April 11, 2000 5:43 PM AP

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) Dale Layer, an assistant at Colorado State the last two seasons, was promoted to head coach Tuesday.

Layer, 41, will replace Ritchie McKay, who left in March after two seasons to become head coach at Oregon State.

Layer coached at Queens College in Charlotte, N.C., for nine years, leading his team to five winning seasons and two trips to the NCAA Division II tournament while compiling a 168-87 record. He was twice named the NCAA regional coach of the year.

"I cannot think of an individual better suited to lead our program into this new era than Dale Layer," said Colorado State athletic director Tim Weiser.

The Rams finished 18-12 last season, 8-6 in the Mountain West Conference.

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