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Show UNIVERJITY lOURNAL PACE I Thursday, March 23, 2006 If you pay any attention to ESPN or a newspaper, you cant help but notice the vast number of coaching changes in todays professional and collegiate sports. Maybe it was just my imagination, but two years ago didn't it seem like an NBA coach was getting fired every week? Sports fans live in a world where if they dont like the head coach, they simply devote a Web site to getting that coach fired. Ill be the first to admit when the University of Florida football team went I tlirough a streak of mediocrity from 2002-200was among those logging on to FireRonZook.com. I wish team owners could be fired. If so, Id campaign to create a Web site called FireGeorgeSteinbrenner.com. If that offended you Yankee fans, I offer my apologies. Since the NFL season ended in February, 10 teams named new head coaches. That is of the NFL teams with a new coach! Am I the only one who finds this ridiculous? Coaches are hired and fired so often these days, Im getting to a point where it no longer fazes me. Usually, when a coach is fired there are cliche phrases used to explain the decision. Phrases like we decided to go in a different direction, or it was a business decision are commonly heard. Sports fans have heard these cliches so often in recent years, they have just become part of our everyday sports vocabulary. Anyone who followed the Johnny Damon saga during the winter heard his mantra when he sold his soul and left the Red Sox to sign with the one-thir- d EDITOR r 7 Coachs firing does not spell relief for team 1 Darren Vaughan, Womens hoops coach fired after 11-1- 7 586-199- 2 mark different direction. Hillock had a overall record as the dvaughansuujoumal.com coach, and led the team to the semifinals SUU womens basketball coach Joe Hillock was Conference tournament of the fired Monday afternoon, bringing a close to a failed to advance past twice. However, the tenure which saw him win and the first round in each of the past six lose more games than any other womens seasons, including this years coach in SUU history. exit at the hands of Western Illinois. Hillock, who led the team to a school-recorHillock, known for his enthusiasm on had mark in 2003-0the sidelines during games, led the to four winning seasons, including suffered through losing seasons in a second-plac- e finish in the Mid-Cofour of the past five years, including 2001-02- . 2004-0He posted a 62-7in in consecutive standings campaigns mark in Mid-Co- n and 2005-06- . play, and his team advanced to the conference tournament According to a press release, SUU each year with the athletic director Ken Beazer said the finishing in the top half of the standings in five of choice to fire Hillock was made to change nine seasons. Hillock the direction of the program. Hillock is second only to mens We want to thank coach Hillock for Bill Evans in terms of wins and basketball coach Beazer the done for hes program, everything SUU an losses basketball coach, as Evans has by said. Ive looked at this from every angle since mark in 14 seasons. I came on board and have determined it is time posted a See HILLOCK, Page 8 for the womens basketball program to move in a By DARREN VAUGHAN 128-14- 6 first-roun- d d 18-1- 0 n 11-1- 7 6 5 193-20- 9 Former &UU womens basketball coach Joe Hillock shows his intense nature during a game earlier this year in the Centrum Arena. Hillock was fired Monday after 10 seasons at SUU. Yankees. It was a business decision. Sure it was, Johnny. Sure it was. Sorry. That last section was three months of pent-u- p bitterness surfacing. I apologize again. Can you tell Im a Red Sox fan? The fact is this; the words loyalty and Sports should no longer be used in the same sentence. We as fans support our teams even though there is little or no loyalty exchanged between players, teams, coaches, ownership and fans. Monday afternoon, we saw one of our own get fired. Ill admit, when I read the online article that reported coach Joe Hillock was relieved of his duties, I was stunned. Normally, when I think of someone being relieved of anything, I imagine that person being happy or excited to no longer have a burden. When 1 saw an emotional Hillock in the Centrum Arena Monday, he didnt appear to be relieved of anything. I also saw two of his players, both sobbing, and neither seemed to be Yelieved their coach had just been fired. Then again, maybe I have a vision problem. I realize that Hillocks record at SUU was not optimal, and Im aware that he never led a team to tenure. the NCAA Tournament during his I understand when it is necessary for coaching changes to be made. While you can argue with his winning, you cant argue with the graduation rate of his players. During his time as coach, Hillock has seen 26 of 27 seniors graduate, while the other one transferred. Whether this move is right or wrong, I dont know. I have much respect for Ken Beazer and Im not bashing his business decision, nor am I saying coaches with losing records should be rewarded with contract extensions. However, what I am saying is Joe Hillock always showed class and a passion for basketball whenever I was around him. He was always accessible, approachable and genuine to me whenever I interviewed him, or simply saw him outside his office. If SUU is truly making a new commitment to winning, then I predict