Central Oklahoma veteran coach joins Nebraska staff

<br>LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) _ The veteran men's basketball coach at the University of Central Oklahoma has been hired as an assistant coach for the Nebraska women's basketball team. <br><br>Jim Seward

Wednesday, April 3rd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) _ The veteran men's basketball coach at the University of Central Oklahoma has been hired as an assistant coach for the Nebraska women's basketball team.

Jim Seward fills the position vacated by former assistant Jeff Walz, who resigned before the start of the 2001-2002 season.

``Jim brings a great deal of knowledge about the game and a system that fits my philosophy,'' Nebraska coach Paul Sanderford said. ``He is definitely one of the best teachers that I've eve been around.''

Seward, 55, is the all-time winningest coach at Central Oklahoma with a 261-165 record in 15 years.

He led the Edmond, Okla.-based NCAA Division II school to a national quarterfinal appearance in 1992 and regional berths five times

Seward's teams averaged 97.9 points per game and led Division II men's basketball in scoring six times.

He coached the 1999 NCAA Division II scoring champion and current Chicago Bull, Eddie Robinson.

Seward has strong Nebraska ties. His first head coaching job was at Northeast Community College in Norfolk in 1972.

He also coached at Wayne State for five years when the Wildcats were nationally ranked in the NAIA in 1974 and 1977.

The Evanston, Ill., native earned his bachelor's degree from Hiram Scott College in Scottsbluff in 1969 and a master's degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1972. His wife, Ellie, is a native of Humphrey.

Their two daughters, Jamie and Meggie, both had stints as student managers for the Nebraska women's team while attending UNL.