The news arrived Tuesday afternoon, more out of the blue than orange. Theresa Grentz had resigned as University of Illinois women's basketball coach, ending a 12-year tenure which began amid high expectations and, after a promising start, failed to meet them.

Grentz and athletic director Ron Guenther were said to have agreed to an "amicable parting." That is, Guenther opened the door, and Grentz agreed to walk out.

What does it mean for Illinois?

The secretive Guenther will let us know, and in the meantime, keep us guessing.

The better question, here in the shadow of Redbird Arena, is: What does it mean for Illinois State?

Guenther's "national" search could include a one-hour drive to Normal. Or, perhaps he and Robin Pingeton could meet halfway … in, say, Farmer City.

Pingeton has pumped life into an Illinois State program which had none when she arrived. Her four-year record of 63-58 might seem modest, but consider the mess she inherited in 2003. ISU had endured five straight 20-loss seasons, and her predecessor, Jenny Yopp, was 25-83.

The reclamation project, while not complete, could at least be worthy of a phone call from Guenther.

He could do worse than someone who, at age 38, has been a head coach for 12 years (eight at St. Ambrose) and was an assistant for three seasons at Iowa State (2000-03).

The Cyclones were 63-31 during Pingeton's time in Ames, winning a Big 12 Conference championship and reaching the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. She knows what it takes to succeed in the Big 12, an obvious benefit should she enter the Big Ten.

Add that pedigree to Pingeton's passion, intensity and enthusiasm, and she shapes up as a viable candidate.

Likely, Guenther has been forming a list in his mind for some time. That has been his pattern with coaching vacancies … to plan ahead and be prepared for an opening. Only he knows if Pingeton is on this one.

If he looks in her direction, he will see an NCAA Tournament berth in her second season. Seeded eighth with a 10-17 record, ISU knocked off three 20-win teams to earn the 2005 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship at Redbird Arena.

He also will see a 22-11 record this season, Pingeton's best at ISU. However, the Redbirds fell short of a Valley championship, finishing second in the regular season at 13-5 (following a 9-0 start) and losing to sixth-seeded Creighton in the Valley Tournament semifinals.

What appeared to be a clear path to an NCAA Tournament bid ended in a trip to the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). ISU beat visiting Rice in three overtimes before a second-round loss at South Dakota State.

The Redbirds went 6-7 in their final 13 games, a slide that could make Guenther shy away.

In Pingeton's defense, she had a freshman (Maggie Krick) and two sophomores (Nicolle Lewis and Valley Player of the Year Kristi Cirone) in the starting lineup. Guard Megan McCracken was the only senior to see significant action, starting 21 games and playing in all 33.

Still, coaches are judged largely on NCAA Tournament appearances, and the inability to "seal the deal" might lead Guenther to look elsewhere. He has seen plenty of the WNIT. Grentz's final seven seasons included one NCAA bid and five WNITs.

This year's 19-12 Illini had one senior who played regularly, top reserve Erin Wigley. Eight of the 13 players were freshmen or sophomores, including leading scorers Lori Bjork (sophomore) and Jenna Smith (freshman). The next coach will inherit a solid base.

However, Pingeton has ISU poised to take the next step. Cirone is among four returning starters, and seven of the top eight scorers will be back. Making the NCAA Tournament likely will be easier in Normal than Champaign.

That might be enough to keep Pingeton at Redbird Arena, no matter where Guenther turns.

Randy Kindred is a Pantagraph columnist. To leave him a voice mail, call 820-3402. By e-mail: rkindred@pantagraph.com. The Randy Kindred Blog is at www.pantagraph.com/blogs