As much as I enjoy coaching, the game of basketball has a much less compelling hue, as my good friend Merlin Dewing passed away two weeks ago the day after tomorrow. Being asked to give his eulogy for a man who was the finest leader and finest person of integrity I have ever known was an honor and I am just grateful it turned out to be the best speech I have ever given among the thousands I have given over the years...as a coach...as a motivational speaker, consultant, radio and television talk show host, student body president, political campaign manager, etc.
As for the basketball team, we enter the holiday break with a record of 1 win and 3 losses, and time will tell if the first game, that history making win, was lightning caught in a bottle. Or if the players just found themselves with lost focus after coming back from Thxgiving break knowing they were about to enter exam period.
Our games against Mercer County and then Harcum were embarassing, although against Mercer we were just 6 down with 12 seconds to play, with the ball in our possession and called for one shot. Poor execution led to a terrible shot, quick up and down the court by Mercer, a basket, a steal, another basket and we went into half time 10 behind...Within a couple of minutes of the beginning of the second half, we were down by close to 20 and we eventually lost by close to 40. Against Harcum I could tell on the bus the girls lacked focus in this their first away game. We arrived at the wrong gym, found ourselves walking to the gym we were to play in, and within minutes of warm up one of the players complined she had problems with the gym lighting...and that was the best of the game for us! We lost by close to 80 points, literally gave away (I mean GAVE AWAY points with passes that were more like football handoffs)...It was so bad one of the refs came by, saw that I had a wry smile on my face, and commented "Coach..love to see coaches smiling no matter how bad..."
It was an experience that convinced me the players need to decide whether or not they really want to play next semester when we have 14 more games...so I put it out there for them after the game. They said yes...but we will wait and see...
Two mornings later on Saturday morning (when I was at the funeral in Minneapolis) we lost 64-41 against Luzerne County CC which came with only 5 players! One bright spot apparently was point guard Ariel Coreth who scored 22 points...In any event I'll know more after I get a full debriefing...
With so many games in Jan and Feb there will have limited practice time, so we will have to use it effectively...and use the game experiences as teaching tools...If someone had told me we'd be 1 and 3 at the beginning of this initiative, I would have said "NEVER" and I would have taken it and been happy...but now that we actually won I know the girls IF focused and playing at the top of their game can compete better than we have over the past three games...and being focused and playing at the top our game will be the underlying theme going forward....The holiday break will afford the coaching staff time to review what we can do better, who to play more, etc.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
A Thanksgiving Prayer For My Friend Merlin Dewing
As no doubt for many others who may eventually read this note, one of the most unforgettable lines from one of my absolute favorite movies Brian's Song was when Chicago Bears legendary running back Gayle Sayers said of his best friend and teammate: "I love Brian Piccolo". And then asked all those gathered for a dinner that night at which Sayers received the NFL MVP award "to hit their knees and say a prayer" for his friend who was very ill in hospital.
Well as my wife and life partner (Barbara) Bobbie and I gather today with family and friend for our Thanksgiving, part of us will unashamedly be in a Twin Cities Minnesota hospital with our friend Merlin Dewing. Someone very very very special to us. Of whom it is fair to say that everyone everywhere all around the globe who like us have had their lives graced by his presence and that of his beloved Barbara would say what I am saying here: he is simply the best human being, and the most accomplished and honorable leader and leadership coach of others I have ever known. Compassionate yet tough. Generous and thoughtful and considerate and loyal. Brilliant, athletic, humble yet supremely confident. With an inspirational life story about which books are written and movies made.
We met under unusual circumstances in December 1983 which led to his asking me to work side-by-side with him on a project that to that time had never been successfully accomplished: to find a way to keep a major league sports franchise from moving from one city to another. Said simply and directly: without Merlin Dewing's leadership, the Minnesota Twins would not only have not won two world series since then, and would not be moving into a new stadium next spring, there would in fact be no Minnesota Twins baseball franchise. Yet such an enormous accomplishment speaks only a tad of who he is and everything he's achieved to date.
