The search is underway at Florida International to replace Cindy Russo who retired after 36 years at the school. There are a bunch of candidates involved here, but the three names that I’ve heard the most consistently are:

• Desma Thomas Bateast (South Florida – Assistant Coach). Spent seven seasons as an assistant at FIU. The former WNBA guard has also spent time at St. Thomas, Rhode Island and Dillard University prior to joining USF in 2013. Played collegiately at Miami.

• Dave Caputo (Bloomfield College – Head Coach). Former Louisiana Tech assistant is 37-20 in his two seasons at Bloomfield. Was also the head coach at Indian River State College (FL) and served as an assistant at Florida Atlantic.

• Darrick Gibbs (Miami – Assistant Coach). Has spent the past ten seasons as an assistant at Miami. He has also been an assistant at Charlotte and College of Charleston.

I’ll have more as the search progresses.