Jamelle Elliot becomes head coach

(WTNH) - Every year, great teams lose great players. Sometimes you even lose great coaches. And with the success that the women's basketball program has had, other teams will be quick to try to copy UConn's path to success. And what better way of doing it then to hire a UConn coach like Jamelle Elliot.

"Geno called me today at 7:30; the first thing he said to me was, 'do you feel like a head coach?' And I said 'yah know I haven't been able to sleep for two nights, so if that's what it means to be a head coach, I think I feel like that,'" Elliot said.

Cincinnati's new head coach found it hard to say goodbye; goodbye to a program she played for, coached for, lived for.

Elliot basically grew up in Connecticut. She was a key member of Connecticut's first national championship team; Elliott was a part of all six national titles at UConn.

After 16-years in Storrs -- four playing, 12 coaching -- Elliot got attached.

"Everyone there prepared me for this moment and I'm going to make them proud and I'm not going to disappoint them," said Elliot.

And every year, UConn will get a chance to see Elliot up close. She's leaving the UConn family but not the Big East; it's a unique opportunity for a first time head coach.

"What a wonderful opportunity," she said. "I can't say enough; I've been through this process quite a bit, I've been wanting to be a head coach for a few years now."