Changes at UNCW

It was announced today that UNCW head Coach Kelly Van Houton was let go and that a search for a new head coach has begun.

 

No options left

I have reason to believe the AD was looking for any reason to retain Kelly but this year's on-the-field performance left him no option. It's interesting that there were seven seniors on this team. I really can't think of a situation where that many seniors would have survived for four years averaging 11 wins per season.

 

Makes you wonder...........

 

Me too

I am and will continue to be close to this team and I too have wondered.....

 

I wonder if they will give it to Vanessa Williams the assistant. She was a pitcher at UNCG.

 

Why?

Can't imagine that would happen. Assistants typically get elevated when a head coach of a successful program moves to a better job.

 

hitting stats anemic

Take a look at their run production and hitting stats for 2012; very minimal. Are there too many distractions at a "beach" school?

 

OK . . . . here's what I can speak to

I can say with pretty good authority that 'distractions' (beach and otherwise) were a huge issue in this program in the years preceding Kelly's tenure. The fact that she inherited a large class of recruits from the previous coach probably didn't help. I have no idea what the culture has been in the program under Kelly. However, there's no denying the team's performance on the field has been poor. Offensively, the team has been terrible. The pitching hasn't been as bad, especially this season, but still not good. From the outside looking in I cannot imagine the AD would want to retain anyone associated with the current situation.

That said, I think the program has potential. UNCW is a very solid academic school with an attractive variety of majors. With GSU's departure next year it will likely be the only warm weather school in the CAA (assuming the league survives at all). As for the beach, it's an excellent recruiting tool. The new coach just needs to make sure that (s)he recruits ballplayers who want to go the beach and not girls who are willing to play ball so they can go to the beach.

 

The beach wasn't the problem, it was the coaching. I live in Wilmington and have been to several games and they are not a good team. Appeared to be talent on the field but just poor execution.

 

Over the last 4 years UNCW lost 41 one-run games and won 14 (give or take a couple, I got teary-eyed counting). Is that lack of talent or coaching or just plain bad luck?? Likely all of the above. Hopefully this change works out well for all parties involved.