RebKell's Junkie Boards

[womens_hoops]

Press release (not copyrighted, so I'm posting the whole thing):

Hall of Famer Theresa Grentz Steps Down as Illinois Women's Basketball Coach
Illinois' All-Time Winningest Coach Leaves After 12 Seasons

CHAMPAIGN, ILL - Director of Athletics Ron Guenther announced today
that Theresa Grentz has resigned as women's basketball coach to
pursue other career opportunities.

"I thank Theresa Grentz for her outstanding contributions to our
women's basketball program over the past 12 seasons," Guenther said.
"She is responsible for putting Illinois on the national map for
women's basketball and finishes her career as the school's all-time
winningest coach. Theresa and I have had discussions over the last
month and she has made a decision to look at other career options.
Theresa has been an exceptional representative of the University in
the community and throughout the nation, and a terrific leader among
women. Her hiring in 1995 raised the bar for women's basketball in
the Big Ten Conference."

The 2001 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and 1992 U.S.
Olympic coach said she felt it was time for a change.

"I would like to express my gratitude to Ron Guenther for his
direction, guidance and his friendship. It has been a marvelous
working relationship," Grentz said. "I thank the University of
Illinois, the Big Ten Conference, the outstanding fans in our
community and the wonderful staff who have worked with me throughout
the years. Karol Kahrs played a big part in my coming to Illinois, so
I also thank her very much for the opportunity here. I especially
want to thank each and every player who has played for me. Watching
the players grow, succeed and move into the next phases of their
lives has been the most meaningful part of my career. Each person
touched my life in a special way and I'll forever be indebted. They
have given me far more than I will ever be able to give to them.

"I know there is still something out there for me, whether it be as a
collegiate or professional coach, a position in the academic world,
working with women's issues, or, possibly even politics. I feel I
can make a difference in some professional way. Coaching has provided
me a very broad-based horizon, insight, perception and a dynamic way
of looking at things. Winston Churchill once said 'Change is the
price of survival.'"

Grentz recently completed her 33rd season as a collegiate head coach,
and 12th at Illinois, where her record stands at 671-311 (.683)
overall and 210-156 (.574) with the Illini. The Fighting Illini
advanced to postseason play in 10 of 12 seasons in Champaign-Urbana,
and won the school's only Big Ten title in women's basketball in
1997. Grentz spent 19 years at Rutgers, where she compiled a record
of 434-150 (.743), including nine consecutive NCAA Tournament
appearances from 1986-94. She led Rutgers to the 1982 AIAW National
Championship.

The 10th-winningest Div. I Coach in history was inducted into the
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001, and topped the 650 mark in
career wins in 2006. She coached the U.S. Olympic Team to a Bronze
Medal at the 1982 Barcelona Games. Grentz has won more honors than
can possibly be mentioned. She earned back-to-back Big Ten Coach of
the Year and WBCA District Coach of the Year honors in 1997 and 1998
after leading the Illini to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen each
season.

Long considered a legend in women's basketball circles, Grentz was
the center of attention for the Mighty Macs of Immaculata in the
early 70s. At 5-11, she was a dominant force in the middle on the
Immaculata teams that won a remarkable three AIAW National
Championships from 1972-74. Grentz's coaching career began as soon as
she graduated from college in 1974. She was hired as the part-time
head coach at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia later that
year. After guiding the Hawks to two winning seasons, including an
18-3 mark in 1976, Grentz was hired at Rutgers, becoming the first
full-time women's basketball head coach in the nation.

Grentz became a national spokesperson for women's basketball in 1999
when she accepted a nomination to serve two years as the president of
the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. This past season, Grentz
won the WBCA's Carol Eckman Award, which exemplifies spirit,
integrity and character through sportsmanship, honesty, ethical
behavior, courage and commitment to the student-athlete. In her 12
seasons at Illinois, Grentz has made over 1,000 public appearances,
staying actively involved in community activities, charity functions
and youth clinics. She teamed with the men's team to form one of the
most successful Coaches vs. Cancer initiatives in the nation.

Guenther indicated a national search would begin immediately, with
the hope a new coach could be introduced in a minimum of three weeks.

[Michael]

Unless UILL hires Maddog Littlejohn, the Big Ten just got stronger. If they hire a new coach that can keep most of the home grown talent at UI, they will be a player in the Big Ten and national scene in short order.

_________________
Michael

[beknighted]

Although I harbor fond memories of the Grentz years at RU (the AIAW championship and Sue Wicks will do that for you), it seems like this is an appropriate decision. I hope for her sake that she went on her own, and wasn't pushed out, but I certainly can't blame the university if she got some encouragement.

She has had a great career, and she should be honored both as a pioneer and for the wonderful success she enjoyed over four decades as a coach.

[PurdueBBall3]

Hey! I don't want ALL of that talent going to IL.

Not unexpected. I was just saying last night that I thought Grentz would retire soon, but I was thinking after the next year or two. Congrats to those IL fans who feel this was a long time in coming. And congrats to Grentz for her accomplishments. Happy trails.

_________________
"Boo-hoo. Oh, boo-hoo. Waaaah, waaaah, waaaaah." Notably Dumb's Muffie (Bitch) Yuckgraw

[CamrnCrz1974]

Orange_Krush would like to be here, but OK is too busy dancing on the front lawn right now.

[mikeyc22]

Cannot wait to see what O][K says!!

[Koopster]

[bballfan2005]

Hate to rain on this "happy" parade, but this isn't the best year for teams to seek a new head coach. The market is oversaturated with job openings.

_________________
Avatar: The King has his ring!

Mathies to LA 2013

[CamrnCrz1974]

[fancy_daniel]

[gownbago]

I can easily name the top 5 candidates for this job. Every job search has a big leading candidate. (Joanne Boyle for Duke) and etc....

Just wonder if you can match the same 5 I have in my mind.

[bballfan2005]

[p_d_swanson]

[lindsey0924]

Hoping somebody with more knowledge of the situation can share some insight. Why would IL be interested in Pam Borton as their coach? What is the general concensus with regard to her coaching, recruiting abilities after all the turmoil at MN? I have always been a fan of the Gophers and Borton, but I've felt in the minority. Also, would she be interested in a change of scenery? When she signed her contract extension after the Final Four year she said she was looking for long term stability.

[womens_hoops]

[PUmatty]

[Koopster]

[Koopster]

[miatamama]

As a U of I alum I am really excited about the possibilities for the WBB head coaching position. We are packed full of talent here in Illinois and I think we can keep some of them home now.

Watch out Big 10--Illinois is building, and we're coming after you!

_________________
"Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn’t stop to enjoy it."
William Feather

[bullsky]

OH MY GOD!

DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YA ON THE ASS ON THE WAY OUT!

I mean...

It's sad to see such a legendary coach go. She has given so much to the womens game. I wish her only good things to come in the future

_________________
"Don't do something until you get it right, do it until you can't do it wrong."
- Geno Auriemma

[bullsky]

I would just like to add that I think orange is Carolyn's signature color.

_________________
"Don't do something until you get it right, do it until you can't do it wrong."
- Geno Auriemma

[BBFan23]

She would be an improvement?????

[bullsky]

[gownbago]

These are the 5 names I had in my mind that Illinois could seriously hire.

Serious names with STRONG Chicago recruiting ties.
Kathy McConnell-Miller
LaVonda Wagner
Dana Eikenberg
Carol Owens
Kate Meier

[bullsky]

I like Wagner and Eikenberg. Both have revived programs that were near non-existent.

_________________
"Don't do something until you get it right, do it until you can't do it wrong."
- Geno Auriemma