I could go on and may likely someday. But for today, this Thanksgiving, I just want to offer my eternal personal thanks to Merl for being part of my life, and a world-wide circle of prayer of love and hugs of support for him, Barbie, and the family.
Well as my wife and life partner (Barbara) Bobbie and I gather today with family and friend for our Thanksgiving, part of us will unashamedly be in a Twin Cities Minnesota hospital with our friend Merlin Dewing. Someone very very very special to us. Of whom it is fair to say that everyone everywhere all around the globe who like us have had their lives graced by his presence and that of his beloved Barbara would say what I am saying here: he is simply the best human being, and the most accomplished and honorable leader and leadership coach of others I have ever known. Compassionate yet tough. Generous and thoughtful and considerate and loyal. Brilliant, athletic, humble yet supremely confident. With an inspirational life story about which books are written and movies made.
We met under unusual circumstances in December 1983 which led to his asking me to work side-by-side with him on a project that to that time had never been successfully accomplished: to find a way to keep a major league sports franchise from moving from one city to another. Said simply and directly: without Merlin Dewing's leadership, the Minnesota Twins would not only have not won two world series since then, and would not be moving into a new stadium next spring, there would in fact be no Minnesota Twins baseball franchise. Yet such an enormous accomplishment speaks only a tad of who he is and everything he's achieved to date.
I could go on and may likely someday. But for today, this Thanksgiving, I just want to offer my eternal personal thanks to Merl for being part of my life, and a world-wide circle of prayer of love and hugs of support for him, Barbie, and the family.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Charlie Weis&Others/The Life of a Coach: One Coach's Thought
By this time next week or the week after a number of college head coaches will no longer hold their positions. While almost all I only "know" from reading about them in the media, one is someone I have come to know and respect. And all have situations perhaps best personified by witnessing from afar the inexorably slow, painfully played out, likely demise of Notre Dame football Head Coach Charlie Weis.
Perhaps it is because I am a first year women's basketball college Head Coach at an institution unique unto itself as a military junior college with a female enrollment of 33. Or maybe it's is due to my other long time career as an advisor and coach to senior executives and Boards of Directors of for and not-for- profit organizations around the world. Whatever, as detached as these imminent coaching changes are to my life and how I identify myself, they do raise questions that deserve airing too infrequently dealt with publicly:
I don't know and have never met Coach Weis. Still I cannot help but wonder about the impact on his family and friends brought about by all the speculation & commentary of his about to be firing (unless there is a humongous surprise).
It cannot be anything but dreadful.
Similarly I cannot help but wonder what it says about Notre Dame (along with West Point and the Naval Academy, my favorite American academic and sports institutions) how this has been allowed to play out.
What it makes me wonder about is what exactly is owed by a college coach?
Where are the lines drawn between performance off and on the field (or court, or baseball diamond, or ice etc)?
And if and how my perspective would be different if I were a Trustee or loyal supporter of the school's athletics department?
While I recognize Coach Weis said himself that a team record of 6-5 was not good enough, is a winning (albeit not overwhelmingly so) career record more important than what a Head Coach does for the community he or she is a part of or the academic performance of team members?
Or seen in a different light, would being 9-3 or 10-2 or even 12-0 be acceptable under any circumstances? No matter what happens off the playing field?
In other words, what if Charlie Weis' teams had gone unbeaten this year? But instead of a 96% graduation rate his players have experienced over the duration of his being Notre Dame Head Coach, only 5% 10% or 20% or 30% of his players had graduated: Would that be worthy of a new contract?
Where should the lines be drawn?
What are, what should be the expectations from the school administration? Alumni?
It is an issue I have long thought about. Going back to when I first came to the US from Canada as a highly popular issues-oriented radio and television talk show host with the reputation for asking the questions no one dared ask, I once had as my guest one of the country's best known and respected NCAA Divsion One Head Coaches. Whose eventual contract renewal was not in question. Assumed to be a done deal for someone who clearly had not anticipated being asked:
What's the overall graduation rate of the players you've recruited over the years?
Put simply, the answer was zero...none...nada.
