 "Photo: uwgsports.com")
After a long and successful career as the University of West Georgia’s women’s head basketball coach, Craig Roden decided that it was time to call it quits at West Georgia. The West Alabama graduate recently spoke about his decision to take on a different coaching job.
He began by discussing the problems that the school is having with the NCAA. Last year, the university did not allow his Gulf South Eastern Conference championship team to participate in the NCAA tournament because of several violations that had nothing to do with the women’s basketball team.
“March 8, 2009, after the whole NCAA fiasco began, was when I knew that my time here was limited,” said Roden.
He began thinking about resignation last year, but felt that the decision would have been too hasty.
“I’ve had a lot of times here [at UWG],” said Roden.
Over the last three years, Roden won the Gulf South Conference Coach of the year twice, two years in a row. So it was no surprise when Roden found out that the University of West Alabama was interested in hiring him for the head coach position that recently became available at their school.
“The athletic director at West Alabama contacted Darryl Dickey and asked if it was okay to speak with me about the job,” said Roden.
After hearing about the job, Roden felt it was the perfect time to move on. He has already made plans for his future at West Alabama.
“I plan to take them to the top of the Gulf South Conference next year,” said Roden. “It won’t be easy, and we have a long way to go, but with some of the returning players and a good recruiting class, I’m confident that we will be fine.”
He is also excited about the athletics program at his new school.
“I think there is a commitment to winning at West Alabama that rivals any other school in the league; a commitment from the athletic director and the administration to winning,” he said.
Roden made his mark at the University of West Georgia. He took the challenge of taking a bad program and turning it into the winning program it has become over the last few years.
“I’ve had a good graduation rate since I’ve been here, and I’ve had some really good players,” Roden said.
He said his experience at UWG was a good one, and he has no regrets about his time spent here, or about his decision to leave.
“As a coach, you know when it’s time, and it’s time,” said Roden.
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