Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 11, 1993 TAG: 9307110059
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Alfano said Saturday she has agreed in principle to the contract, her first long-term deal since taking over the program 15 years ago. Tech President James McComas is expected to approve the deal in the next few weeks.
Athletic director Dave Braine said the contract is a result of the program's improvement and is a step toward compliance with Title IX, the federal law that mandates equal opportunities for male and female student-athletes.
"For the last few years, that's the main thing I wanted was stability and a contract," said Alfano, 44. "Four years is a big commitment. Tech is where I want to finish my coaching career. This contract could take me through 20 years, and that would be a milestone.
"It's not a rollover contract, but maybe at the end of three years we'll be successful and we can move it to another couple of years."
Tech posted the third-best turnaround in the country last season, going from 10-18 in 1991-92 to 20-8 - the program's first winning season in four years. Alfano improved her career record to 211-209 and was selected Metro Conference and Converse District 3 coach of the year. The latter award is given by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
Alfano has coached Tech for all but two years of the program's existence. Until now all of Tech's non-revenue head coaches - and assistant coaches in all sports - have worked on an annually renewed "letter of appointment."
Tech made one other exception recently when Phil Elmassian was given a two-year contract as the Hokies' new defensive coordinator in football.
Braine had said that he didn't want a women's basketball coach under contract because he felt he would have to do the same for all non-revenue sports coaches. But he said he noted contracts awarded recently to other women's basketball coaches, including Pat Summitt's five-year deal at Tennessee.
Alfano's contract is the same length as the one men's basketball coach Bill Foster received when he came to Blacksburg in 1991.
"It's another step in the right direction as far as our women's programs," Braine said.
Alfano said she doesn't know if her $50,000 salary will be significantly boosted. It's about half of Foster's base salary. Braine would not comment on specifics.
Alfano, however, said security is enough for her and she would rather concentrate on getting raises for her assistants.
She said at one point this off-season she counted 25 vacancies for women's head coaches - many because of firings or forced resignations. That was the highest rate of turnover she could remember.
"Everyone in the whole WBCA, that's the No. 1 priority right now is everybody's looking to get contracts," Alfano said by telephone from Long Branch, N.J., where she is recruiting. "Look what happened this year. It used to be, women hardly ever got fired."
Alfano said Braine offered the contract shortly after the end of last season, and that there were no snags in negotiations.
by CNB