MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Gregory Sager]

By no means do I intend to cast any aspersions upon Blackburn College, but the silence from the Blackburn community, both online and personal, conveys the message to outsiders that the institution doesn't consider these hires to be very important.

[hopefan]

Checking my emails, I find I did receive an email on Friday from one of the Blackburn people... The new AD is a Ms. Sue Hanson..... I tried in vain to google this name with athletic context...  no obvious candidates with prior Athletic Administration experience jumped out at me... perhaps Sue Hanson just became Sue Hanson recently, and had Athletic experience as Sue 'somebody-else'...  Anyway, I'm in Blackburn's corner, and hope things get turned around quickly by the new Athletic Dept Leadership...

[Wydown Blvd.]

I checked out "Sue Hansen" and got this
http://faculty.alverno.edu/ehleyla/CIT372/projex/noyeskm/bios.html



I also couldn't find anything with "Sue Hanson"

[HCACBBALL]

Wydown,

That is the correct Sue Hansen.  She was the AD/Women's Basketball Coach at Aleverno. 

[HCACBBALL]

Also, Jason was just hired.  I would imagine a annoucement may come soon.  Jason will do a great job.  He had has done a great job of recruiting at NWU.  Remember that NWU is the only D3 school in the GPAC.  All the rest of the schools are NAIA Division II.

[hopefan]

I checked out "Sue Hansen" and got this
http://faculty.alverno.edu/ehleyla/CIT372/projex/noyeskm/bios.html



I also couldn't find anything with "Sue Hanson"

I'll bet that's it Wydown!!!  Great Sleuthing!!! +1  and thanks

Incidently, the connection shows Sue Hansen was the AD and women's hoops coach at Alverno College, a D3 women's college in Milwaukee .... now this is strange, she had a horrific record as a coach at Alverno from 2000-07 and was replaced in 2007...
I KNEW I recognized that name!!!!.. She left Alverno for ... MACMURRAY!!!!  We had a lengthy discussion (including a post from Wydown) in June 2007 about the hiring....
She didn't last too long at Mac... Dane Pavlovich was the AD this past year!!!!!  Was Sue Hansen there for the 2007-08, 2008-09, and 2009-10 school years?

It was obvious that Kirk Chandler wasn't a good fit at BC....  is Sue Hansen?

[fightingscot14]

i was told she was hired because she was a woman and blackburn had no full-time women in the athletic department

[hopefan]

I just noticed that Principia has hired a new Men's Basketball Coach : Mike Bushong...   The article, which I'm including, is VERY vague as to his coaching experience, but he was a very good player at Prin in the early 70's....

Hall of famer takes the reins of Principia men's basketball
7/8/2011
Principia College Athletics

ELSAH, ILL - - Mike Bushong has been named the new men's basketball coach. Coach Bushong played for Principia College ('74), and was inducted into the Gold and Blue Hall of Fame in 2010 for his outstanding contributions as a player. Coach Bushong has coached basketball at every level – from middle school through the professional level. Athletic Director Lee Ellis is ecstatic to have Coach Bushong on board. "Mike brings a wealth of experience, and will hold the bar high for these young men. And I'm sure the men will respond well and enjoy a progressive season."

Mike is the All Time Assists leader at Principia College, and still sits at #2 for All Time Scoring. As a player in college, Mike garnered all sorts of awards – All state, All District, All American (NAIA), and he was drafted by London, England in the EBA in 1974. Mike also played briefly with The Spirits of St. Louis in the ABA.

Coach Bushong's coaching record is expansive and impressive. His first coaching gig was as the head coach of the Southern Suns (semi-pro) in 1976-77. He posted a record of 62-1. He has coached at the college and high school levels through the decades, including the distinction of being involved with four of the five winning seasons of Principia College basketball in the last 50 years. At the high school level Coach Bushong was at the helm of the girls' basketball program when they won the first district championship in school history.

Mike recently culminated a teaching career with 34 years of college Mathematics, and eight years of high school Mathematics. Mike has two college math textbooks in publication (McGraw-Hill).

Principia College is very proud to have Mike Bushong on board, and we look forward to seeing lots of alumni and community members at  the games supporting their efforts.

This is from his recent induction into Prin's Hall of Fame:

"What I most value from my athletic experience are the friendships that developed. We all learned to work together, to work hard for each other and for our school, resulting in friendships that have endured to this day."

Earning four varsity letters in basketball, Mike started every game and was selected as All-Conference each year. He also earned National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All- District, NAIA All-State, and NAIA All-American honors during his career. In men's basketball history, Mike is the second all-time leading scorer, ranks first in career assists, and holds the single-season assist record. Mike also excelled in track, earning three varsity letters and qualifying for Nationals in the 100, 440, and javelin. He received the Howard L. Mitchell Athletic Award his senior year.


Looks like he has been teaching at the Principia School in St. Louis.....

[hopefan]

And while I'm filling your minds with daydreams of the upcoming season, I also found this from Spalding... I think this is VERY exciting.... a big name for the SLIAC


Basketball Adds Hometown Hero Felton Spencer to Staff
Posted on July 6th, 2011 For Immediate Release:

Spalding University Basketball Adds Hometown Hero Felton Spencer to Staff

LOUISVILLE, KY – More than 3,300 points, over 3,400 rebounds, and more than 525 blocks; all done in the NBA. This experience is what Head Coach Kevin Gray added to the Spalding University Men's Basketball staff this week when he hired Louisville native, Felton Spencer as his assistant coach. Spencer, a product of Eastern High School and a standout basketball player at the University of Louisville (1986-1990) joins the Spalding staff after various coaching positions around the city. The Spalding basketball team recently finished a stellar season ending with a 3rd place finish at the USCAA National Championships. Head Coach Kevin Gray and Athletic Director Roger Burkman believe that Spencer is the right fit to help the program take the next step. "I was looking for someone that was a great person," states Gray, "I wanted a coach that brings different experiences to the program and that could work with our student athletes both on the court and in their daily lives".