Not one had graduated.
Yet for years he'd been held up by the media and alumni and school adminstrations to be a successful Head Coach.
Why?
Because his teams won.
But was that enough? Is it? Should it be?
Where should the lines be drawn?
In a similar vein, even if a college head coach has an overwhelming winning record, or better yet wins a conference, even national championship, what if one or more players on the team were caught, arrested, if not convicted for felonies ranging from armed robbery to sexual assault.
Is he or she a head coach to be lionized & held out to be a terrific success by alumni or media or the school adminstration?
Where should the lines be drawn?
What is the ultimate responsibility of a College Head Coach?
And while you are thinking about that, here's something else to think about: with the country at war what would you say are the appropriate expections of a military academy Head Coach?
Where should the lines be drawn between success on and off the playing field at Air Force, or West Point or Annapolis?
What does any Head Coach owe his or her institution?
Vice Versa?....
Perhaps it is because I am a first year women's basketball college Head Coach at an institution unique unto itself as a military junior college with a female enrollment of 33. Or maybe it's is due to my other long time career as an advisor and coach to senior executives and Boards of Directors of for and not-for- profit organizations around the world. Whatever, as detached as these imminent coaching changes are to my life and how I identify myself, they do raise questions that deserve airing too infrequently dealt with publicly:
I don't know and have never met Coach Weis. Still I cannot help but wonder about the impact on his family and friends brought about by all the speculation & commentary of his about to be firing (unless there is a humongous surprise).
It cannot be anything but dreadful.
Similarly I cannot help but wonder what it says about Notre Dame (along with West Point and the Naval Academy, my favorite American academic and sports institutions) how this has been allowed to play out.
What it makes me wonder about is what exactly is owed by a college coach?
Where are the lines drawn between performance off and on the field (or court, or baseball diamond, or ice etc)?
And if and how my perspective would be different if I were a Trustee or loyal supporter of the school's athletics department?
While I recognize Coach Weis said himself that a team record of 6-5 was not good enough, is a winning (albeit not overwhelmingly so) career record more important than what a Head Coach does for the community he or she is a part of or the academic performance of team members?
Or seen in a different light, would being 9-3 or 10-2 or even 12-0 be acceptable under any circumstances? No matter what happens off the playing field?
In other words, what if Charlie Weis' teams had gone unbeaten this year? But instead of a 96% graduation rate his players have experienced over the duration of his being Notre Dame Head Coach, only 5% 10% or 20% or 30% of his players had graduated: Would that be worthy of a new contract?
Where should the lines be drawn?
What are, what should be the expectations from the school administration? Alumni?
It is an issue I have long thought about. Going back to when I first came to the US from Canada as a highly popular issues-oriented radio and television talk show host with the reputation for asking the questions no one dared ask, I once had as my guest one of the country's best known and respected NCAA Divsion One Head Coaches. Whose eventual contract renewal was not in question. Assumed to be a done deal for someone who clearly had not anticipated being asked:
What's the overall graduation rate of the players you've recruited over the years?
Put simply, the answer was zero...none...nada.
Not one had graduated.
Yet for years he'd been held up by the media and alumni and school adminstrations to be a successful Head Coach.
Why?
Because his teams won.
But was that enough? Is it? Should it be?
Where should the lines be drawn?
In a similar vein, even if a college head coach has an overwhelming winning record, or better yet wins a conference, even national championship, what if one or more players on the team were caught, arrested, if not convicted for felonies ranging from armed robbery to sexual assault.
Is he or she a head coach to be lionized & held out to be a terrific success by alumni or media or the school adminstration?
Where should the lines be drawn?
What is the ultimate responsibility of a College Head Coach?
And while you are thinking about that, here's something else to think about: with the country at war what would you say are the appropriate expections of a military academy Head Coach?
Where should the lines be drawn between success on and off the playing field at Air Force, or West Point or Annapolis?
What does any Head Coach owe his or her institution?
Vice Versa?....
