Spring Break
The Daily OrangeWBB | Cieplicki steps down as women's basketball head coach, Hillsman named interim replacement for 2006-07
Former coach saw eight people involved in program unexpectedly leave during 28-55 three-year tenure
By Mark Medina, Ben Peskin and Ethan Ramsey
Posted: 6/6/06, 12:14 PM EST Section: Sports
Hillsman was hired as an assistant in April 2005. Associate head coach Matt Luneau, who was hired upon Cieplicki's arrival remains on staff.
Hillsman credited Cieplicki with laying a foundation for the program.
"What he does for people is worth so much more than basketball," Hillsman said. "I think that's one of the things that he has instilled in us as a staff and he has instilled in me to reach out to other people. He is pursuing that and I think it is a great opportunity for him."
Hillsman served as an assistant at Alabama for one season prior to accepting a position at Syracuse. He has also served as head coach at three prep schools -- the Patterson School in Lenoir, N.C., Laurinburg (N.C.) Institute and the Newport School. He won the independent national girls prep school titles at the first two.
The three players who left the Syracuse program in the spring of 2004 -- Marchelle Campbell, Tierra Jackson and April Jean -- accused Cieplicki in his first season at SU of threatening scholarships, making racially insensitive remarks and acting disrespectfully toward players and administrative staff.
Cieplicki and former athletic director Jake Crouthamel denied the allegations.
The team went 6-21 (3-13 Big East) in 2003-04, one of the worst seasons in program history. Julie McBride was the lone bright spot, becoming the school's all-time leading scorer.
In the middle of the following season -- Cieplicki's most successful with a 13-16 (4-12) record and one win in the Big East tournament -- assistant coach Morgan Hall abruptly left the team in December 2004. Hall played for Cieplicki at Vermont, where he coached for six seasons before coming to SU.
But any progress shown by the Orange's 65-58 win over Georgetown in the first round of the Big East tournament was overshadowed by the loss of two more players, one more coach and the director of basketball operations in April 2005.
Players Lauren Kohn and Jessica Richter both left because they were unhappy with the program.
Hillsman credited Cieplicki with laying a foundation for the program.
"What he does for people is worth so much more than basketball," Hillsman said. "I think that's one of the things that he has instilled in us as a staff and he has instilled in me to reach out to other people. He is pursuing that and I think it is a great opportunity for him."
Hillsman served as an assistant at Alabama for one season prior to accepting a position at Syracuse. He has also served as head coach at three prep schools -- the Patterson School in Lenoir, N.C., Laurinburg (N.C.) Institute and the Newport School. He won the independent national girls prep school titles at the first two.
The three players who left the Syracuse program in the spring of 2004 -- Marchelle Campbell, Tierra Jackson and April Jean -- accused Cieplicki in his first season at SU of threatening scholarships, making racially insensitive remarks and acting disrespectfully toward players and administrative staff.
Cieplicki and former athletic director Jake Crouthamel denied the allegations.
The team went 6-21 (3-13 Big East) in 2003-04, one of the worst seasons in program history. Julie McBride was the lone bright spot, becoming the school's all-time leading scorer.
In the middle of the following season -- Cieplicki's most successful with a 13-16 (4-12) record and one win in the Big East tournament -- assistant coach Morgan Hall abruptly left the team in December 2004. Hall played for Cieplicki at Vermont, where he coached for six seasons before coming to SU.
But any progress shown by the Orange's 65-58 win over Georgetown in the first round of the Big East tournament was overshadowed by the loss of two more players, one more coach and the director of basketball operations in April 2005.
Players Lauren Kohn and Jessica Richter both left because they were unhappy with the program.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 6
Anonymous
posted 6/06/06 @ 1:11 PM EST
What players are you referring to as having left the program? Lauren Kohn, Jessica Richter and who else. Amanda Adamson has also left the program and has signed on at University of New Mexico. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 6/08/06 @ 12:18 AM EST
Dear Daily Orange,
I was very happy to hear that the infamous Kieth Cieplicki resigned from coaching. If you ask me, he should have never been coaching to begin with. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 6/08/06 @ 7:34 PM EST
I couldn't agree more with the things April Jean said in a previous post. Cieplicki had the opportunity at Syracuse to reach out to players and positively change their lives. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 6/13/06 @ 12:01 PM EST
You're right. He tried to pit players against each other and was the most manipulative person I've ever known. He once said, "We tell the media one thing, but we know the truth". (Continued…)
Post a Comment