Since her hiring March 15, new NIU women’s basketball coach Carol Owens has been busy rebuilding the program.

Owens, 37, has begun to put together a new coaching staff and will get a feel for her new team this week when individual workouts begin.

Since taking over for Carol Hammerle, who announced her retirement on March 8, Owens’ first hire was fellow NIU graduate E.C. Hill, who played at NIU from 1991-94 and spent two seasons in the WNBA.

“Carol has always been a mentor of mine,” Hill said. “We just talked on a regular basis, and here I am.”

Owens said she has had Hill in mind for the job from the beginning.

“E.C. is someone that I knew I wanted on my staff when I became a head coach,” Owens said. “She adds to the program with her recruiting contacts and pro experience.”

In addition to Hill, former Michigan guard Molly Murray has been added to the coaching staff as an assistant.

Owens will hire one more assistant and a director of operations in the coming weeks.

On the court, players will begin their individual workouts, but Owens said she is still learning what the players can do.

“We will just be working on fundamentals,” Owens said. “Right now we are just trying to get to know the ladies and interact with them.”

The Huskies have also spent the off-season trying to get their back court healthy.

Guard Mary Basic recently had shoulder surgery and has been limited to riding an exercise bike.

Guards Tara Michels and Whitney Lowe are also recovering from injuries suffered last season but will be ready for next season, Owens said.

Owens said she has been in touch with incoming recruits and their parents and said all of them have stayed committed to NIU.