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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 1:49 p.m., Thursday, March 26, 2009

CBKB: Oregon hires Paul Westhead as women's coach

EUGENE, Ore. — Paul Westhead, who has won titles in the NBA and WNBA, was hired as the women's head coach at Oregon.

The 70-year-old Westhead replaces Bev Smith, who was let go last week after the Ducks went 9-21 last season.

Westhead most recently was an assistant for the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder. He was dismissed along with head coach P.J. Carlesimo in November after the Thunder started the season 1-12.

Westhead guided the Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA title in 1980 and the Phoenix Mercury to the WNBA championship in 2007.

Smith, a former All-American as a player for the Ducks from 1978-82, was 123-121 in eight seasons as head coach at Oregon.