EMORY, Va. – Emory & Henry College Head Women's Basketball Coach Rose Katz has resigned to take the same position at Arcadia University. Katz was announced as the new leader of the Knights in a press release on Monday afternoon.

"I would like to thank the tremendous Emory & Henry community and especially (Director of Athletics) Myra Sims for welcoming me with open arms three years ago," said Katz. "I enjoyed my time here and am appreciative for the opportunity I had to coach at E&H and in the ODAC.  I am fortunate to have met talented coaches, intelligent and dedicated student-athletes, and worked within a great athletics department that I consider family."

Inheriting a program in the summer of 2011 that had won just four games prior to her arrival, Katz was not only charged with putting tallies in the win column, but also changing the program's culture.

"Rose has been an energetic leader for our women's basketball program," noted Director of Athletics Sims. "She has worked tirelessly to recruit good players to E&H and to mold the team culture in a positive way. The program has improved during her time here and I am thankful that we had someone with her character to lead the program these last three years. She has been a very positive influence within our department, and both I, and her colleagues, will miss her."

Katz takes over a program which has posted back-to-back 10-win seasons after several years at the bottom of the MAC Commonwealth Conference. The competition in the Middle Atlantic Conferences will be familiar to Katz, who played and coached at DeSales University and Widener University, respectively.

"The move to Arcadia is a good one for Rose as it gets her back closer to her family and back into the conference where she both played and coached previously. It will be a good fit for Rose and I wish her well. I am confident that she will enjoy a long and successful career in coaching," added Sims.

The decision to leave behind Emory & Henry was not easy for Katz as the program has grown in skill and competitiveness with each passing year. With 13 of 14 players, including four starters, returning for the 2014-15 season, the Wasps are in a position to make the leap up the ODAC standings.

"The E&H women's basketball team is poised for a year that will take everyone by 'swarm.' These players have leadership, commitment, work ethic, and togetherness. These are all the components of a great team. I am sad to leave such an unbelievable group of young women but I know that we will be connected for life," Katz said.

The next head coach for Emory & Henry's women's basketball program will be announced soon.

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