Troop's Takes: Another coach bites the dust
By Caleb Troop
Athens NEWS Sports Columnist
May 1, 2008
I feel like I’ve written this sort of column before.
A quick dive into the archives reveals that indeed I have. Feb. 7, 2008: “Don’t Blame Coach Carlston…” reads the big bold headline by yours truly in The Athens NEWS. The ’Cats were saying goodbye to head volleyball coach Geoff Carlston as he headed to a bigger conference with more pay and prestige after five fantastic seasons at Ohio University.
After the abrupt but inevitable departure of Ohio head women’s basketball coach Sylvia Crawley to Boston College on Tuesday, the unfortunate scenario and ensuing column has been repeated.
We all knew this was going to happen. In just two seasons, the 35-year-old coach had completely righted the once leaky ship that was women’s basketball at Ohio. Young, energetic and a relentless recruiter — she was as attractive a candidate as exists in women’s basketball today.
From 1998 to 2006, the ’Cats endured eight straight losing campaigns and averaged just 10 wins per season. In a decade’s worth of Ohio hoops prior to Crawley’s arrival, Athens witnessed one anomalistic winning season in 1997-98.
But in a city that has adapted to mediocrity and losing, Crawley changed all of that.
Year one of the Crawley regime resulted in an 18-12 record, which included a monumental upset road win over 18th ranked Bowling Green. Year two was a 20-win season that included another enormous defeat of BG in the Mid-American Conference Tournament semi-finals.
But like a sandcastle constructed too close to the ocean, it was all washed away in a flash overnight. For many, the hope for the continued rise to the top of the MAC for Ohio has hit a roadblock.
Fans are now left wondering why it had to be so soon. And again fans are reminded that good things — in particularly in the money-strapped MAC — are too often short-lived.
Crawley will continue to succeed in the Northeast. She is back in the Atlantic Coast Conference where she won a national title as a standout on the 1994 North Carolina Tar Heels team. She will be a player’s coach in Boston as she was here.
Yet, like Carlston, you’re left wishing for one more year. Just one more season of success.
Let’s not forget the worst part. These student-athletes got stripped of a leader, a friend, and for many, at times a second mom. Rising seniors Chandra Myers, Lauren Hmiel and Catherine Cain will face their third head coach in four years. Likewise, five incoming freshman recruits are suddenly second-guessing their decision after the woman that came into their homes and sold them to Ohio women’s hoops departed.
Just moments after the Tuesday afternoon press conference in Boston, new Ohio Director of Athletics Jim Schaus had issued a formal statement regarding the future of the program.
“We appreciate Sylvia’s dedication to furthering the growth of Ohio women’s basketball,” said Schaus. “At this time, we will begin a national search to identify the right person who will continue to take the program to great heights. I am confident and excited about our ability to recruit a high-quality coach to this position.”
One thing I do know — after Crawley’s late departure, Schaus must act quickly to find a replacement. His record indicates he will.
In March of 2003 at Wichita State, Schaus fired Shockers women’s basketball coach Darryl Smith and found a replacement in less than a month. The same speed needs to be implemented this time around as well for the benefit of the current players, the incoming players and the program as a whole.
If everyone stays, the ’Cats will return three starters and plenty of experience. Next year’s 11 returning players accounted for roughly 55 percent of the points and 75 percent of the rebounds last winter.
Clearly for now the talent is present to keep winning. It’s up to Schaus to hire someone who will maintain and build on what Crawley began here two years ago.
Regrettably, though, Bobcats fans are quickly learning that good things never seem to last too long around here.
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