2008 Woodie Awards
Ending of an era
Zachary Groves
Issue date: 8/28/07 Section: Sports
After the 2007-08 season, the SIUE women's basketball team will say goodbye to Division II athletics and ride off into the Division I horizon.
SIUE Head Coach Wendy Hedberg, however, will not ride along this time.
Hedberg has announced her retirement, effective at the end of the coming season. After nearly 30 years at the helm, Hedberg will walk away from the court with more than 430 wins, including 200-plus victories at the Vadalabene Center.
"I think with the move to Division I, it's a nice break with things and seemed like the right thing to do," Hedberg said Monday.
Hedberg has not only led the Cougars to five 20-win seasons, but also coached five All-Americans, most recently senior forward Amber Shelton. Additionally, she has seen 17 players reach the 1,000 career point mark with one returning this season in 3-point ace Whitney Sykes.
Speaking of Sykes, Hedberg witnessed her as she broke the all-time 3-point record last season.
Hedberg said the best part about her job was her opportunity to work with quality players such as Shelton and all-time leading scorer Misi Clark.
"It's not always about winning or losing, but about the relationships with your players," Hedberg said.
She admits, though, that she feels for the players who just came in this season, who will play for her but then re-adjust to playing for a new coach down the road.
"It's easier to know who you're going to be with coming in," Hedberg said.
The Cougars, who have reached the NCAA Division II Tournament five times under Hedberg's tutelage, including last season, come back with seven seniors. The seventh senior happens to be Hedberg herself.
"I consider myself a senior with this group of women that is going out there this year," Hedberg said.
As for the future, Hedberg said she does not have a set career in mind. She is taking that decision one day at a time.
"Right now, my goal is to get through the season and put everything into the next six months," Hedberg said. "Hopefully, we'll be successful."
SIUE Head Coach Wendy Hedberg, however, will not ride along this time.
Hedberg has announced her retirement, effective at the end of the coming season. After nearly 30 years at the helm, Hedberg will walk away from the court with more than 430 wins, including 200-plus victories at the Vadalabene Center.
"I think with the move to Division I, it's a nice break with things and seemed like the right thing to do," Hedberg said Monday.
Hedberg has not only led the Cougars to five 20-win seasons, but also coached five All-Americans, most recently senior forward Amber Shelton. Additionally, she has seen 17 players reach the 1,000 career point mark with one returning this season in 3-point ace Whitney Sykes.
Speaking of Sykes, Hedberg witnessed her as she broke the all-time 3-point record last season.
Hedberg said the best part about her job was her opportunity to work with quality players such as Shelton and all-time leading scorer Misi Clark.
"It's not always about winning or losing, but about the relationships with your players," Hedberg said.
She admits, though, that she feels for the players who just came in this season, who will play for her but then re-adjust to playing for a new coach down the road.
"It's easier to know who you're going to be with coming in," Hedberg said.
The Cougars, who have reached the NCAA Division II Tournament five times under Hedberg's tutelage, including last season, come back with seven seniors. The seventh senior happens to be Hedberg herself.
"I consider myself a senior with this group of women that is going out there this year," Hedberg said.
As for the future, Hedberg said she does not have a set career in mind. She is taking that decision one day at a time.
"Right now, my goal is to get through the season and put everything into the next six months," Hedberg said. "Hopefully, we'll be successful."
Be the first to comment on this story