02:18 PM PDT on Tuesday, May 3, 2005

Associated Press

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- The new Oregon State University women's basketball coach is calling her new job a "dream come true."

Duke University file photo

LaVonda Wagner

LaVonda Wagner was officially introduced Monday. The former Duke assistant is known as a great recruiter.

Her fist college head coaching job does not figure to be easy.

The Beavers are coming off a 6-and-23 season, which led to the firing of Judy Spoelstra after ten seasons coaching at her alma mater.

OSU has not been to the NCAA tournament since 1996.

Wagner spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach at Duke. The 41-year-old says her new team will look forward and not back.

Wagner also had assistant coaching stints at Illinois and East Tennessee State. She received a five-year contract with a base salary of $140,000 and a $60,000 media package.