(Sports Network) - Temple University has named Tonya Cardoza its new women's basketball coach. Cardoza spent the past 14 years as an assistant at Connecticut under the highly-successful Geno Auriemma. She was a part of five national championship teams with the Huskies.

"Tonya Cardoza brings successful coaching experience from one of the premier programs in the history of intercollegiate athletics," said Temple athletic director Bill Bradshaw. "She has been an integral part of the Huskies' national success and we are excited to welcome her to Temple University."

Cardoza helped the Huskies to a record of 465-41 and seven Final Four appearances. She primarily worked with the guards at UConn, including Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi.

"I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be Temple's newest head women's basketball coach," said Cardoza. "Temple is a great academic institution, as well as a wonderful athletic institution and I am so excited to get started."

Cardoza will replace Dawn Staley, who left after eight seasons in her hometown of Philadelphia to take the vacancy at South Carolina. Staley and Cardoza were teammates at the University of Virginia.



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