Monday, November 23, 2009
Game 2 vs Mercer CC: A Set-Back Is A Set-Up For A Comeback
When Coach Hunter and I met the players for pre-game dinner, we knew immediately even before the players had changed into their home game uniforms they were emotionally spent from their amazing once in a lifetime first ever win for Valley Forge Military College the previous night. So as frustrating as it was, not too surprisingly we got outplayed in every respect with ill advised shot selection, missed open shots, bad passing, poor rebounding, and untimely mental mistakes. Behind 14-4, changing our defensive scheme from 2-3 to 3-2 and some good shooting temporarily helped close the gap to 17-14 against a well coached team that was playing its sixth or seventh game including scrimmages. However, aided by two back to back turn-overs within two minutes, VFMC found itself at half time behind 24-14. A lead the history-making VFMC "miracle" team--which admitted after the game to being mentally and physically exhausted from the amazing evening before--simply could not overcome, eventually losing 62-24. Of course, in every (win or) loss there are silver linings to be learned. Among which were--once the outcome was obvious, having the opportunity to empty the bench so that every player eligible to play got to experience first hand the speed of the game, while the others got a bigger picture view of play from the bench. And all learned the invaluable lesson of the need to rest after each game. All in all it was quite a week beginning with the nothing short of stunning movie-script like season opening 58-56 victory (first ever win in history for VFMC women's basketball and athletics) against four year NCAA Div2 Davis College. A once in lifetime event no one who was there will ever forget. We reconvene for practice 7pm Monday 11/30/09.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
VFMC vs Davis College: A Memorable (Season-Opening) Game To Remember: Speaks For Itself
Valley Forge Military College put out the following news release on its web-site commemorating a genuine once-in-a-lifetime experience for the players, team manager, coaches, the athletics dept, alumni, professors, administration officials, all the many school support staff, and most gratifyingly for the hundreds of family members and military clad students and tactical officers who came out to support their female basketball bretheren playing for the first time this season:
News
VFMC Lady Trojans win first basketball game!
The 2009-10 Women’s Basketball team, coached by Richard Pomerantz, achieved their first victory in the history of VFMC tonight over Davis College, NY by a score of 58-56! The starting five in this historical game were:
Ariel Coreth (#23)
Chasmon Reed (#21)
Andrell Barnes (#31)
Veronica Ygarza (#32)
Amber Barnes (#33)
Assistant Coaches are Paulette Branson and Brian Hunter.
Congratulations Lady Trojans!
Posted 11/17/2009
News
VFMC Lady Trojans win first basketball game!
The 2009-10 Women’s Basketball team, coached by Richard Pomerantz, achieved their first victory in the history of VFMC tonight over Davis College, NY by a score of 58-56! The starting five in this historical game were:
Ariel Coreth (#23)
Chasmon Reed (#21)
Andrell Barnes (#31)
Veronica Ygarza (#32)
Amber Barnes (#33)
Assistant Coaches are Paulette Branson and Brian Hunter.
Congratulations Lady Trojans!
Posted 11/17/2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
REVISED SCHEDULE
As with any new program, the scheduling process is often more art than science. Which is why we wish to thank those coaches and ADs who experienced our starts and stops for their forebearance, and we trust they will give us another shot at them in the future. And why having finally come through that process we are pleased to finally know who will be our competition, when and where. Ambitious? Yes. Challenging? Yes. How could it not be with a team roster comprised of nine players out of a total women's enrollment of 35. A team roster we will formally unveil here in the next few days...
