Grinnell College will have a new womens’ basketball coach in place when the 2008-2009 season opens. Kate Gluckman not only coached at Tufts University since 2006. She graduated from the Massachusetts based school.

Gluckman says they tied for first in their league in her first year, and lost in the championship game of the post-season, so didn’t make it into the NCAA’s. They got an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament this year after setting records that included 12 straight wins to start the season.

The team made it to the Elite Eight of the tourney. Gluckman is aware of the academic standards in place at Grinnell. She says the standards for each institution are very high, and the difference at Tufts is the size of the school.

She says her coaching philosophy rests on getting it done defensively and then creating baskets offensively.

Gluckman takes over for Andy Hamilton who resigned as the Pioneers mentor after serving six seasons.