After five of the most successful years in Eastern Michigan women’s basketball history, EMU announced the resignation of coach AnnMarie Gilbert effective April 6.
Gilbert posted a 94-64 record over the course of her five seasons with the team and led the Eagles to their second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2012, after winning the Mid-American Conference championship.
Gilbert also won two MAC-West championships with the Eagles.
Calls and emails from the Echo to Gilbert and EMU Athletic Director Derrick Gragg were not returned. Gragg released a statement to EMUEagles.com, however.
“I would like to thank AnnMarie for the success she has brought the program,” Gragg said in a statement.“ AnnMarie has worked hard to help our student athletes succeed, and I wish her well in her future endeavors.”
In the release, Gragg also said a search for a new coach will begin immediately.
The success on the program didn’t come without controversy.
In September 2010, EMU self-reported several violations to the NCAA and
suspended Gilbert for 30 days without pay. Gilbert was required to attend mandatory counseling during the suspension and had to attend an NCAA rules seminar.
The violations surround practice times, recruiting violations and coaches illegally participating in voluntary workouts during the 2009-10 seasons.
The NCAA investigation is still ongoing.
Prior to being hired at Eastern Michigan, Gilbert spent eight years as the coach of NCAA Division III Oberlin College in Ohio. She is the winningest coach in Oberlin women’s basketball history.
Following her stint with Oberlin, Gilbert was hired as an assistant coach for Michigan State University, where she would go on to spend five years.
