WBB: Empire 8

sotier · July 07, 2008, 09:06:08 AM

elmira restarts application process.Now I am offically concerned about the quality of coach they will have for the upcoming season.Who is left at this date? Perhaps I am overreacting and this is not that out of usual practice.SO tell me...should I be concerned yet, or is there still lots of quality coaches available?

Caz Bombers · July 07, 2008, 05:01:26 PM

Quote from: sotier on July 07, 2008, 09:06:08 AM
elmira restarts application process.Now I am offically concerned about the quality of coach they will have for the upcoming season.Who is left at this date? Perhaps I am overreacting and this is not that out of usual practice.SO tell me...should I be concerned yet, or is there still lots of quality coaches available?

I think you're right to be concerned. 4 months from opening tip, 3 from practice and to not have any kind of coaching staff is kinda ludicrous.

TheNextLevel · July 15, 2008, 09:25:41 AM

I agree, it is very late to restart a search. Word is the top 2 candidates took other jobs before Elmira made their move.

I choose to look it as the glass is half full....We could still find a quality coach. It will just be one without experience. It may turn out for the best. Someone fresh instead of a retread. It is a crap shoot anyway

TheNextLevel · July 22, 2008, 11:21:47 AM

Shannon Howley Named Women's Basketball Coach and Sports Information Director at Elmira College. I am glad they went with a female coach. She will be behind the 8 ball to start, but hopefully things will get turned around. See full press release below:

http://www.empire8.com/News/20080722-1.shtml

sotier · July 22, 2008, 07:48:12 PM

Congrads and a pat on the back to all those at Elmira College for a job well done in the search and hire of a new head womens basketball coach. Although I admit to being worried and confused on the length of the search, results matter.Finding the right fit matters.Lets all hope that their due diligence paid off.
So what do we know of the new hire (Shannon Howley). At this point not much.But this we do know,she brings experience.Head coaching experience. And to turn this group of players over to a first time coach would have been a shame for there is talent on the team.We must remember that Elmira finished just out of the playoffs,in a year that all those who follow the team would admit was frustrating,confusing,perplexing,and anything but consistent.All players,even more so good players,desire and seek a consistent message. Hopefully Coach Howley's experience brings that consistency of message back to Elmira.

sotier · October 06, 2008, 08:11:44 PM

Practice starts next week........finally!! This old gym rat is chomping at the bit to see some hoops. I staved off the hunger a little by going to some "Macker" events this summer,but its time for some good ole fashion D3 hoops.A month from now each fan will be touting their program as the best.Each and every parents offspring is the next big thing,and each coach is by far the best.....all this is as it should be. So lets get her started boys and girls.

GPT · November 11, 2008, 02:22:12 PM

Kahler is retiring TBA

TheNextLevel · November 14, 2008, 11:30:42 AM

Congrats to Phil Kahler on a great career. Most successfull coach in D3 History! I would assume his long time assistant Marianne O'Connor-Ermi will be a shoe-in for the job.

This makes for 5 new coaches in the E8 this year. Should be a very interestin season. I look for Utica to repeat, beating Ithaca for the championship.

Caz Bombers · November 21, 2008, 11:36:45 PM

Great win for Dan Raymond and IC the other night, beating Cortland on the road behind Katherine Bixby's 25 points. Bombers beat Bridgewater State (defending MASCAC tournament champs) by 15 tonight in the opener of the Oswego tournament and will play the Lakers tomorrow.

thebear · November 30, 2008, 07:39:52 PM

Potsdam beat Ithaca 68-66. Potsdam junior Rachel Graf (Elbridge, NY) took an inbounds pass with .6 left on the clock, turned and banked a 6 footer for the win. Graf led all scorers with 21, also scoring in double figures for the Lady Bears were Cortney Poirier (Moira, NY) with 14, Hannah Fairchild (Brushton, NY) with 11, and Molly Krauza (Fredonia, NY) with 11.

