LOWE MOVES ON; BRENT HERMANSON TABBED AS NEW HEAD COACH OF WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
May 29, 2008

Assistant Coach Brent Hermanson has been promoted to Head Coach of Women's Basketball.

For the second time in as many years, the BCC Women’s Basketball program will be headed up by a former assistant coach.  Athletic Director Bill O’Connor named Brent Hermanson, an assistant coach last season, as the successor to Steve Lowe, who has stepped down to pursue a coaching opportunity at NCAA Division II Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma.

Lowe described his decision to leave BCC as “bittersweet”, stating that “On one hand I'm very sad to leave Bellevue and the friends I’ve made here. On the other hand, I’m getting a chance to coach at a four year institution. Coach Tom Webb and Cameron University have given me an opportunity to do something that I’m truly passionate about; coaching the game of basketball full time.”    

Lowe took the reins at Bellevue in June of 2007, replacing Cheryl Sorenson who moved on to take an assistant coaching position at NCAA Division I Eastern Washington University.  As an assistant under Sorenson from 2004-2007, he helped accomplish a remarkable turnaround, taking the team from 4-22 record in their first season to the best season in school history with a 26-5 overall record in 2006-2007, and a runner-up finish at the NWAACC Championships.  Last season, BCC finished 18-13 overall, 12-4 in the Northern Region, and qualified for the NWAACC tournament for the third year in a row.

“I want to thank Bellevue Community College, the athletic department, and everyone that played for the women’s program during my time” he said. “I’ve met a lot of great people during my tenure here and I have nothing but great memories.” 

O’Connor did not have to look far in finding a replacement for Lowe, naming Hermanson head coach after his first season as an assistant at BCC.  “We have had outstanding coaches, but also two coaching changes in two years” said O’Connor. “I am excited to be able to turn to a quality individual such as Brent, who will add a measure of stability to the program and will continue our recent tradition of having excellent coaches in Women’s Basketball.”

In his first act as Head Coach, Hermanson has announced a pair of adjustments to the coaching staff.  Paulette Martin, an assistant on last year’s team alongside Hermanson, has been named as Associate Head Coach, and Dan Toblin has been promoted from Strength and Conditioning Coach to an Assistant Coach position.

“It was important to continue to build on what Coach Lowe started, so retaining the coaching staff was a critical step” said Hermanson. “Bellevue has consistently competed at a high level in the NWAACC and with the recruiting class that has been assembled by Coach Lowe for the 2008-2009 season, I expect to continue the tradition of excellence that has been established within the Women’s Basketball program.”

Hermanson has been a mainstay in the girls’ youth basketball circuit over the last 10 years, having worked with both the Redmond Select and Flight AAU basketball programs.  Last year was his first season coaching in the college ranks.

“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to coach at Bellevue Community College” he said.  “I believe we will compete again this year to win the Northern Region, and return to the NWAACC Tournament.”