Goldberg steps down at DSU: Women’s basketball coach leaving to pursue positions in home state of Colorado

• Andre Goldberg

Press Photo by Dustin Monke Andre Goldberg, shown Feb. 18 during a game against Jamestown College at Scott Gymnasium, said Friday that he has stepped down as Dickinson State’s head women’s basketball coach after three seasons.

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Dickinson State is in the market for a new women’s basketball coach.

Andre Goldberg said Friday that he is resigning from the university after three seasons in the position.

Goldberg said he and his wife, Courtney, are pursuing job opportunities in his home state of Colorado.

“There’s some opportunities that came up out there that we were hoping for and we’re interested in,” he said. “It’s kind of a tough deal, but really we’re just looking to move closer to family. There’s never really an easy time to leave somewhere.”

Goldberg compiled a 40-45 record in three seasons with the Blue Hawks and had a 16-18 record against Dakota Athletic Conference competition. The team finished the 2011-12 season with a 10-19 record.

“I wish we could have done better this year,” Goldberg said. “I’m proud of where the program is right now and I’m proud of some of the things we accomplished. The competitor inside of me wishes we could have done more and wishes that I could have done a better job.”

DSU athletic director Tim Daniel said a nationwide search for Goldberg’s replacement will begin immediately.

“There’s no doubt that Andre has developed into a good young coach and we felt was doing a really nice job with the women’s program,” DSU athletic director Tim Daniel said. “You know, obviously we’re disappointed that he’s leaving us, but we’re excited for him for the things that are ahead of him and his wife for the future.”

Ashley Jelly, a DSU point guard who will be a senior next season, said Goldberg always made time for his team.

“I think we’re going to miss his dedication to the program and going above and beyond to try and make us better,” Jelly said. “If we needed anything, he’d be there for us.

“As far as a coach coming in? Hopefully somebody who knows something about the program and has high expectations because we as players have high expectations for ourselves next year.”

The Blue Hawks make the full transition into the Frontier Conference next season.

Goldberg is leaving a Blue Hawk team that expects to return nine players from last season’s roster. Three high school recruits have also signed NAIA letters of intent to play for DSU.

“It’s not like there’s nobody there, but there’s some things that are going to have to take place,” Daniel said. “Again, hopefully we give the new coach an opportunity to bring in some of their own players and put their own stamp to the program a little bit so it won’t be like walking in and taking over somebody’s old team.”

Goldberg said he plans to continue coaching at the high school and youth levels.

A graduate of Black Hills State University, Goldberg spent two seasons as an assistant basketball coach for DSU — one season with the men’s team and another with both the men’s and women’s teams — before moving to Orlando to work as a professional basketball trainer and camp director for the National Basketball Academy, which has affiliation with the Orlando Magic and other professional teams, including the Denver Nuggets.

He returned to DSU in August 2009 as the interim women’s basketball head coach for the 2009-10 season following Guy Fridley’s resignation to become the principal and athletic director at South Heart High School.

The Blue Hawks went 15-13 in Goldberg’s first season, after which his interim tag was removed. The team went 15-13 again in 2010-11.

Goldberg, who also spent the past school year as DSU’s sports information director, will be officially employed by the university until June 30.

He said leaving the university was not an easy choice.

“It was extremely difficult,” Goldberg said. “The people of Dickinson have been great and the community has been awesome to my wife and I. That’s what made it the toughest for us, the people that we’ll miss so much.”

Tags: blue hawks, college basketball, andre goldberg, sports, dsu