VFMC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 2009-10 SCHEDULE
11/17 Tues: 5:00pm (H) Davis College (58-56)
11/18 Wed; 6:00pm (H) Mercer County CC (24-62)
12/3 Thurs: 6:00pm @ Harcum College
12/5 Sat: 11:00am (H) Luzerne County Community College
(Christmas/New Year’s Break)
1/13 Wed: 6:00pm @ Atlantic Cape Community College
1/14 Thur: 5:00pm (H) County College of Morris
1/16 Sat: 2:00pm @ Davis College
1/19 Tues: 6:00pm (H) USMAPS
1/21 Thur: 6:00pm @ MCCC
1/23 Sat: 2:00pm @ Luzerne County Community College
1/25 Mon: 6:00pm (H) Atlantic Cape Community College
1/27 Wed: 7:00pm (H) Cecil Community College
1/28 Thur: 6:00pm (H) Central Pa College
2/1 Mon: 5:00pm @ Harford Community College
2/5 Fri: 6:00pm @ Lancaster Bible College
2/6 Sat: 6:00pm (H) VFCC
2/10 Wed: 6:00pm @ USMAPS
VFMC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 2009-10 SCHEDULE
11/17 Tues: 5:00pm (H) Davis College (58-56)
11/18 Wed; 6:00pm (H) Mercer County CC (24-62)
12/3 Thurs: 6:00pm @ Harcum College
12/5 Sat: 11:00am (H) Luzerne County Community College
(Christmas/New Year’s Break)
1/13 Wed: 6:00pm @ Atlantic Cape Community College
1/14 Thur: 5:00pm (H) County College of Morris
1/16 Sat: 2:00pm @ Davis College
1/19 Tues: 6:00pm (H) USMAPS
1/21 Thur: 6:00pm @ MCCC
1/23 Sat: 2:00pm @ Luzerne County Community College
1/25 Mon: 6:00pm (H) Atlantic Cape Community College
1/27 Wed: 7:00pm (H) Cecil Community College
1/28 Thur: 6:00pm (H) Central Pa College
2/1 Mon: 5:00pm @ Harford Community College
2/5 Fri: 6:00pm @ Lancaster Bible College
2/6 Sat: 6:00pm (H) VFCC
2/10 Wed: 6:00pm @ USMAPS
Friday, October 2, 2009
VFMC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL OPEN GYM
VFMC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL OPEN GYM
MONDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 5th, 6:30pm.
AT PRICE SPORTS CENTER.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
An Ambitious 2009-10 Schedule For VFMC Women's Basketball
On behalf of my assistant coaches and myself, I know the schedule laid out below will fully challenge the players and coaches, and I could not be more pleased. For I am of the firm conviction that you grow and develop more when you dare to compete against those as good if not better than you are...Whatever the outcome. For it puts the onus on the coaches to do their utmost to ensure the players are physically, mentally, and emotionally prepared as never before, and in so doing catalyzes the players to commit themselves to play smart, play unselfishly, and with uncompromised focus...To bring out the best in one other...To be the best they can be....Against all our competition...Whether they be a community college in-season, or Division 2 Cheyney University in a pre-season scrimmage...
VFMC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 2009-10 SCHEDULE
11/6 Fri: 6:30pm (H) Burlington CommunityCollege (scrimmage)
11/11 Wed: 6:00pm (H) Cheyney University (scrimmage)
11/17 Tues: 5:00pm (H) Davis College
12/3 Thurs: 6:00pm @ Harcum College
12/5 Sat: 1:00pm (H) Luzerne County Community College
(Christmas/New Year’s Break)
1/13 Wed: 6:00pm @ Atlantic Cape Community College
1/14 Thur: 5:00pm (H) County College of Morris
1/16 Sat: 2:00pm @ Davis College
1/19 Tues: 6:00pm (H) USMAPS
1/21 Thur: 6:00pm @ MCCC
1/23 Sat: 2:00pm @ Luzerne County Community College
1/25 Mon: 6:00pm (H) Atlantic Cape Community College
1/27 Wed: 7:00pm (H) Cecil Community College
1/28 Thur: 6:00pm (H) Central Pa College
2/1 Mon: 5:00pm @ Harford Community College
2/5 Fri: 6:00pm @ Lancaster Bible College
2/10 Wed: 6:00pm @ USMAPS
VFMC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 2009-10 SCHEDULE
11/6 Fri: 6:30pm (H) Burlington CommunityCollege (scrimmage)
11/11 Wed: 6:00pm (H) Cheyney University (scrimmage)
11/17 Tues: 5:00pm (H) Davis College
12/3 Thurs: 6:00pm @ Harcum College
12/5 Sat: 1:00pm (H) Luzerne County Community College
(Christmas/New Year’s Break)
1/13 Wed: 6:00pm @ Atlantic Cape Community College
1/14 Thur: 5:00pm (H) County College of Morris
1/16 Sat: 2:00pm @ Davis College
1/19 Tues: 6:00pm (H) USMAPS
1/21 Thur: 6:00pm @ MCCC
1/23 Sat: 2:00pm @ Luzerne County Community College
1/25 Mon: 6:00pm (H) Atlantic Cape Community College
