WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: McDonald left to decide on her future with BSU program
Ryan Wood
Even though Jarrett said the players would give Packard the same respect they showed Roller and McDonald, she added that McDonald would be dearly missed if she decided to leave the program.
"It's just one of those things that happens in coaching," Jarrett said. "And if Coach Mac decides to stay and be an assistant coach or if she leaves, she was a great coach here, and I think that all of us players really respected her. But we have to move on, and we have to buy into what Coach Packard's plan is for us."
Packard spent six seasons as an assistant coach at Colorado State University, where she said she experienced a coaching change. After meeting the new coach, Packard decided to stay with the program.
Packard said she would keep that experience in mind when deciding whether to try to keep McDonald on her staff.
"I appreciated when I was in that position someone who would give me enough time to assess my skills versus their philosophy, and my personality versus their personality," Packard said. "There's no easy way of going about finding a good fit. So I will say I've been there, and because I've been there I will be sensitive and approach it with an open mind. But I'm going to do what's best for the foundation of our program, and I can't tell you today what that is."
McDonald said it would take some time for her to sort out what she'd do next. McDonald said Collins discussed the possibility of remaining with the program, but that the decision was ultimately up to Packard.
If McDonald does decide to leave the program, she said, it won't be because of a dislike for Packard. Even though she hadn't met Packard as of Monday afternoon, the freshly demoted coach had nothing but positives to say about the new caretaker of the Cardinals' program.
"Tom's getting somebody in Kelly who has a lot of experience," McDonald said. "That's the biggest thing. I'm very encouraged about everything I've heard from Kelly. It's Kelly's program now, and I think she's going to do a terrific job at Ball State."
"It's just one of those things that happens in coaching," Jarrett said. "And if Coach Mac decides to stay and be an assistant coach or if she leaves, she was a great coach here, and I think that all of us players really respected her. But we have to move on, and we have to buy into what Coach Packard's plan is for us."
Packard spent six seasons as an assistant coach at Colorado State University, where she said she experienced a coaching change. After meeting the new coach, Packard decided to stay with the program.
Packard said she would keep that experience in mind when deciding whether to try to keep McDonald on her staff.
"I appreciated when I was in that position someone who would give me enough time to assess my skills versus their philosophy, and my personality versus their personality," Packard said. "There's no easy way of going about finding a good fit. So I will say I've been there, and because I've been there I will be sensitive and approach it with an open mind. But I'm going to do what's best for the foundation of our program, and I can't tell you today what that is."
McDonald said it would take some time for her to sort out what she'd do next. McDonald said Collins discussed the possibility of remaining with the program, but that the decision was ultimately up to Packard.
If McDonald does decide to leave the program, she said, it won't be because of a dislike for Packard. Even though she hadn't met Packard as of Monday afternoon, the freshly demoted coach had nothing but positives to say about the new caretaker of the Cardinals' program.
"Tom's getting somebody in Kelly who has a lot of experience," McDonald said. "That's the biggest thing. I'm very encouraged about everything I've heard from Kelly. It's Kelly's program now, and I think she's going to do a terrific job at Ball State."
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BallState1984
posted 5/15/08 @ 8:09 AM EST
Still say this was a final slap at Tracy Roller.
McDonald was far more qualified for this program than some woman who has not coached in 10 years and was manager to a pro player with questionable ethics. (Continued…)
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