UW-Platteville men's basketball coach Paul Combs was named head coach at Division II Wayne State (Neb.) on Thursday afternoon.

Combs, who has 102 wins in six seasons at Platteville, led the Pioneers to the NCAA Tournament this past season for the first time since Bo Ryan left after the 1999 national championship season. He was introduced at the school in a news conference.

"My family and I feel fortunate to be a part of the Wayne State College campus and community of Wayne," Combs said. "The most impressive part of the interview process was the people I met and now get to work with. And the community support is tremendous.

"I'm eager to get started, understanding we have a lot of work to do. I look forward to building on the great tradition of Wildcat basketball."

UW-Platteville went 23-6 this past season, spending a week at No. 1 in the D3hoops.com Top 25 and reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling in a Bracket of Death game, an overtime loss at Wheaton (Ill.), the No. 2 team in the final D3hoops.com Top 25.

Combs came to UW-Platteville from Lakeland, where he posted a 60-45 record in four seasons. He replaces Rico Burkett, who served as head coach for nine seasons and posted a 111-138 overall record. The Wildcats were 11-16 this past season, 7-13 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

"We are extremely pleased to have Paul Combs and his family being a part of the Wildcat athletic family," said athletic director Eric Schoh. "He's a proven coach and winner and we are fortunate to get a coach of his caliber. It's an exciting day for Wildcat basketball."

Both basketball head coaches at the school got their jobs after success at the Division III level. Women's basketball coach Chris Kielsmeier was the 2007-08 D3hoops.com Coach of the Year, leading Howard Payne to an undefeated season and the Division III national championship.