THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 14, 1995 TAG: 9504140555
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
Old Dominion assistant coach Anne Donovan, one of the most honored players in Lady Monarchs' history, was named Thursday as the head women's basketball coach at East Carolina.
The hiring of Donovan, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, is the first step in upgrading a program that has been struggling in the Colonial Athletic Association.
The Pirates went 26-55 over the past three seasons, including 8-19 in 1994-95. Coach Rosie Thompson resigned last month and accepted an administrative job in the athletic department.
``I'm excited to make the move,'' Donovan said. ``This is a great situation. This is a program that has nowhere to go but up. They (ECU) have made strong commitments to the budget, salary and facility.''
According to acting athletic director Henry Van Sant, Donovan will receive a yearly base salary of $60,000 for three years. Van Sant said Donovan's hiring was the first step toward upgrading the women's basketball program.
``We think she is the finest head coach prospect in America,'' Van Sant said. ``We think that the fact that Anne Donovan is known so well nationally and internationally will help attract fine players that we have lost.
``There is no doubt in my mind that she is a very knowledgeable basketball person and an excellent recruiter. She's ready to be a head coach. She is going be a bright ray in our athletic department.''
After six years as an assistant coach at ODU, Donovan said she was ready to move on.
``I'm sure it'll be difficult,'' Donovan said. ``You don't ever lose emotion for the kids you recruit. But sometimes you've got to do what you've got to do. I'm ready to try it on my own.''
Donovan takes over the Lady Pirates program on the second day of the national spring signing period. She said she hopes to salvage some of ECU's current recruits.
Donovan, despite having no head coaching experience, brings with her a wealth of on-court experience.
Donovan is Old Dominion's all-time leader in scoring (2,719 points), rebounding (1,976), blocked shots (an NCAA record 801), and was Naismith National Player of the Year in 1983.
Donovan played on three U.S. Olympic teams, winning gold medals in 1984 and 1988. She also played professionally in Japan and Italy. In 1994, she was inducted into the GTE-CoSIDA Academic Hall of Fame. In February, she became one of 10 women in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
``I think my background is diverse enough to build a successful program,'' she said. ``I've worked under the best coaches during my Olympic experience and under Wendy Larry at ODU.''
Said Larry: ``I am happy that Anne has been able to reach another plateau in her coaching career. Her value to our program is immeasurable and we wish her as much success in her new position as she brought to Old Dominion in both her playing and coaching careers.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
Former Old Dominion standout Anne Donovan has a tall order turning
around the Pirates' program which went went 26-55 over the past
three seasons.
by CNB