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Monday, March 15, 2010
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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Williams let go as women’s basketball coach
FAIRBORN — Bridgett Williams, the longest-tenured coach in the current Wright State athletics department, was relieved of her duties along with the rest of her staff this morning.
Williams, who was head coach for nine seasons, was 109-155 with one winning season and one season at .500.
Her best season was 2004-05 when the Raiders were 19-11 and 11-5 in the Horizon League. In 2007-08, the team was 16-16.
This season, the Raiders were 11-19 and lost in the second round of the league tournament.
“We would like to thank Bridgett for her nine years of service to Wright State,” athletics director Bob Grant said. “She is a consummate professional, a great person and has been a tremendous ambassador for Wright State. However, at this time, the best interests of Wright State are served by a change in coaching leadership.”
A search for a replacement will begin immediately.