a few more programs will need to go in a different direction very soon. There are some athletic programs that are thriving at SUU, and some that arent. Let me put it this way: the Centrum Arena is not running out of space to hang championship banners. In the end, there will be many who support this move, those who wont and those who either dont care or don't pay attention. Each person will have his or her own opinion on the subject, and are entitled to such. I am among those who wish to say thank you to Hillock and wish him well in the future. Scott Monroe is a senior staff writer for the LIniversity Journal. He can be reached at smonroe snnjonrnal.com. Senior Sheena Shaw prepares to dismount the balance beam during Fridays meet against Cal State Fullerton in the Centrum Arena. Shaw won the competition with a score of T-Bir- By MICHAEL NIELSON mnielsonsuujoumal.com Currently, the SUU gymnastics team is ranked No. 1 in the Western Athletic Conference, but it will take a determined effort for the to win the conference championships in Logan on Saturday. Little separates the from the other five teams in the WAC. The Birds currently lead the conference in average total score with 193.757, but SUUs season- - smonroesuujournal.com After struggling through a schedule, tough the Southern Utah softball team title seeks to defend its Mid-Co- n this weekend against Valparaiso at Kathryn Berg Field. and Crusaders The are scheduled to play a pair of doubleheaders beginning Friday at 1 p.m., with Saturdays doubleheader set to start at noon. However, this weeks snowy weather may alter where the games are played. are off to a The season start, but have played solid competition that included 3 perennial powerhouse Arizona State. SUUs only victories were over Hawaii and St. Marys. One problem for the during their early schedule has been lack of hitting. The team is batting a combined .218 and scored just 63 runs in its first 25 games. opponents are batting .332 and have scored 149 runs. Opposing pitchers have also fared well against SUU, striking out 168 batters. Junior Marci Pratt and senior Tiffany Burt have arguably been the teams most consistent hitters. Pratt is batting .308, leads the team in hits (24) and 193.825-193.02- travel to Logan for conference meet ds Sacramento State has really come high of 195.125 is slightly behind on, coach Scott Bauman said. So Sacramento States high of 195.325. has Boise State and San the While Jose State. We cant look lead the conference in score on the past anybody. average said he Bauman uneven bars and the floor was confident in his exercise - 48.611 and team, but it would take 48.607, respectively - they dont hold the conference-hig- h strong performances in event. score in any event. GYMNASTICS every We need to be relaxed Sacramento State, which and calm, and just do our thing, has scored better than 195 in its two he said We need to have precision holds conference the meets, previous like we have in practice. high in two of the four events. have been consistent The on the floor routine all season, and they currently lead the conference with the average score of 48.607. Senior Sheena Shaw has led the team on the floor. Her season average of 9.777 is second in the conference of 9.875 is third and her season-higin the conference. The Lds are also strong on the uneven bars Junior Ashley Sharpe leads the conlerence with a season average of 9.777 and her season h See MET, Page 8 season with Valpo doubleheader Birds open Mid-Co- n By SCOTT MONROE 5 the Birds to a victory against the Titans. SUU will compete Saturday afternoon at the WAC Championships in Logan. 39.150, helping (11), and has three triples. Burt, the 2005 Mid-CoPlayer of the Year, is batting .307, with two home runs and eight RBI's. SUUs pitching staff has a combined RBIs ERA of 5 26, while opposing pitchers have a combined 1.99 ERA. Junior Ashley Christiansen has the low'est ERA of the staff at 3 82. The Crusaders played only 14 games this season, average. Sophomore Andrea Zappia has stepped up as the Crusaders ace pitcher this season with a 38 1.15 ERA and team-higstrikeouts. Southern Utah, which won the SOFTBALL posting a record. outfielder Junior Megan Carroll, who is batting .489 6-- 8 and leads the team in hits and doubles, paces the Valparaiso offensive attack. Sophomore Shannon Robinson and Taylor junior Callahan have also been productive at the plate this season. Robinson is hitting .395 and Callahan is carrying a .348 batting h 2005 Mid Con regular season title, was picked as the preseason favorite to win this season's conference championship Valparaiso was picked fourth behind SUU, Centenary and Western Illinois. IUPUI, UMKC, and Oakland round out the remaining three preseason poll spots. SUU coach Jodi Hermanek said the arent thinking much about the polls. I think this is some w'ell deserved recognition but were not reading too much into it, Hermanek said in a press release. The preseason poll really has no bearing on anything that happens, but it is nice to get the iespect of the other coaches in the league. After tlie Valparaiso games, the continue their schedule March 31 in a pair of doubleheaders against Northern Coloiado. SUUs next Mid-Cogames will take place April 7 and 8 at Kathryn Berg Field against Centenary. also will The play host to the 2006 Conference Softball Championship at Kathryn Berg n Field May 12-1- |