1/27 Wed: 7:00pm (H) Cecil Community College
1/28 Thur: 6:00pm (H) Central Pa College
2/1 Mon: 5:00pm @ Harford Community College
2/5 Fri: 6:00pm @ Lancaster Bible College
2/10 Wed: 6:00pm @ USMAPS
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Appointment of VFMC Women's Basketball Assistant Coaches
(TAKEN FROM THE VFMAC WEB-SITE):
Announcing New Assistant Coaches
Valley Forge Military College Athletic Director Dominick Lorusso and Women's Basketball Head Coach Richard Pomerantz are very pleased to announce the appointment of Marilyn Benedict, Paulette Branson and Brian Hunter to serve as Assistant Coaches for the upcoming 2009-2010 season. Each brings a background that is both unique and relevant to the VFMC Women's Basketball program:
Coach Marilyn Benedict attended Cardinal O'Hara High School (Springfield,PA) following which she graduated from Immaculata University (Frazier, PA) and is currently in the Masters in Education Program at Widener University, Chester, PA.
After working in Management in the Nutrition/Food Service Industry for 20 plus years including for the Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Eagles, she has been a Teacher with the Upper Darby School District where she is involved in many clubs and services including student mentoring, homebound tutoring, basketball coach, organizing dances/ formals, etc., and was recently chosen to serve as an Executive Officer for the Upper Darby Education Association. Coach Benedict's coaching experience includes Head Coach of the Upper Darby Summer Tennis Program (current) prior to which she coached Lower Merion and Cardinal O'Hara Girls' Tennis along with Rosemont College Women's Tennis and Beverly Hills Middle School Girls' Basketball.
As an athlete she was the captain and MVP (senior year) of her high school basketball team and while she swam competitively for her college's swim team, basketball was always her preferred sport:
"I was fortunate to attend Immaculata College, a small girls college. The Immaculata Mighty Macs were the cinderella team of the 1970's that put women's basketball on the map capturing three back to back national titles and were in the final four six consecutive years. Until recently, UConn is the only school to ever repeat. My role models were the players, who for extra money would referee my high school games. I attended their games when I could and saw firsthand how hard work, discipline, determination and heart poured into every game. So, it's easy for me to say that I take my own coaching philosophy after the Macs coach, Cathy Rush in that the fundamentals, a huge work ethic, and strong leadership are necessary components in coaching today."
Coach Paulette Branson is from Philadelphia where she played four years of varsity basketball, volleyball, and tennis for the Philadelphia High School for Girls (2000-2004), and was chosen was chosen “All-Public” in volleyball and basketball (2004).
She earned a Bachelor Degree of Science in Recreation and Leisure Management at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (2004-2008) on a full-academic scholarship where she played 3 years of D-II volleyball and 2 years of D-II tennis, was named Tennis - MVP (2007), and earned the school's Director of Athletics - Academic Excellence Award (2006 & 2007).
Upon graduation she worked as a Sports Director/Sports Program Instructor for the Rocky Run YMCA in Media, PA, and is currently pursuing a Master of Education Degree in Sport and Recreation Administration at Temple University (2008-2010) where she is a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Sport and Recreation Management at the Temple School of Tourism and Hospitality Management.
Coach Branson's coaching philosophy is most patterned after famed University of Tennessee Women's Basketball Coach Pat Summitt:
"I have a competitive spirit to win, but I understand that how you win is more important than the win itself. The object of the game is very simple - to make shots, and stop the other team from making more shots. Smart decision-making wins games, but more importantly, players must know how to make smart decisions off the court in order to be an effective team on the court."
