Keegan
Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 6861
Location: The Cathedral of Snark
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 Posted: 09/24/06 3:36 pm ::: Victory for coach who bounced back from brink |
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Interesting summary of the history of the Opals head coaching position in the last 15 years.
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Maher and his backers, in the team and in the sport, pushed for assistant coach Carrie Graf to replace him when he resigned to take a job in the American league. Instead, Jan Stirling, briefly an Opals assistant and a successful coach with Adelaide Lightning, got the job.
The 2002 titles in China were a disappointment, despite the bronze medal, because of a communication breakdown between coach and players, both veterans and young stars. And at Athens 2004, Stirling's critics said the silver came despite her coaching not because of it.
At the post-Games review, senior players reportedly suggested a new coach was needed, and it appeared BA would appoint Graf. Stirling knew she was in trouble, but doubts about whether Graf could juggle the Opals and her then-head coaching job with Phoenix Mercury in the US league, brought second thoughts and Stirling held on. |
http://www.smh.com.au/news/basketball/victory-for-coach-who-bounced-back-from-brink/2006/09/24/1159036416104.html |
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