To the history of women's basketball at IVCC
By John Baracani
On Jan. 6, IVCC announced that, due to a lack of players, the 1998-99 women’s basketball team had been suspended. Shortly thereafter, the decision was also made to withdraw the contract of Lady Apaches Head Coach, Joe Conroy.
With the number of available players dwindling down to just five, school officials decided that ending the season prematurely, with 10 games remaining, was the best solution to the problem.
"The program is not dropped," said Mike Riley, athletic director and men’s basketball coach. "It is suspended for the remainder of this year with the intent of being back next year. There was just not enough participation."
The team began the season with just six players, but players, knowing they needed more teammates, helped recruit new players, bringing the total up to as many as nine. However, preseason injuries and academic ineligibility cut the number back down to five, a big reason the team went on to compile a 0-14 record.
According to Riley, a basketball team needs at least nine to ten players to remain competitive throughout the course of a long season.
"It’s a fast paced game and players get tired and need to be substituted," he said.
Riley added, "If we had some depth, there is no way we’re 0-14. The players get tired. They stayed in the game in the first half. The second half is when we got beat."
The non-renewal of Conroy’s contract signifies the school’s intent of changing the focus of women’s basketball, Riley said.
"The coaching change is not a firing. We just wanted to go in a different direction with the program," said Riley. "We need a strong and aggressive recruiter. We haven’t recruited enough players at the beginning of the season to continue as the season goes on."
Heading into the 1998-99 season, Conroy had a career record of 71-78 in his five-year tenure as head coach.
In the 1995-96 season, just his third year at the helm, the Lady Apaches finished third at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III championships in Troy, New York.
The following season, his squad posted a 20-9 record, followed by last season’s 16-14 mark.
Conroy said that although he was disappointed by the cancellation of the remainder of the season, he did have a say in the matter, giving his input on the situation.
"I’m very disappointed because of the players who put a lot of effort into the proud tradition of playing Lady Apaches basketball," he said. "I am disappointed to be the coach in charge when we couldn’t have a team."
One of his former players, Molly Heins, a 5’9" forward who transferred to play at Kishwaukee after the cancellation, said the season-ending decision did not surprise her.
"I sort of expected it, but I was hoping they would just let us finish out the season," Heins said.
Shelly Obermiller, a 5’6" forward-guard, said she was also disappointed, especially since this may have been her last season.
"I am going to graduate this year, and I am not sure if I am going to play any where else," Obermiller said.
Heins is also a sophomore, and was indefinite about whether she would play at a four-year school.
"Whatever comes up," she said.
Despite the trying times of this season, Conroy says that he would have liked to remain head coach.
"I would have liked to continue, but I support the administration wanting to make a change. In the long run, it will be best for my wife and kids."
Coaching women’s basketball at IVCC is a part-time position. Conroy’s full-time job is as the athletic director at St. Bede Academy in Peru.
"This (IVCC) was not my main income. It wasn’t for the money. It was for the love of the student athlete."
He added that through his effort he was able to show his players how to accomplish their goals, which is one part of the job he will miss
So, what is next for the women’s basketball team? What can be done to insure that there will be enough players for next season and the seasons thereafter? Are problems confined to women’s basketball and to IVCC?
In the fall, IVCC had to cancel the women’s tennis season because of too few players, and IVCC is not the only school to encounter such difficulties. Women’s basketball seasons have also been canceled at both Black Hawk and Triton Colleges.
According to both Riley and Conroy, tuition waivers or scholarships are possible solutions. IVCC’s shift to the Arrowhead Conference (see story on page 11) will allow the college to offer tuition waivers.
Heins, whose transfer to Kishwaukee makes her a part of the Arrowhead Conference, is now receiving tuition to play there.
"The students have financial obligations," said Riley. "Everyone has to work to pay for books, up keeping their cars, and tuition. (Basketball) is a major commitment out of a day. It’s a five-month season, and most students have part time jobs."
Conroy said, "I think that the school needs to take a good, hard look at scholarships."
Alluding to rumors that recruiting problems were due to women athletes being unwilling to work with him, Conroy said, "It is unrealistic to think that they wouldn’t play because I was the coach. A lot of them have part time jobs."
In defense of Conroy, Heins said, "If people would have gotten to know him more, they would have liked him as a coach."
Amber Vincent, a freshman guard, described Conroy as "a good coach, but different people had different opinions of him."
Vincent said she is not sure if she will play next year, but she added, "I hope there is a team next year, and I hope that the girls get along well with the new coach."
Meanwhile, the search for Conroy’s successor is already in progress.
"Hopefully within a couple of weeks we’ll have some resumes of some possible candidates," said Riley.
Both Riley and Conroy’s former assistant, Randy Casey will coordinate the team’s recruiting until the new coach is found. Casey himself is considered a possible choice for the vacant job.
"He is interested in the position of head coach and is looked at as a strong candidate," said Riley.
As for Conroy, he leaves the door of opportunity open for another coaching job somewhere down the road.
"I hope to get the opportunity in the future, if it works with my family. I was single when I started (coaching) at IV. Now I’m married with two children," he said. "I hope I have something to give to the game still."
Conroy also said he wished to express his gratitude to all of those he worked with at the college.
"I want to personally thank all the people within IV and the newspaper for all their support throughout the years, and I wish them well."
(Written with assistance from Tony Nelson.)
1/28/99 the Apache