Coach Brian Hunter graduated from Downingtown Senior High School (1998) where he played two years of basketball and three years of football for Downingtown Senior High School,and he starred as a receiver on Downingtown's 1996 Pennsylvania State Championship team. After which he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance and Accounting from West Chester University, for whom he played football for three years on an athletic scholarship.
Among his Athletic Awards are Fab85 Selection, and All-Area Wide Receiver (by the Philadelphia Inquirer). Coach Hunter is presently serving simultaneously as an Assistant Coach for VFMAC's Varsity football team, and as Head Coach of the JV team. Outside of his coaching duties he is a proud Member of Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and is the CEO of a privately owned construction firm.
“My coaching philosophy comes from a collective group of well-respected coaches. I use their expertise as learning tools for my coaching development.”
Announcing New Assistant Coaches
Valley Forge Military College Athletic Director Dominick Lorusso and Women's Basketball Head Coach Richard Pomerantz are very pleased to announce the appointment of Marilyn Benedict, Paulette Branson and Brian Hunter to serve as Assistant Coaches for the upcoming 2009-2010 season. Each brings a background that is both unique and relevant to the VFMC Women's Basketball program:
Coach Marilyn Benedict attended Cardinal O'Hara High School (Springfield,PA) following which she graduated from Immaculata University (Frazier, PA) and is currently in the Masters in Education Program at Widener University, Chester, PA.
After working in Management in the Nutrition/Food Service Industry for 20 plus years including for the Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Eagles, she has been a Teacher with the Upper Darby School District where she is involved in many clubs and services including student mentoring, homebound tutoring, basketball coach, organizing dances/ formals, etc., and was recently chosen to serve as an Executive Officer for the Upper Darby Education Association. Coach Benedict's coaching experience includes Head Coach of the Upper Darby Summer Tennis Program (current) prior to which she coached Lower Merion and Cardinal O'Hara Girls' Tennis along with Rosemont College Women's Tennis and Beverly Hills Middle School Girls' Basketball.
As an athlete she was the captain and MVP (senior year) of her high school basketball team and while she swam competitively for her college's swim team, basketball was always her preferred sport:
"I was fortunate to attend Immaculata College, a small girls college. The Immaculata Mighty Macs were the cinderella team of the 1970's that put women's basketball on the map capturing three back to back national titles and were in the final four six consecutive years. Until recently, UConn is the only school to ever repeat. My role models were the players, who for extra money would referee my high school games. I attended their games when I could and saw firsthand how hard work, discipline, determination and heart poured into every game. So, it's easy for me to say that I take my own coaching philosophy after the Macs coach, Cathy Rush in that the fundamentals, a huge work ethic, and strong leadership are necessary components in coaching today."
Coach Paulette Branson is from Philadelphia where she played four years of varsity basketball, volleyball, and tennis for the Philadelphia High School for Girls (2000-2004), and was chosen was chosen “All-Public” in volleyball and basketball (2004).
She earned a Bachelor Degree of Science in Recreation and Leisure Management at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (2004-2008) on a full-academic scholarship where she played 3 years of D-II volleyball and 2 years of D-II tennis, was named Tennis - MVP (2007), and earned the school's Director of Athletics - Academic Excellence Award (2006 & 2007).
Upon graduation she worked as a Sports Director/Sports Program Instructor for the Rocky Run YMCA in Media, PA, and is currently pursuing a Master of Education Degree in Sport and Recreation Administration at Temple University (2008-2010) where she is a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Sport and Recreation Management at the Temple School of Tourism and Hospitality Management.
Coach Branson's coaching philosophy is most patterned after famed University of Tennessee Women's Basketball Coach Pat Summitt:
"I have a competitive spirit to win, but I understand that how you win is more important than the win itself. The object of the game is very simple - to make shots, and stop the other team from making more shots. Smart decision-making wins games, but more importantly, players must know how to make smart decisions off the court in order to be an effective team on the court."
