Kevin McGuff, the new head woman's basketball coach for the Xavier Musketeers. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Two weeks ago, the phone rang at 2:30 a.m. in Kevin McGuff's hotel room in Italy. On the other end was a friend, who simply said, “The job is open.”

        “Even though I was dead asleep,” McGuff said Thursday, “I knew exactly what he meant.”

        He meant the Xavier women's basketball coaching job, the one McGuff formally accepted Thursday. The one he described as “the job that I've always dreamed of.”

        The one in which McGuff expects to take the university to Final Fours and fame galore.

        “I've had a chance to work at a great institution in Notre Dame,” McGuff said of his past six seasons as an assistant. “I wouldn't be standing here today if I didn't believe we could have the same success at Xavier.

        “Xavier basketball should have the opportunity to play on the final weekend, and play on the grandest stage in college basketball.”

        No one is scoffing. The groundwork laid in Melanie Balcomb's tenure, specifically the run to the 2001 Elite Eight, removed the glass ceilings in this administration's aspirations.

        “That (2001) season changed not only our perception in the athletic department but the university's perception overall of women's basketball,” athletic director Mike Bobinski said. “That set the stage to be there and go past that in years to come.

        “We were six minutes away (from the Final Four) that time. Now with a guy who has been there multiple times and knows what it's all about, I think that just improves our chances of doing that again here. That is clearly what we want to do.”

        McGuff, a 32-year-old Hamilton native, was twice rated among the nation's top five assistants by Women's Basketball Journal. He helped the Irish land six consecutive top 20 recruiting classes. In his time there, Notre Dame won at least one NCAA Tournament game in every season and claimed the 2001 national championship.

        First impressions were eerily similar to Thad Matta's arrival last spring as the XU men's coach: young and hungry, tireless recruiter, strong people skills, contagious enthusiasm.

        Sophomore forward Alexis Henderson said the six returning Musketeers raved about McGuff's “positive energy” after a half-hour meeting Thursday with their new coach.

        “Everyone came out of there like, "He's awesome,' ” Henderson said. “We are so excited. He set really high goals, and we're going to meet them.”

        Bobinski said XU's decision was made easier by McGuff's level of interest. On his team trip with the Irish in Italy, he e-mailed Bobinski and senior associate AD Dawn Rogers immediately to let them know how much he wanted the job.

        McGuff's father, Terry, is a 1958 XU alum. As a youth, McGuff attended Bob Staak's XU basketball camp three summers. He worked Pete Gillen's XU camp two summers as a counselor.

        “Xavier has been an extremely positive part of my life,” McGuff said.

        Bobinski heard unsolicited praise of McGuff from Cincinnati men's assistant coach Dan Peters, who coached McGuff one year at St. Joseph's (Ind.) College. Bobinski also described Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw as “tripping over herself” to hype McGuff.

        His recruiting background is key. Bobinski, asked how significant recruiting is in the modern game, held his arms wide apart.

        Balcomb had said that only in the past couple of years did XU attain enough name recognition for her to target blue-chip recruits. McGuff said he will aim for the nation's best players.

        “Kevin does an outstanding job of networking with (high school) coaches,” McGraw said. “The ability to form relationships is what makes him a good recruiter.”

        Said ESPN analyst Nancy Lieberman: “He's an excellent recruiter. He'll do fantastic at Xavier.”

        He'll have to hurry. The critical summer recruiting period begins next Friday, when coaches can begin calling players. The in-person evaluation period is July 8-31. McGuff also hasn't yet hired his staff.

        The next season could be crucial, as XU dipped to 12-19 last winter after three consecutive NCAA Tournament seasons. It might be necessary to reach the postseason to regain that prior momentum.

        “I have positive vibes about these players,” McGuff said. “I can't wait to get started.”

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