The Parthenon            Marshall University's student newspaper
Thursday, Nov. 15, 2001
Home
Ad information
Archives
About
 
News
Opinion
Sports
Life!

 

Letters to the editor or questions or comments about the content of the online or print edition of The Parthenon can be sent to parthenon@ marshall.edu

Comments and questions about this Web site can be directed to Online Editor Nicole Pickens.

New coach working to install a successful new system of play

by MARSHALL MERRITT
reporter

Royce Chadwick has a long history of winning. He hopes to continue this trend as the new head coach of the women's basketball team.

As head coach of Stephen F. Austin University in Texas, Chadwick averaged 24.7 wins per season and took the team to the NCAA tournament seven straight times.

His overall career record is 400-132.

He has brought a new style of play and new enthusiasm to a program that hasn't had much success. He also knows it takes time to install a new system.

"In December the girls will just be starting to use a new style of ballplaying against other opponents," he said. "In our first exhibition game, no one really got the system and we got beat. By the second game, there were at least three girls playing together and hopefully by March we will all be playing together and when that happens we are going to win."

Chadwick inherits a team he said is eager to play.

"We improved a lot between the first and second games," he said. "It shows they are putting everything into learning the new system and applying it, especially the seniors."

Chadwick said the three seniors on this year's team are getting his style of play faster than the other players because this is their last chance.

"Without a doubt the seniors, (Melissa Arnold, Au'Yana Ferguson, Shawna Streeter) are doing everything they can to improve the team daily. It has been easier for them to learn it because they have been here and have the confidence it takes to run it."

On turning around a team that last year was at the end of the Mid-American Conference into a title contender, he said he has been to the NCAA tournament for the last seven years and doesn't plan to miss this year's.

Chadwick said his transition from Texas to Huntington has been wonderful.

"Huntington loves its sports," he said. "This is a big-time football and basketball town and right now we are riding the coattails of that. The potential here is unlimited. With the popularity of the two teams we are able to attract recruits here ourselves and that can only make the program better."