INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Head Coach LeAnn Freeland announced that former Miami Hurricane and professional star Constantin Popa will accompany her on the Greyhound bench as the new women’s basketball assistant coach.  Popa, who joins Freeland as first-year members of a revamped Greyhound coaching staff, spent the previous two years as the varsity girl's head coach at Cypress Bay High School in Weston, Fla.

"Constantin Popa brings a great deal of passion, experience, and knowledge to the UIndy women's basketball program," said Freeland.  "We are extremely fortunate to have somebody with Coach Popa's credentials as a member of our staff.   He has been successful in all aspects of the game as a player and as a coach.  I expect him to make an immediate impact with the players and help us get the program moving in the right direction."

Popa starred for the Miami Hurricanes as a collegian.  The seven-foot-three Romanian was a two-time All-Big East performer and is the school's all-time leading shot blocker.  Popa was drafted in the second round by the L.A. Clippers and later went on to star in both France and Israel as a professional.

Overseas, Popa helped three different European teams to a total of five national titles in two countries.  He was also a member of the Romanian Olympic Team.

Popa will help lead a 2007-08 squad that returns four starters and ten letterwinners.  Last season's team compiled a 7-9 record in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and a 16-11 mark overall.