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Home > Blogs > Wright State University sports > Archives > 2010 > March > 15 > Entry
Even a family person needs to win
FAIRBORN — In the end, she was a family person who didn’t win enough ballgames, and as the reality that she would not coach again at Wright State had not quite settled in today, Bridgett Williams continued with her day.
When her meeting with WSU athletics director Bob Grant ended briefly after it’s 8:15 a.m. start, Williams, who was relieved of her duties after nine seasons and a 109-155 record, went to a previously-scheduled doctor’s appointment, then went home and did some laundry.
When she took a telephone call from a reporter, she asked first, “How are you?” Then, she said, “It’s sad. at the same time, It’s the nature of the business. I’m doing okay. I’ve enjoyed my experience here at Wright State and we left the program much better than when we took it over. I see the new coach improving (the record) almost immediately with the new class (recruits) they have coming in.
“I would not want to give anything less than my gratitude for the experience and opportunity I’ve had here.”
Williams, who was working on a one-year contract, managed only one overall winning record, 19-11 in 2004-05, but in five straight seasons before this one had a .500 or better record in the Horizon League and reached the conference championship game twice, in 2005 and 2008.
Put in context, the Raiders had 13 consecutive losing seasons when she arrived and had only one winning season — the first — as a Division I school, beginning in 1987-88.
Athletics director Bob Grant said this morning “was one of the more challenging mornings of my life,” and said he hoped to have a new coach in place within a month. It would be up to the new coach to retain any assistant coaches, who were also not renewed along with Williams, including her husband, Kevin, Joshua Snyder, director of basketball operations Erin Anderson and administrative assistant Kevin Donahue.
“It’s very difficult,” Grant said. “I think because I am so fond of her. She’s a woman of great character, great integrity. I think she’s a great person. She’s a great ambassador for us.”
She just didn’t win enough. This season’s record, with a reduced roster because of injuries and defections, was 11-19.
“At the end of the day, I’ve got to look at what’s best for the women’s basketball program,” Grant said. “I felt like a change of leadership is needed. I wish her and her family absolutely nothing but the best.”
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By Shirley
March 16, 2010 8:59 AM | Link to this
I have the upmost respect for Bridgett. It is such a shame she doesn’t get to coach the girls she has recruited for this next year. I am sure her record for the coming year would be different. May she be blessed in all she does.
By David Grice
March 17, 2010 9:30 AM | Link to this
It’s crazy to hear comments from people that never even worked for her to have the comments that they were saying. I have the pleasure of working under her for three seasons as a student manager and a video coordinator. She treated the workplace like a family atmosphere, and she was a great person in the workplace, and outside of the workplace. I don’t know who the trainer was that posted that comment or even the former player. They are totally wrong, and need to just shut there mouth because Bridgett was a tremendous coach, and person. Look at the facts of Wright State Womens basketball, and she had one of the best records in history, and was the best coach in history of Wright State Women’s Basketball. Those people that made those comments are idiots, and need to get the facts out before they make comments like that.
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