March 19, 2007

by Nick Brockman

At Ohio University, quality coaching and building continuity breed success, and women's programs this year have been experiencing just that -- success.

They amassed two regular season (field hockey, volleyball) and three MAC postseason championships (cross country, field hockey, volleyball) thus far, and two other women's sports ended with second-place finishes (soccer, swimming & diving).

While second-year coach Frank Solich and his football team's success may have garnered the majority of the media attention this season, the women's coaches here have also played an integral part of their programs' accomplishments by establishing a tight-knit community.

"I love going out and watching men's and women's basketball or watch soccer," volleyball coach Geoff Carlston said. "I just kind of look and see the interaction, how they do things, even picking up drills; even though it's soccer you can kind of get ideas about volleyball by watching a soccer practice."

Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt has been vital in the hiring of two women's head coaches since assuming his position in June 2005. Hocutt said that it was essential to introduce coaches that complemented Ohio's veteran coaches' ideals and vision.

"The energy and the attitude that (Jill Matyuch) brought to our softball program is exceptional and Sylvia Crawley with our women's basketball program," he said. "Outside of coach Matyuch and coach Crawley we had exceptional leaders in place in our women's athletic programs."

In their Ohio seasonal debuts, both softball coach Matyuch and basketball coach Crawley combined to add 18 more victories than the previous year between their respective programs.

Crawley said that the administration and coaches make the extra effort to ensure the school finds candidates that fit the character mold and championship attitude Ohio is trying to create.

"Around here they're not just making instinct decisions," she said. "They're thinking it all the way through. When I got here, the other head coaches met with me for lunch because they want to know what kind of people the university is bringing in.

"They really hand-pick and select who they choose to be in the athletic department and coach our young student-athletes."

Coaches around the Mid-American Conference have taken note of how Ohio's coaches have led the women's programs to success. Earlier this season, Carlston won his fourth consecutive MAC volleyball coach of the year award.

The MAC named field hockey coach Neil Macmillan and cross country coach Clay Calkins coach of the year for their respective sports also.

Hocutt said coaches such as these instill championship values within the programs that propel Ohio's women student-athletes to succeed.

"When you have exceptionally talented leaders and coaches like we do they are going to establish the work effort and the attitude within a program that leads to success, and we've definitely seen the benefits of that this year," he said.

Crawley, who just completed her first season as women's basketball coach, also showed how a coach can establish a change in attitude within a program. When Crawley arrived at Ohio, she took note of how Carlston established success with his program.

"I made sure all my players went to all their games to support what they were doing," Crawley said. "I became extremely interested in Geoff and how he was interacting with his players. I learned a lot from it."

She led her team to an 18-12 record, the program's most wins since the 1994-95 season. Crawley said when other Ohio sports have success, it motivates the rest to improve, too.

"It's not really rivalry, but just sets the bar really high," she said. "I think other people are stepping up just to not be the team that lets the school down."

Carlston had yet another take on why Ohio's women athletes have performed well and responded positively to their coaches. He pointed to the specific type of coaches at Ohio.

"There's a lot of players' coaches out there," he said. "When you look at the success within softball last year and women's basketball, and soccer, field hockey. All those coaches really get what it means to be a coach."

As the athletics department continues to introduce strongly motivated coaches and retain the ones it has, Ohio's women athletes will continue to see its benefits, Crawley said.

"This is a place where they recognize, good, hard-working people," she said. "When they get those types of people in here they do a very good job of keeping those people here. So that is what's happening, they've created a very good environment for women's sports."