GW women’s basketball head coach Joe McKeown was one of seven coaches to turn down the head coaching job for the women’s program at Vanderbilt University, withdrawing his name from consideration last Wednesday.

The spot, left open when 11-year veteran coach Jim Foster took a job at Ohio State in April, remains open.

McKeown, named Atlantic 10 coach of the year this year, was unavailable for comment as to why he withdrew his name or how carefully he was considering the new position. The move to Vanderbilt, which went 30-7 last season, could be seen as a step up for McKeown. The team lost to Tennessee in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament last season.

In his 13 years at GW, McKeown has become the Colonials all-time winningest women’s basketball coach in percentage (.731) and wins (272). His .740 winning percentage over his 15 years as a head coach, including two years at New Mexico State University, ranks him among the winningest active coaches in Division I basketball.

Former Colorado State University head coach Tom Collen was originally named Foster’s replacement May 1, but after controversy over a discrepancy on his resume, Collen resigned the next day. Since Collen, six coaches have been considered for the job, including McKeown, but have either turned the position down, turned down an interview or withdrawn their names from consideration.

-Lauren Silva