Women’s Basketball Head Coach Sandy Botham has accepted a new position at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Coach Botham, who will now work with UWM Alumni Relations, leaves the Panther Basketball program as the Horizon League record holder for the most career league victories as a women’s basketball head coach.
“We’re very excited that Sandy will bring her passion and positive attitude to our Alumni Relations,” said Chancellor Michael Lovell. “We’re confident her success in athletics will be a huge asset as the university revamps its work with alumni by expanding our outreach to our graduates across the country.”
Vice Chancellor for Development Patricia Borger, who oversees Alumni Association activities, said Coach Botham’s new role will involve strengthening existing relationships and creating new connections with the university’s 140,000 alumni. “Sandy’s energy and enthusiasm will help us further raise UWM’s profile,” said Borger.
“I have loved coaching, but am ready to move on and open this new chapter of my life in service to this university,” said Botham. “I’ve seen the great work our students do on and off the basketball court. Now, with the Alumni Relations, I will have the opportunity to connect with our amazing graduates everywhere.”
Coach Botham took over UWM women’s basketball for the 1996-1997 season. Inheriting a program that had gone 4-22 in the preceding season, Coach Botham led the team to a 16-12 record and earned her first of three Coach of the Year awards. She also won the award for the 2000-01 and 2005-06 seasons, during which the Panther women were crowned the league’s regular season and tournament champions.
During her 16 years as head coach, the UWM women compiled a 245-225 overall record and 156-102 record in Horizon League games. Her victories as head coach are the most in UWM’s NCAA Division I sports era and second most in the 41 years of Panther women’s basketball.
Sandy was an outstanding athlete prior to her coaching career. She was a four-time all-conference performer in basketball at the University of Notre Dame, from which she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and a standout in three different sports at Madison West High School. She is a member of both the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame (as a player) and the Madison Athletics Hall of Fame (honoring her achievements as both an athlete and coach).