By: Kyle Isaacs
With the basketball season drawing near and Musketeer Madness only a few short weeks away, the Xavier women’s basketball program received some shocking news with the resignation of Amy Waugh, the women’s basketball head coach for the previous two years.
Waugh stepped down from her position last Wednesday, Oct. 16 after multiple conversations with Athletic Director Greg Christopher.
In speaking with The Cincinnati Enquirer, Waugh mentioned it was time to “(take) a step back” because she doesn’t believe she has the “energy and excitement … to lead” the team right now.
Waugh was named head coach in 2011 after prior head coach Kevin McGuff’s departure for the University of Washington.
In Waugh’s two seasons at the helm, the women’s basketball team put together a 21-36 record and a 12-16 record in the Atlantic 10.
Her first two seasons were spent rebuilding the program after four key contributors from the 2010-11 team left.
By stepping down as head coach, Waugh is ending her eight-year stint with the Musketeers.
Four of those seasons were as a player, two as an assistant coach and two as the head coach.
According to her, she doesn’t plan to take a position at another school anytime soon.
While speaking to The Cincinnati Enquirer, Christopher said that Waugh “needed a break” from the rigors of collegiate coaching.
The Musketeers will now be led by interim coach Brian Neal, who has spent three years at Xavier as an assistant coach.
Neal was formerly a coach at Thomas More College, putting together a 171-31 record in seven seasons for the Division III program.
Neal was given the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Coach of the Year Award four times while coaching for Thomas More College.
The news release detailing Waugh’s resignation explained her rationale for stepping down.
“I frankly need to hit the pause button and will use (this) season to focus on my future,” Waugh said. “This program is headed in the right direction, and (is) in good hands with (Neal).”
Xavier women’s basketball opens with its first game against Indianapolis on Nov. 3 at Cintas Center.