SLIAC

[y_jack_lok]

It's not a rumor. It's a fact.

http://www.websterathletics.com/news/2008/10/8/CALLAHANRESIGNS10808.aspx

Here's info on the interim coach:

http://www.websterathletics.com/staff.aspx?tab=staffdirectory

[fcnews]

Can not blame the young lady. Not the best timing, but the recruits she brought in are already on campus and would assume ready to go tomorrow. Great oppurtunity for the young man who is assuming the dread intirem position.

I still look for the WU women to be much improved over last year.

[jdoug2]

Practice can officially start tomorrow. WOOOOOHOOOOO

Go Fontbonne.

[SLIAC LEGEND]

This is actually a terrible move by Callahan career-wise.  SEMO is under serious NCAA sanctions for numerous violations in basketball, men's and women's. They had 2 seasons and NCAA appearances stripped, and the AD was just fired.  A new AD will clean house and hire his own people.  The timing is bad, but that is the name of the college game-what's good for me.

Plus, how is she going to recruit at D-I, when she couldn't at D-III?  A 17-33 record is hardly something to hang your hat on, especially in the SLIAC, probably the 2nd worst conference in America in bball.  Webster has the tools to dominate the SLIAC, so why isn't it being done?  They need a coach with college experience who has coached winners, not a GA who will guide a group of average high school players to 6 wins.

[y_jack_lok]

I think the jury was still out on whether or not coach Callahan could make Webster into a winner. In her first year she took over a program with virtually no players and virtually no time to recruit. She put together a team and won six games. In part a testament to her as a coach, in part a testament to the weakness of the conference.

Last year she had more players of a modestly higher caliber and won 11 games. I think there were some situations last year in which she used questionable judgment. Still the overall record was better. I think this was going to be a pivotal year for her as a coach. Alas, we will never know how it would have turned out.

I heard from someone that she had a goal to become a Division 1 head coach, and that was what tipped the scale in favor of the SEMO job. From what SLIAC LEGEND says, she is taking a huge risk. As for what Webster needs in a future coach, I would add that it should be someone committed to coaching at the D3 level.

[SLIAC LEGEND]

I have watched 15-20 games over the last 2 years, and I saw nothing that made me think that Webster would be anything more than a .500 team.  The SLIAC is so bad, I think I could of grabbed 5 girls out of the stands that could win a few games.  I agree on questionable judgement-I saw nothing that showed X's and O's knowledge or adjustments to what other teams were doing.  The gameplan never changed.  3 solid wins vs NAIA opponents, but the D3 wins were over cupcakes.  I agree, it was a very pivotal year, and I felt that the grim reaper was in the stands behind the bench. 

Modestly higher?  Not one girl on Webster's team would of been in Maryville's (the top team in the SLIAC) top 10. That's my point. You need impact players, and WU had a number of role players.  This will not get over the hump.  They need a revamped roster and now!

Kudos on wanting to be a D-I head coach. That is a long road that requires many connections and hard work.  I wish her the best! 

Agreed Y Jack.  WU needs someone who will stick around, who knows how to recruit, and is committed to building a sustaining program.

[y_jack_lok]

I probably saw about the same number of games the past 2 years -- and had seen almost all the home games and some away game the previous four seasons. Yes, Webster's talent last year was not of high caliber and I agree that any of the player(s) would have had a tough time making Maryville's top 10. And if the players that have come in this year aren't better than the players on last years team, then even being a .500 team will be tough. That's why I said that this year (not last year) would have been a pivotal year for coach Callahan. One year to recruit is probably not enough to make a substantial difference. Sometimes you have to start recruiting underclassmen to get them interested in your program for when they are ready to apply to colleges as seniors. So the second and subsequent classes are probably a better gauge of whether or not the program is going to make progress. We will know soon how that pans out

My reference to questionable judgment had to do with things other than coaching decisions during a game. I will not elaborate further on that.

[fcnews]

I wouldn't brag to awful much on MU's women's team, either. A good team in a basement conference. MU has never won outside the SLIAC. WU and FU have accomplished some success in the National Tourney. And, I wouldn't say those teams were loaded with that many high caliber recruits. It does seem in women's basketball a good coach can translate into wins.

I thought WU was making strides in the right direction as for as effort. Last years squad did play hard. That has to be contributed to the coach in many situations.

Taking a team from 0 to .500 takes more then two years.

Being an asst. at SEMO will not directly put you in a position for a DI job. But, may lead to an asst. position at a better program. Then to the next step. Not many women's coaches are making the jump from DIII to DI. And, definately not from the SLIAC.

If being a DI coach is her goal then I think this was a step in the right direction. She will have to prove she can recruit with the luxury of scholarships. Only time will tell.

But after reading Legend's comments it would appear this is a good thing for the WU program. One thing I do know. Every good coach was young once.

[furbug]

Webster women's roster is posted now. There are 12 total with 3 returning - Julie McGirl, Katy Meyer and Erin Chesnik. Go to link:

http://www.websterathletics.com/roster.aspx?path=wbball&roster=35&;

[y_jack_lok]

furbug is on the ball even when he's on the road. Of the nine newcomers seven are freshmen. One is a sophomore whose last school is listed as Parkway West. So did she tranfer from another school where she didn't play hoops last year, or was she at Webster last year but not on the team? Then a junior transfer from McKendree who was not on their roster the past two seasons. McKendree was 21-10 in '06-'07 and 24-8 in '08-'09, and they beat Wash U last year. So maybe this is someone who couldn't play for a good NAIA team but can play for a rebuilding D3 team. One 5-11 player among the newcomers, otherwise average to below average height.

[HCACBBALL]

What happen to the freshman point guard that Webster had last year?  She could have been a solid player.  And if I can remember right they had a few other freshman other than Meyer? 

[SLIAC LEGEND]

 I think you need 3 recruiting classes to be judged on your recruiting skills.  This 3rd class for WU does not look to be formidable, but will probably fair ok in the SLIAC.  I see no reason why when MU leaves, that WU shouldn't dominate the conference.  They have everything they need to be successful, but a coaching staff.

The frosh point guard transferred to Meramec Community College, I believe to play softball.  Her mother is now the coach from looking on the site.

[Coach Will]

First of all, I want to say good luck to all the teams in the SLIAC this upcoming season. Secondly, I feel that Coach Jensen and Coach Callahan is being thrown under the bus, as they both were good young coaches. In my opinion, I feel that they both will be successful with there new jobs, and they both would have developed a strong foundation for women's baskebtall if they had stay at their respected schools.
I just know the hours that are spent with practice, recruiting, watching film and with other preparations, so I know that they were on the right track. This season will be tough, as Maryville will try to leave the conference without being beat, and every school in the conference will want to be the school that beats them.
Lastly, the SLIAC gets a bad rep, which I feel is too harsh. I see big things from the conference this year. So, stay tuned.

Good Luck Shooter (Coach Jensen) and Coach Callahan

Dubb

[HCACBBALL]

How are the scrimmages going for the women's side of the SLIAC?  I hear Blackburn scrimmaged U of I Springfield yesterday?  Any word on that?  Also, heard that MacMurray scrimmaged Lincoln Community College.  Sounds like they will be better, not much depth but talent wise has improved.  Would love to hear about how the other teams are doing.

[y_jack_lok]

I don't have any specifics, but I have heard that the Webster coach (the new actiing head coach) and the old and new players are feeling very positive.