By BOB THOMPSON
of the Tribune's staff

It was not entirely unexpected, but in the wake of the Missouri women's basketball team's breakthrough in the NCAA Tournament, its assistant coaches have decided to take advantage of the success.

MU coach Cindy Stein announced yesterday that all three members of her staff - associate head coach Lee Ann Riley, and assistants Dave Wilbers and Stephanie Thurman - have left Missouri.

Now Stein is scrambling not only to interview potential replacements, but also to hit the recruiting trail and capitalize on the momentum created by the Tigers' historic postseason run.

"I'm talking to recruits and applicants at the same time," Stein said. "But we've got some good leads and in a couple of weeks we might be able to get some people in."

Stein will travel to North Carolina and Dallas this weekend to evaluate high school juniors for next year's recruiting class. She anticipates junior college recruits visiting the campus on the two weekends after that.

Riley accepted the head coaching position at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. The Tyler native was an assistant for the Ladyjacks from 1992-93 and helped lead the school to back-to-back Southland Conference championships and a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 1993.

She had just finished her first season with the Tigers. She was approached in St. Louis at last weekend's Final Four by SFA athletic director Steve McCarty after former coach Royce Chadwick resigned last week to accept the head-coaching position at Marshall University.

After wrestling with the decision for a while, Riley decided it was an opportunity she couldn't refuse.

Stein said her staff has an agreement to let her know by the Final Four what the plans are for the next year.

Although the timing of the announcement coincided with Riley's departure, Wilbers and Thurman each informed Stein of their desire to leave early last week.

Wilbers, who was in his third season at MU, served as the Tigers recruiting coordinator. Thurman was also in her third season and her primary responsibilities were as camp coordinator and academic liaison to the Tiger players.

Stein said Wilbers is pursuing some head-coaching possibilities.

The vacancies on her staff and team have put plans to extend Stein's contract by two years on hold. Athletic director Mike Alden approached Stein before the Sweet 16 about adding some time to the current contract.

"I know I want to be here and I'm going to be here," Stein said. "But right now recruiting and getting a staff are more important."

Stein's contract runs through the 2003-04 season.

Kent Heitholt contributed to this report.