By the Salina Journal

HAYS -- Annette Wiles, women's basketball coach at Fort Hays State the past eight years, announced her resignation Tuesday to accept a similar position at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Wiles compiled a 136-89 record at Fort Hays and the led the Tigers to six Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament appearances from 2000-06. She also led them to the NCAA Division II national tournament in 2005.

Wiles was a standout player at Fort Hays from 1987-91 and led the 1990-1991 team to a 34-2 record and the NAIA national championship. The Tigers won the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and NAIA District 10 titles on the way to the national title. She was named Most Valuable Player of the 1991 national tournament.

Wiles, a native of Hunter and graduate of Sylvan High School, was a two-time All-American during her four seasons at Fort Hays. She departed as the school's leading career scorer and rebounder with 2,407 points and 961 rebounds. Those records still stand today.

Wiles was inducted into the Tiger Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 and the RMAC Hall of Fame in 2003.

"I feel the time is right for me to pursue a new and exciting coaching opportunity that has been offered me by the University of Minnesota at Duluth," Wiles said in a prepared statement. "I have had many opportunities during my time at FHSU as both a student athlete and head coach.

"Being a national champion, an RMAC Hall of Fame member, and an FHSU Athletic Hall of Fame member, I feel I have accomplished many goals and have had much success."

Wiles coached at Bethany College for seven seasons before going to Fort Hays. Her teams were 164-49, had four seasons where they won 20 or more games, and played in four NAIA Division II national tournaments.

Her career coaching record is 300-138. Her .658 winning percentage ranks her 17th among active NCAA Division II women's basketball coaches.

At Minnesota-Duluth, Wiles replaces Tanya Bowers, who resigned after one season to become an assistant at Southern Illinois. The Bulldogs were 4-23 last season, including a 1-11 record in the North Central Conference.

Minnesota-Duluth is an NCAA Division II-member school along with Fort Hays.

"We feel very fortunate to have attracted one of the nation's top basketball coaches in Annette Wiles," UMD athletic director Bob Nielson said in a statement. "Throughout her career she has proven herself as a winner with the ability to build and maintain a nationally competitive program. Her leadership and commitment is exactly what our program needs."

Fort Hays athletic director Curtis Hammeke has formed a search committee to find a new coach.

Wiles, a native of Hunter and graduate of Sylvan High School, was a two-time All-American during her four seasons at Fort Hays. She departed as the school's leading career scorer and rebounder with 2,407 points and 961 rebounds. Those records still stand today.

Wiles was inducted into the Tiger Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 and the RMAC Hall of Fame in 2003.

"I feel the time is right for me to pursue a new and exciting coaching opportunity that has been offered me by the University of Minnesota at Duluth," Wiles said in a prepared statement. "I have had many opportunities during my time at FHSU as both a student athlete and head coach.

"Being a national champion, an RMAC Hall of Fame member, and an FHSU Athletic Hall of Fame member, I feel I have accomplished many goals and have had much success."

Wiles coached at Bethany College for seven seasons before going to Fort Hays. Her teams were 164-49, had four seasons where they won 20 or more games, and played in four NAIA Division II national tournaments.

Her career coaching record is 300-138. Her .658 winning percentage ranks her 17th among active NCAA Division II women's basketball coaches.

At Minnesota-Duluth, Wiles replaces Tanya Bowers, who resigned after one season to become an assistant at Southern Illinois. The Bulldogs were 4-23 last season, including a 1-11 record in the North Central Conference.

Minnesota-Duluth is an NCAA Division II-member school along with Fort Hays.

"We feel very fortunate to have attracted one of the nation's top basketball coaches in Annette Wiles," UMD athletic director Bob Nielson said in a statement. "Throughout her career she has proven herself as a winner with the ability to build and maintain a nationally competitive program. Her leadership and commitment is exactly what our program needs."

Fort Hays athletic director Curtis Hammeke has formed a search committee to find a new coach.