Thees leaves, Miller steps up to plate
The Georgia College & State University softball team ended the 2004 season with high expectations for the next season. One thing the team did not expect was for their head coach, Windy Thees, to leave. Windy Thees accepted the head coaching position at the University of Memphis. The move by Thees did not come as a surprise to many people at GC&SU.
“It was not a surprise because she had had so much success in a short period of time. She took a losing program and turned it into a national contender overnight. The team had no winning seasons before she came to the program and in her first season the team had a winning record,” Assistant Athletics Director for Public Relations Brad Muller said.
Assistant Head Coach Ginger Miller has been named Interim Head Coach and will remain head coach for the entire season. Coach Miller is excited about being named the head coach.
“A lot of things are new to me but I have worked with the girls and I am excited to get the season going and get playing. I could not have asked for a better group of girls,” Miller said.
After this season, the school will have a national search for a head coach and Miller will be a candidate.
“Coach Miller is well liked. She knows the team well and we feel confident about her. The team won’t miss a beat,” Muller said.
The team expects to be a national contender this season. There are only two seniors on the team this year so the success should continue through next season.
The team’s transition has gone rather smoothly.
“Thees called each player to tell them the news. The news was emotional for some players because of the close relationship Thees had with the team, but the players realized that this was a good opportunity for her and that they’re good enough to win without her,” Muller said.
The team’s transition has been made easier having Assistant Coach Miller named interim head coach.
“The transition is easy for the girls because they do not have to learn a whole new routine. The biggest challenge will be getting them to play together as a team. If they come together as a team and play as they know we will have no problem,” Miller said.
The players were unavailable for comment at this time. They are focusing on the upcoming season, according to Brad Muller.
Thees goes to the University of Memphis with plenty of time to start building a program because the softball program at Memphis does not begin until spring of 2006. This decision has many advantages for Thees. She will have a full year to recruit, fund raise and oversee the facility.
“This was a good move for her career. As a coach you want to coach at the highest level. Memphis is a fully funded school in a national conference giving her an opportunity to build a successful program,” Muller said.
Thees leaves GC&SU with many accomplishments. The 29 year-old Thees posted a 163-92 overall record with a .639 winning percentage in her five seasons at GC&SU. In 2003, Thees guided the Bobcats to a 42-9 record and to the NCAA II National Championship in Salem, Oregon finishing as national runner up. One thing Thees did well was recruiting.
“She recruited not only good kids but good students and good athletes. She had a near 100 percent graduation rate and a GPA that was the highest out of all athletic teams at GC&SU,” Muller said.
The decision to leave GC&SU was hard for Thees.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity that Stan Aldridge [GC&SU Athletic Director] gave me five and a half years ago. I am very sad to leave a program that has been a big part of my life and my family’s life, but I am excited about this new opportunity,” Thees said, according to a GC&SU Athletics press release.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Jan 28 2005. Filed under Sports.
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