After four years leading the SIUE women's basketball team and taking them to their first NCAA Division I postseason, home came calling for Amanda Levens.
I think it was maybe two weeks back when the university issued the press release telling everyone Levens made a very difficult decision to leave the E to become an "associate head coach" (a less degrading title than assistant coach) at her alma-mater, Arizona State University where she was a pretty solid player in her own right.
It had to have been an incredibly tough choice to make, especially given where SIUE is at as a program. Apparently, this offer has been on the table for a few years now and last season the timing just wasn't right for Levens. While now may be the best time for her to leave, stories have indicated the team and athletic director were confused and under prepared for this moment to come so soon. I'm sure a number of people who follow the team to a lesser extent were shocked as well. The season ticket holders found out about this well in advance of the general public.
Someone will be coaching that team come November, we just don't know who.
She caved in and took the job namely because she is comfortable with the direction of the program in her absence. I am under the impression she wasn't just going to take the first bigger job that came her way and run without regard for her former team. It seems like she considered all of the factors involved here. She is leaving behind a young, but experienced team. They lose two players, some of the first she ever recruited to SIUE in Madison Meade and Melia Duncan. She undoubtedly had an emotional investment in those two players and had to see them play their careers out. She led the team to the WBI, and although they were bounced in the first round it was a huge step for the program which is entering its first season of real postseason eligibility.
I am not going to call it a selfish decision, but it is a head scratching decision and life at this level of college basketball, so it is something you must accept. Do I agree with it? No. Does she have every right to pursue a better job opportunity? Of course. We all do.
You have to be comfortable about these ladies no matter who is coaching them. 18-11 was impressive, but in my opinion a coach rarely wins basketball games. That's skill. Coaches can sure as hell lose basketball games though rather easily and Levens didn't do that very often.
Can the SIUE women make a run next year and win the OVC? You betcha. I've always thought it was weaker on the women's side and this team is good enough. It's going to be very interesting to see how this all plays out.
1 comments:
Well, it is Arizona State. Who wouldn't want to be there?
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