July 30, 2009

Denny Downing has been named as the head basketball coach for the Lady Broncs, announced Ricky Vaughn, interim athletic director. A press conference will take place Wednesday, August 5 at 10:00 a.m. in the Visitor's Center Lobby to formally introduce Coach Downing.

Downing comes to the Rio Grande Valley after spending seven seasons at Texas A&M-Commerce where he compiled a 106-99 (.517) overall record. He led the Lady Lions to the programs first ever Lone Star Conference North Division Championship, Lone Star Conference Tournament title and NCAA South Central Regional Championship in 2006-07. That same season, Downing was named Lone Star Conference North Division Coach of the Year.

In the past four seasons with Texas A&M-Commerce, the Lady Lions have posted four straight winning seasons for the first time in the programs history. In a two season stretch (2005-06 and 2006-07), Downing posted a 33-1 mark at the A&M-Commerce Field House. In Downing's seven seasons at Commerce, he's guided multiple players to post-season accolades, including the programs first ever All-American in Kanani Marshal.

Prior to Commerce, Downing spent one season as the head women's basketball coach at Collin County Community College. Downing took over the program near the start of the season, but was able to improve the Lady Cougars to a two-win improvement from the previous season. Downing also served as the head recruiting coordinator at Drake University from 1994-96 and before that was an assistant at Fort Hays University (1993-94), which he assisted in laying the groundwork for a NCAA Division II Men's National Championship two years later.

Downing also spent two season's at Ranger Junior College where he served as head coach for both the men and women's basketball programs. He compiled a 31-28 mark for the women and a 33-28 for the men. He also led the Rangers to the New Mexico/Texas NJCAA Playoffs with a record of 19-12 in 1992-93. Eighty percent of his sophomore's graduated, all of which went on to play Division I basketball.

Prior to his coaching experience, Downing served as a graduate assistant at Tarleton State University (1989-91) aiding both the men and women's teams.

Downing earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from Northwestern Oklahoma State in 1989 and earned his master's in 1991 from Tarleton State.