UW-Stout has gone thousands of miles to claim one of its own as the next Blue Devil head men's basketball coach.

Ed Andrist, head coach at Mt. Senario and a former assistant coach at Stout, was announced today as the 15th men's basketball coach.

"I am excited about the selection of Ed Andrist as head men's basketball coach and am looking forward to a dynamic season ahead," UW-Stout chancellor Charles W. Sorensen said. "Ed brings the right combination of experience, enthusiasm and style to the job."

Andrist has spent much of the summer overseas coaching the Qatar national men's team. He is currently preparing the Qatar team for the Asian Games by playing a series of games in basketball-crazy Croatia. Andrist returned to Menomonie to participate in the interview process.

After 11 very successful seasons at Mt. Senario in Ladysmith, Wis., where the Saints won three NSCAA national titles, Andrist (250-191 at Mt. Senario) is very excited to return to Stout where he got his coaching start.

"I bleed blue and white," Andrist said. "I am a true blue Stout person. When I left the Stout, I always stayed up with the program. "

Andrist came to Stout in 1972 to play for the basketball team, but was cut as a player. Former coach Dwain Mintz asked Andrist to join the team as a coach for the 1974-75 and 1975-76 seasons. It was during the 1974-75 season that Andrist got his first taste of championship basketball, when the Blue Devils won the conference title, the last time that has been achieved at Stout. Andrist again coached under Mintz for three seasons from 1984-87.

"I will never forget that (championship) feeling," Andrist said. Andrist hopes to return that feeling to Stout, and his background speaks well. While at Mt. Senario, the Saints won six conference titles, participated in nine national tournaments, advanced to six national final fours and won national championships in 1996, 1994 and 1991.

"There is no other feeling like winning the final game of the year in your division and walking away with the national men's basketball championship," Andrist said. "It doesn't matter what level you are at. Having that experience three separate times, I will be able to share with our team what that feels like."

"Ed brings a wealth of national tournament experience with him as well as the ability to get his teams to play at the highest possible level they are capable of," Sorensen said.

In the arena, Andrist calls himself a "huge defensive guy who plays a simple offense. I love to full court press and I love to run hard. This league is a very strong halfcourt league and in order to compete, we will have to be strong in the halfcourt. The coaches are real smart in this league and you had better do what you do well, or they will chew you up."

Andrist's teams never shied away from strong competition. In addition to playing WIAC schools, Mt. Senario has taken on other NCAA Division III programs, as well as NCAA Division II, NAIA Division I and some NCAA Division I teams.

"I have always felt the better the teams you play, the better we can become as a team," Andrist said. "Playing a quality team will be more valuable than blowing out a weak team."

"I am delighted Ed is getting this chance," said Dick Bennett, head coach for the Wisconsin Badgers. "He has paid his dues. I believe Stout made an excellent choice."

Andrist, who received his bachelors degree in technology education from Stout in 1976 and his masters degree in physical education from Winona State in 1982, coached and taught at LaFarge, Stanley-Boyd and Stockbridge high schools. Andrist will also serve as an instructor.