Name: Sue Semrau Position: Head Coach Graduate: University of California - San Diego '88

"I had a passion and desire to build something," Florida State women's basketball head coach Sue Semrau said upon her hiring in June of 1997.

It's a passion that quickly became contagious.

"But that Seminole spirit, that sense that victory is in that next shot, that next pass, that next steal..." one sportswriter wrote about the Seminoles.

Semrau believed in the team and soon the team began to believe in itself and then the results became evident. In just one season at the helm, Semrau led Florida State to its most victories since 1992-93 and its best ACC record and finish since 1992-93, including its largest victory by margin over an ACC opponent.

Energy, positiveness and new life was brought back into the Lady Seminole women's basketball program when Sue Semrau, formerly the top assistant at the University of Wisconsin, became head coach at Florida State on June 13, 1997. It was these characteristics and others that led Director of Athletics Dave Hart to the hiring of Semrau.

"Sue's integral role in the building process at two different programs, along with her tremendous energy and reputation as a recruiter, were the most important profile characteristics in her selection as our women's basketball coach at Florida State University," Hart said. "We all look forward to continuing our collective efforts to establish a competitive women's basketball program at Florida State."

Semrau becomes head coach at FSU after serving three years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Wisconsin under Badger Head Coach Jane Albright-Dieterle. Semrau joined Albright-Dieterle at Northern Illinois in 1991 where she assisted in leading NIU to three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.

In her three seasons at Wisconsin, Semrau contributed to the Badgers' three straight winning seasons and two NCAA tournament appearances, including the program's first ever back-to-back 20-win seasons. Wisconsin also posted its best record in program history, a 21-8 mark in 1995-96, during Semrau's tenure.

Semrau has also been noted for her recruiting efforts at Wisconsin with a 1995 recruiting class that ranked eighth in the country by Blue Star Index. The Badgers' 1997 class features the program's first WBCA Prep All-American and the first multiple Parade Magazine honoree.

In the summer of 1996, Semrau was the head coach of a team of college alumni that competed in the Athletes in Action Spring Australian Tour.

Semrau came to Northern Illinois after serving as head women's basketball coach and assistant athletic director at Occidental College in Los Angeles for four years where she compiled a 51-47 overall record. She also coached soccer for two seasons and was responsible for the administrative duties of fundraising and promotions at the Division III institution. At Occidental, Semrau was a member of the NCAA regional selection committee and chaired the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for women's basketball.

Prior to her appointment at Occidental, Semrau worked as the public relations and promotions director for the L.A. Heat professional soccer team from 1986-87, and the public relations director for the Seattle Storm soccer team in the previous year. In 1986-87, she also served as an assistant basketball coach at Santa Monica High School.

A 36-year-old native of Seattle, Wash., Semrau is a graduate of Shorecrest High School where she earned all-conference honors in her senior year. She went on to attend the University of Puget Sound for two years, garnering Freshman of the Year honors. Semrau transferred to the University of California-San Diego in 1984 where she ranks 13th in all-time scoring and fourth in all-time assists. In 1985, she graduated from the University of California-San Diego with a bachelor's degree in communications, and received her master's degree in athletic administration from the University of Southern California in 1988.