LARAMIE, Wyo. -- The University of Wyoming welcomed home one of its own Thursday, when officials announced the hiring of Rock Springs native Joe Legerski as the sixth Cowgirls basketball coach.

Athletics Director Lee Moon joked at a news conference that Legerski, a women's assistant coach at Utah the past 12 seasons, had better trade in his red for some brown and gold.

Legerski later said he didn't need to.

"I don't have to buy my brown and gold,'' he said, "I just have to pull it out.''

Legerski's has strong ties to the Cowboy State.

The 45-year-old not only graduated from Wyoming in 1979 but was also an assistant coach for the Cowgirls from 1987-91. His wife, Jamie, played for the Cowgirls.

Legerski also was women's coach at Western Wyoming for one season, 1986-87, and coached two years at Rock Springs High School.

"This university has always held a special place in my life, and to have an opportunity to come back is a chance most do not receive,'' Legerski said. "The commitment to this program is at the highest level.''

Legerski signed a five-year contract worth an estimated $200,000 a year that includes a buyout clause, Moon said. Legerski replaces Cindy Fisher, a Cheyenne native who resigned last week after her fifth and most successful season to become an assistant at Nebraska.

Both Moon and UW President Philip Dubois praised Fisher for turning the program around in her tenure.

The Cowgirls had four consecutive losing seasons before posting an 18-12 record this past season and were invited to play in the Women's National Invitation Tournament. The 18 wins were the most since the 1989-90 season.

"I think she did a great job in a difficult situation, building from the ground up,'' Moon said.

Legerski feels he can build upon that progress. A scout for Utah coach Elaine Elliott, Legerski said he already knows the Cowgirls well and is familiar with the Mountain West Conference.

"I can recruit here,'' Legerski said he told his wife while touring Wyoming's facilities. "We will get good players here. We will win here.''

Legerski believes the Cowgirls could start fresh next season with the loss of seven players but also has faith in the remaining seven. He planned to speak to all players and their families Thursday night.

"The current players will fit into my motion offense well,'' he said.

Sophomore forward Kristen Lenhardt was excited by Legerski's attitude and the success of the Utah program he hails from. The Utes compiled a 254-96 record in his 12 years and won the Mountain West Conference last season with a 12-2 record.

"I think, just with his philosophy in mind, that we'll work hard and I think we're going to work hard for him,'' Lenhardt said. "I definitely think he can bring us to the next level.''

Sophomore guard Ashley Elliott also liked what she saw when she met Legerski briefly Thursday morning.

"It seems like he has a lot of confidence and knows what he wants to do with the program. ... We've come a long way. I hope he can build on it,'' she said.

Margie McDonald, Cowgirls coach from 1974-83, has known Legerski for years during her tenure as executive director of the High Country Athletic Conference and deputy commissioner of the Western Athletic Conference.

She described her colleague as a great teacher who is, first and foremost, loyal to his program.

"He has a sense of what makes players want to do well. And he's a people person, so he's a great recruiter,'' McDonald said.