(July 14, 2008 - Ann Arbor, Mich.) -- One of the first duties of new Athletic Director Ben Limback was the search for the head coach of the women's basketball program after Joshua Steffen unexpectedly announced he was departing for Concordia-Chicago. Limback believes he has found the individual who will be able to continue to move the program forward, and beyond, as he has hired Andrea Gorski to oversee the program.

"Coach Gorski is a woman of faith that has high standards both on and off the court," said Limback. "She has a tremendous amount of passion to take the Concordia women's basketball program to the next level."

Gorski, who in 1996 was inducted into the Bradley University Hall of Fame, starred for the Braves for four seasons before graduating in 1992. But the standout player didn't leave her talent there as she has built an extremely impressive resume since.

Upon completing her playing career, Gorski spent a season as the Braves Graduate Assistant Coach before landing at Livonia Ladywood High School, where she has served as the head coach for the past 12 seasons. In addition, she has been a volunteer coach at the Livonia YMCA, a CYO coach at St. Michael Catholic School and an AAU coach for the Lady Sun Devils.

While guiding the Blazer program at Ladywood to an amazing 184-99 record over the last dozen seasons, Gorski has racked up numerous accolades as well. She has been a Catholic League Coach of the Year three times, the Observer-Eccentric Coach of the Year once, the Basketball Coaches of Michigan Coach of the year once, was named the Class B and the overall Coach of the Year in 2005 by the Detroit Free Press, the Associated Press Coach of the Year (also in 2005) and was named the BCAM All-Star Festival Coach in 2006.

Gorski was the President of the Catholic League Coaches Association from 1998-2000, and was on the Catholic High School League Board of Directors during the same period. She has been a Regional Chair, the Miss Basketball Director, the President and a member of the Board of Directors for BCAM, all since 2005.

"After meeting with Ben Limback, I felt like Concordia University would be a good fit for me and my style of coaching," said Gorski. "I'm very impressed with the administration and the players I have met so far.  It was tough for me to leave Ladywood after 12 seasons, but I am looking forward to the challenge of coaching at the collegiate level." 

Gorski's tremendous amount of contacts after 12 years at the high school level made her a top candidate, but her sense of the game and her plan to grow the program further is what put her atop the list of candidates.

"With her coaching contacts and proven ability to teach the game, I feel she will be a huge asset to our athletic department and university," Limback said.