but said there are no immediate inducements she could offer coach Chris Gobrecht to prevent her from taking the same job at Florida State.

“It’s not an issue of money with Chris,” Hedges said in the wake of reports that the Huskies’ coach is one of three finalists for the FSU position. “Chris is the second-highest-paid women’s basketball coach in the Pac-10 (at $118,000 per year), and if you look at her salary nationally, she’s right up there. It’s not an issue with her.”

Gobrecht and her husband, Bob, the Mariners’ vice president of sales and marketing, were expected to return from Tallahassee Thursday night after a round of interviews. She did not return phone calls.

Hedges made it clear she wants Gobrecht to stay in Seattle, where her teams have compiled a 243-89 record and made nine NCAA tournament appearances in her 11 seasons.

A decision is expected within a week, according to Florida State athletic department sources.

Joanne Palombo-McCallie, women’s coach at Maine, is interviewing for the job today and Mel Fortner, an assistant at Louisiana Tech, who is on a leave to assist with the U.S. Olympic program, visits Monday.