THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 1, 1995 TAG: 9512010405
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MICHELLE SMITH, OAKLAND TRIBUNE
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
The resurgence of Old Dominion is being greeted in women's basketball circles like a reunion with an old friend - with a smile, an embrace and a sincere ``Glad to see you.''
No one echoes those sentiments more than Marianne Stanley. Which is ironic considering the Lady Monarchs' former coach has been shoved to the outside of those same circles for three years.
Only now does she have even one foot in, serving in the temporary capacity of co-head coach for the No. 11-ranked Stanford Cardinal as its coach, Tara VanDerveer takes the year off to coach the U.S. Olympic team.
But at the end of the Stanford season, Stanley will again be out there in search of a program of her own, a program to which she could offer her considerable knowledge, experience and an .706 career winning percentage.
Unfortunately, she also brings the baggage of her much-publicized legal battle with Southern Cal. Which is why, in the last three years, there have been no takers for a coach with three Division I national championships - all at Old Dominion - on her resume.
``What I've done merits being considered,'' Stanley said. ``This is my career, I am a basketball coach. I've always wanted to continue to be a basketball coach.''
There is likely not an administrator in the country who doesn't know that Stanley left USC in a salary dispute and filed suit against the school. During contract negotiations in 1993, Stanley protested the difference between her salary offer as the women's basketball coach and that of then-men's basketball coach George Raveling. She refused to sign a contract and was replaced by former Trojans star Cheryl Miller.
Stanley filed a grievance against the school and lost. A lawsuit is still pending with the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals with a decision expected anytime. She is prepared to see it even further.
``If I don't get a reversal there, we will take it to the Supreme Court,'' said Stanley, who will discuss the case no further.
In the meantime, Stanley's career has come to a full and complete stop. The price for her principle has been exile. Stanley has applied for ``20 or 30 jobs at every level'' without receiving a single offer.
``It's a crying shame,'' said Old Dominion coach Wendy Larry, who coached under Stanley for eight seasons and took over the Lady Monarchs' program when Stanley left for Penn in 1987.
``There are so many jobs open this year that would have been a great fit for Marianne. Iowa (following the departure of Vivian Stringer) was one,'' said Larry, who has made calls to different schools on Stanley's behalf, but has gotten nowhere. ``I guess there aren't enough strong people out there to give a tremendous coach an opportunity.''
Though that's exactly what VanDerveer and Stanford hope to do. The Cardinal originally hired Stanley in 1994 to be the director of promotions for women's basketball as her case made its way to court. And now they've brought her back to be a source of experience and success for first-year coach Amy Tucker while VanDerveer takes her time off.
When Stanley was hired back last May, VanDerveer made it clear this was not charity.
``This was purely about winning. She and I are good friends, but the priority was wanted to give our team the best chance. It's not `be nice to Marianne day,' '' VanDerveer said.
Stanley wishes, more than anyone else, that the season at Stanford will mean a fresh start.
And while Stanley looks to start her career again, her legal battle may not be coming to an end anytime soon.
``I have no apologies for standing up for what I know to be right,'' Stanley said. ``I just want to feel like I'm not in limbo anymore. Fortunately, I'm easily distracted these days.''
Distracted doing little things like preparing the Cardinal for tonight's matchup against Old Dominion, the program she built into a perennial powerhouse.
She is enjoying the Lady Monarchs' rise this time around as well.
``It's nice to see them getting some respect. I mean, they've won the league title now four years in a row,'' Stanley said. ``I'm happy for the staff, because I know a lot of those people and they've always been real supportive of women's basketball. They were one of the first to step out front and be a serious player on the national scene. This game will be a huge challenge for our program.'' ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
Marianne Stanley, center left, and Amy Tucker, left, are serving as
the co-head basketball coaches at Stanford this season.
by CNB