Lori Gear McBride, who was introduced Monday at a news conference in Burlington, has spent five seasons as head women's basketball coach at Colby College, where she's credited with turning the program around.

In 1994, she won a NCAA title -- as a player -- at North Carolina.

Gear McBride replaces Sharon Dawley, who left UVM to take the head coaching job at the University of Massachusetts, after seven years in Burlington.

Gear McBride says she grew up watching UVM basketball and wants to continue its tradition of excellence.