PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland - Sharon Brummell, one of the most successful collegiate bowling coaches ever in the sport, is retiring from coaching and with it leaving her position as Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Brummell, who is in her 16th year at the University and 14th as head coach of the bowling team, will leave effective January 15, 2012.
Brummell has tenured her resignation to become the Associate Athletics Director for Business and Finance and Senior Woman Administrator at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
"I will always be a Hawk," said an emotional Brummell speaking after she informed her team of her decision. "This university has given me so much and I love it here. This was an incredibly hard decision for me to make, but they approached me about this position and I see in it a tremendous opportunity for development and growth in athletics. I had to make a decision about what was best for me and I believe this is too good to turn down."
Beyond coaching, Brummell has served as an accountant at UMES and recently been the Associate Athletic Director for Budgeting and Fiscal Operations. She has also served as the department's Senior Woman Administrator. In the latter role she has helped shape UMES' gender equity plans and been an advocate for women's athletics.
"She has been a second mother to many of our athletes, women and men" said Director of Athletics Keith Davidson. "We are sad to lose such a great coach, administrator and person, but most of all; we are going to miss our friend. She has done so much work beyond her job responsibilities to not only make our department better, but to make her co-workers better."
Brummell has also been instrumental in the community, spearheading UMES' participation in the Relay for Life events in Salisbury, Breast Cancer Awareness events, and even taking her team to local shelters advocating against domestic violence.
LOOKING BACK ON ONE HIGH POINT IN THE LIFE OF A TRUE CHAMPION, SHARON D. BRUMMELL ...
Legendary Coach and administrator Sharon D. Brummell to step down for a new position.
Beyond her tremendous involvement in the daily operation of the department, she will be most missed for her accomplishments as a bowling coach. Brummell was named the 2008 & 2010 National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) National Coach of the Year and has claimed three national championships in her time. Her Lady Hawks won the 2008 & 2011 NCAA Women's Bowling Championship and in 2011 she coached her team to the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Collegiate Championship, becoming the first team to win both in the same year, arguably compiling the best season ever by a college bowling team.
Her titles put her in a unique situation as she is the only woman to lead her team to an NCAA Championship and the only African-American coach to win the NCAA & USBC titles. The team's NCAA wins are the only DI National Championships ever won by a historically black college or university (HBCU) women's program.
Her teams have won five Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) titles (2000, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011) and she was the MEAC Coach of the Year five times (2000, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010).
Since 2007, when UMES was the runner-up to the NCAA Championship, Brummell has won 82 percent of her matches and has amassed almost 600 wins. She was won over 800 NCAA matches in her tenure.
Brummell currently serves on the NCAA Bowling National Committee, is NCAA Region Chair, is president of the MEAC Bowling Coaches, a board member of the USBC and belongs to numerous professional and bowling organizations.
Her legacy is demonstrated by her student-athletes as well. She has coached 20 NTCA All-America selections, one National Player of the Year, one NCAA Bowling Most Outstanding Performer, two MEAC Woman of the Year recipients, a UMES Bernstein Award winner (the highest academic award given by UMES), an NCAA Elite 88 Award recipient (the highest academic award given by the NCAA in a respective sport), and numerous All-MEAC Players of the Year and All-Conference selections.
Brummell will coach the team this weekend at the Mid-Winter Classic in Little Rock, Arkansas, it will be her last as coach of UMES bowling. The remainder of the season will be coached by Kristina Frahm, a former bowler and four-time All-America selection. Frahm, an NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Performer and part of all three of UMES' National Championships will fill role on an interim basis. Assistant Coach Doug Dukes will remain with the team in the same capacity.
"I have been truly blessed and will miss my players. I have enjoyed my time coaching each of my young ladies," said Brummell. "I have been so fortunate to have so many good women that bowled for me and they have collectively made me a better person. Kristina is certainly one of those and someone who will do a great job with our program. She knows what it takes to be successful here."
The UMES Department of Athletics will host a "going-away" party for Brummell this Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at Peaky's in Princess Anne from 5 to 7 p.m. Faculty, Staff, students, alumni, friends and fans are encouraged to stop by and pass along their well wishes.
Courtesy: University of Maryland Eastern Shore Sports Information
No comments:
Post a Comment