Potsdam had a 30-18 edge in rebounding, and held Ithaca to 4 offensive rebounds.

Katherine Bixby (Philadelphia, PA) led the Lady Bombers with 16, and was aided by Lindsay Brown (Danbury, CT) with 12, Tracy Bradley(Brunswick, ME) with 11, and Elissa Klie(Wyckoff, NJ) with 11.

Potsdam moves to 3-1 on the season, while Ithaca drops to 3-3. The win is significant because the Bombers had beaten SUNYAC powers Cortland & Oswego on the road in the past week.

Potsdam's next game is at Clarkson on Tuesday in a 6 PM start. The Bombers host 2007 NCAA Elite 8 team William Smith at the Bulb on Tuesday.

TheNextLevel · December 01, 2008, 12:50:13 PM

Potsdam is a contender isn the SUNYAC this year. Coach Ruckh has really turned that program around. Ithaca is a team that is well coached and will always get better as the season continues. It helped Postdam that asst. coach Molly Brennan is an Ithaca grad. (a little inside info always helps!)

Changing schools...Elmira players are loving thier new coach and playing above expectations. They have 2 games coming up they should win before moving into the E8 season. I still look for IC and Utica to battle for the title, but EC could surprise some people this year.

sotier · December 03, 2008, 09:49:56 AM

Few games into the season and my take of the Elmira hire of coach Howley appears to be a good fit. The offense seems to fit the talent. The post and forwards are much more the focus.A real effort to get the ball low has resulted in a dramatic increase in points over last season.A big plus over last season is the healthy return of Coakley,and her ability to push the play when needed.Peterman is steady at the point, and Kent is looking confident and comfortable.Post player Symonds has been found again this season,for whatever reason not utilized last year,freeing up Rupell and making a strong front court.
I really like the "mix" this year. Howley in a very short time seems to have found the combinations of players that fit together, and put them in a offense that fits them.I for one, am a much more optimistic fan heading into the E8 games.

sotier · December 03, 2008, 09:55:24 AM

As a side note.A big THANK YOU to the E8 for supplying the games FREE of charge this season via the internet. What a great option for fans and parents, who simply cannot travel to all the venues.

TheNextLevel · December 03, 2008, 03:59:21 PM

I agree. It's amazing how much difference a good coach can make. Elmira's talent is solid, but overall the not up to the level of the last 4 years. However, having a coach that knows how to use the talent they have and is not constantly play favorites and head games equals more success and much more fun.

It is still early and Elmira will hit some bumps in the road, but this new regime is a big step up.

Congratulations ladies...Enjoy the break and then back to work.

Quote from: sotier on December 03, 2008, 09:49:56 AM
Few games into the season and my take of the Elmira hire of coach Howley appears to be a good fit. The offense seems to fit the talent. The post and forwards are much more the focus.A real effort to get the ball low has resulted in a dramatic increase in points over last season.A big plus over last season is the healthy return of Coakley,and her ability to push the play when needed.Peterman is steady at the point, and Kent is looking confident and comfortable.Post player Symonds has been found again this season,for whatever reason not utilized last year,freeing up Rupell and making a strong front court.
I really like the "mix" this year. Howley in a very short time seems to have found the combinations of players that fit together, and put them in a offense that fits them.I for one, am a much more optimistic fan heading into the E8 games.

sotier · December 22, 2008, 05:04:12 PM

With the end of December, and the conference scheduale about to kick in, hows your team doing?? Who in the E8 is for real and who is a pretender?Give a big thumbs up to Alfred coach Jay Murphy. He has taken a group that struggled last season and made them a team of 5-1 believers. How good they are we will see soon when they take on the other E8 teams.I believe that Ithaca(4-5) and Elmira (3-3) will be better in the E8. Both have played good teams, gotta believe that experience will count in the end. Stevens starting off strong is no surprise,but dont look for them to walk through the E8 as they did last season. I do not see any standout team this season,look for a "anyone can win any night " conference . Good luck.