After graduating from the University of Louisville, Spencer became the 6th overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft being selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Spencer made his debut on November 2, 1990 and spent 3 solid years with the Minnesota franchise. After the conclusion of the 1993 season, the Utah Jazz traded for Spencer to compliment the likes of Karl Malone. Despite fighting off injury which plagued most of his 1994-95 season, Spencer spent 3 years in Utah where he started 183 games and averaged over 7 points a contest. Spencer would bounce around the NBA after that landing in Golden State, San Antonio and eventually New York. In 2002, after 12 seasons, Felton Spencer retired from the NBA and returned to Louisville.

The program has seen its share of former great players join the staff in the recent past. Head Coach Kevin Gray himself played at Division I Chattanooga and had a stellar career. Most recently Coach Gray brought his son on staff, who was a two time NAIA All-American. Now with the addition of Felton Spencer the level of success and experience is expected to be a great asset to the players at Spalding. "I think the players will really like the fact that we have a coach that has played D1 and NBA basketball," Coach Gray stated. "That type of experience will grab the player's attention and hopefully they will learn from his successes and what he is trying to teach." Although Spencer has never coached at the collegiate level his time under Coach Denny Crum at the University of Louisville was a tremendous learning experience for him and he hopes that translates into the Spalding program. "I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to be involved with the program and share what I have learned during my career at the University of Louisville and the NBA with the players," Spencer stated. "I feel that I can help the student athletes at Spalding because I have been through the process as a player and can advise and help guide them as we go through the season."

Coach Spencer's primary role on the staff will be to work with the post players. This is where Felton excelled both in college and the NBA and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the group. He will also play an important role in the recruiting process as Coach Gray continues to build championship caliber teams at Spalding University. When asked how adding Felton to the staff would help recruiting, Coach Gray pointed to Spencer's character and credibility as the biggest assets. "Having Felton on board will help the recruiting because he will be able to find top talent but more importantly for us it will give even more credibility to our program in the community. Furthermore, I am simply excited about having a person of Felton's quality join our staff. The type of guy he is and character he has is a great hire for our program and the University as a whole."

[HCACBBALL]

Hopefan,

Sue never officially worked at MacMurray. She was hired as the AD and then never officially arrived on campus.  I believe there was a personal reason for this.  Shelley Whitaker was the AD and Dane took over for her. 

[hopefan]

Thanks HCAC  ...

[hopefan]

OK -  the old hopefan is beginning to feel the urge to light this board up a little...don't think Denny is following this, so there might not be quite as much dissenting opinion, but anyone feel free to critiqe any of my thoughts....

THE IMPORTANT THING IS:  Any thing of substance written here is giving SLIAC basketball a little more public notice, and that's a good thing.

My comment today is on scheduling...  to date Only Webster, Greenville, and Eureka have posted schedules
Today, I'll review Webster's...
AS USUAL Coach Bunch has set up a TOP NOTCH non conference schedule (for a SLIAC team)

After an exhibition with Tennessee Martin, Webster starts with an invite tournament on Sat/Sun Nov 19,20.. Webster hosting... and their partner is Rust!!
Webster plays Bluffton (15-11) the first day, Rust plays Maryville (Tenn.)
They flip flop the 2nd day with Webster playing Maryville (16-10)

The following weekend, Webster goes to Lincoln to play in the Nebraska Wesleyan tourney... other 2 teams not yet listed

After opening league play entertaining Westminster,
Webster goes to Bloomington to play Illinois Wesleyan (20-9) (12/3 a fun Saturday evening!!)
on 12/7, down the street to play Wash U (13-12)
then that Saturday, men and women go down to Rust (17-8)  (that was so much fun last year, between the game and hitting Tunica on the way back, I may have to do it again)

Finally on sunday 12/11, Webster entertains Austin (12-14)

A couple of weeks off, no Christmas tourney, then conference starts full force....
BUT in the midst of conference, Webster plays at Lindenwood (D2 provisional).. led by Coach Soderburg and son, another game to look forward to......)

Webster faces somewhat of a rebuilding year this year... this is a heck of a schedule to take on.... but I so admire the program for maintaining that direction.....

[BUBeaverFan]

After an exhibition with Tennessee Martin, Webster starts with an invite tournament on Sat/Sun Nov 19,20.. Webster hosting... and their partner is Rust!!
Webster plays Bluffton (15-11) the first day, Rust plays Maryville (Tenn.)
They flip flop the 2nd day with Webster playing Maryville (16-10)

I'll have to check with Coach Neal and see if I can catch a ride with the Beavers, maybe AT will let me crash at his place.

[HCACBBALL]

At the Nebraska Wesleyan Tourney is Webster, Luther, Concordia Morehead and NWU.  Luther won the Iowa Conference last year.

[hopefan]

Thanks HCAC... that completes Webster's solid schedule.. They beat NWU close last year, Luther a conference winner, Concordia a +.500 team....  Willie Trimble better be ready to light it up on a nightly basis!!!!