Coach Brian Hunter graduated from Downingtown Senior High School (1998) where he played two years of basketball and three years of football for Downingtown Senior High School,and he starred as a receiver on Downingtown's 1996 Pennsylvania State Championship team. After which he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance and Accounting from West Chester University, for whom he played football for three years on an athletic scholarship.
Among his Athletic Awards are Fab85 Selection, and All-Area Wide Receiver (by the Philadelphia Inquirer). Coach Hunter is presently serving simultaneously as an Assistant Coach for VFMAC's Varsity football team, and as Head Coach of the JV team. Outside of his coaching duties he is a proud Member of Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and is the CEO of a privately owned construction firm.
“My coaching philosophy comes from a collective group of well-respected coaches. I use their expertise as learning tools for my coaching development.”
Thursday, September 3, 2009
A Huge Thank You To The Lafayette College Basketball Coaches For An Extraordinary Day (Wed 9/2/09)
On behalf of the Valley Forge Military College Women's Basketball program, a profound thank you to the varsity basketball coaches of Lafayette College (Women's Head Coach Tammy Smith and her assistants LaRonda "Murph" Murphy and Jen Wedo, and Men's Head Coach Fran Ohanlon and one of his--and newest-- assistant Pat Doherty).
For so generously sharing not just their valuable time (almost a half day in toto) and their vast knowledge and experience with me yesterday afternoon in Easton Pa, but as well for their willingness to cover the broad spectrum of questions they'd received in advance. It was--in a word--terrific...Nothing less than a coach- the- coach session...A day I will never forget. From which I trust the VFMC program will benefit greatly.
To all of them and the man who put us together--our mutual good friend Marty Zippel, honored as one of Lafayette College's 15 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century, the first 1,000-point scorer in modern Lafayette history who then went on to play pro ball, and whose commitment to his alma mater as a benefactor he so proudly loves to be "walked all over and run on" every day: the magnificent basketball floor he underwrote--again a "shout out" of my sincerest gratitude.
For so generously sharing not just their valuable time (almost a half day in toto) and their vast knowledge and experience with me yesterday afternoon in Easton Pa, but as well for their willingness to cover the broad spectrum of questions they'd received in advance. It was--in a word--terrific...Nothing less than a coach- the- coach session...A day I will never forget. From which I trust the VFMC program will benefit greatly.
To all of them and the man who put us together--our mutual good friend Marty Zippel, honored as one of Lafayette College's 15 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century, the first 1,000-point scorer in modern Lafayette history who then went on to play pro ball, and whose commitment to his alma mater as a benefactor he so proudly loves to be "walked all over and run on" every day: the magnificent basketball floor he underwrote--again a "shout out" of my sincerest gratitude.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Thought For The Day
When one studies the history of what makes teams successful, invariably there is a constant theme that runs thru each of them, those who comprise them, and characterizes the manner in which they play:
The 3 P's
POISE, PRESENCE, & PERSEVERENCE
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
A GOOD START
It was a good start:
In meeting and observing the six women (of those who signed up for this College basketball season) who were able to show up at Price Hall Monday afternoon, several things became quite clear: VFMC Women's basketball team will have a talented core of players who relish competition. With focus and collaboration, with effective communication and smart, patient court management, this team--with its demonstrative quickness, obvious on court intensity, willingness to learn, and strong inside and intelligent outside shooting--will be exciting to watch.
Coach Richard Pomerantz
In meeting and observing the six women (of those who signed up for this College basketball season) who were able to show up at Price Hall Monday afternoon, several things became quite clear: VFMC Women's basketball team will have a talented core of players who relish competition. With focus and collaboration, with effective communication and smart, patient court management, this team--with its demonstrative quickness, obvious on court intensity, willingness to learn, and strong inside and intelligent outside shooting--will be exciting to watch.
Coach Richard Pomerantz
Monday, August 24, 2009
8/24/09 4pm Price Hall
Today will be the first meeting for all of you who have signed up to play for this year's Valley Forge Military College women's basketball team to get to know one another and for us to talk basketball....Lots to talk cover...Coach Pomerantz
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