The winners for this year’s Coach of the Year selection didn’t let adversity stop their respective teams from producing successful results.
That’s why the Baker Orange staff named head football coach Mike Grossner and head women’s basketball coach Susan Decker Coaches of the Year for 2008-2009.
On the men’s side, Grossner coached his team to its first playoff game appearance in 15 years, as well as placing third in the tough Heart of America Athletic Conference with an 8-2 record. The Wildcats finished 8-4 overall under Grossner, and came up short in the first round of the national playoffs against Morningside College.
Grossner said the turning point for the ‘Cats season was the team’s ability to respond positively to the heartbreaking 25-21 loss to Lindenwood University in week three. BU then went on a six-game winning streak to fade out the loss to the Lions.
“Responding to that defeat, we got on a pretty good roll there to set us up for a HAAC championship against MidAmerica – a very good football team,” he said. “We lost in double overtime, but that’s all you can ask for.”
In addition to a standout season, for the first time under Grossner the ‘Cats have received a preseason ranking at No. 12, something Grossner said his team has worked hard for and deserves.
On the women’s side, Decker led the women’s basketball team to a sixth-place finish in the HAAC and finished 15-16 overall. The ‘Cats lost six of their games by less than 10 points and ended their season, after a valiant effort, with a devastating loss to Avila University in the HAAC tournament first round by a buzzer-beating 3-point shot. What is most impressive, though, is Decker’s ability to coach BU single-handedly for about a month of competition. After assistant coach Richard Ebel was diagnosed with cancer mid-January, Decker said it was very difficult for him to make it to practices and games the last month or two of the season.
“Coach never gave up, especially when coach Ebel got sick,” junior Tayler Stacks said.
“She stayed positive and kept us going throughout the remainder of the year.”
Decker said from a win-loss standpoint, the team was not very successful, but she was proud of the achievements in other aspects of the year.
“The maturity level of the kids and steps we took throughout the year were successful,” Decker said. “We almost beat Avila, and the kids really believed in what they were being taught.”
Decker has also put in strong coaching work off the court. She’s signed six recruits for the upcoming year, five of which are transfer players who Decker said will bring experience to the team.
