This is a story about the highly successful women's basketball program, an article not filled with lots of stats, the latest score, or where they go from here.
Head coach Michele Durand, speaking at the weekly Rotary Club meeting at the Inn on Tuesday, explained why the program is exceptionally successful. She also described how they recruit top notch players and keep them.
Michele, who also gives a lot of credit to assistant coach Mark Huelsman, said prospective students are recruited with four things in mind:
1. Faith and family
2. Success in academics
3. Basketball talent
in that order.
She explained that concentrated work on studies is necessary for success in life.
She said the academic programs are demanding. ONU's engineering, business, pharmacy, arts and sciences are rigorous courses of study. Ohio Northern is ranked high by accrediting agencies and in national publications.
She said the high school record of a student is important to her in looking at possible basketball players. No use getting a student to come to ONU and their not being able to cut the academics, she said.
Her players carry a 3.4 grade point average, one of the highest in the nation among women's basketball teams.
Asked if it is difficult to recruit talented players without offering scholarships, she admitted it is a challenge, but the mix of academic programs at ONU is attractive to prospective students. Recruiting for the next year begins the day after the last game.
Players also give back to the community by raising funds for breast cancer and cystic fibrosis.
She said the best thing about coaching is following the students after graduation: their careers, weddings, the birth of children. Seeing their success in life confirms to her that what they learn on and off the court at ONU is the correct path.
Yes, and correct it has been on the court, as well. The team is undefeated this year, 15-0 and 8-0 in the OAC, by far the best start ever for the women's basketball program.
The team is ranked 10th in the nation by D3 Hoops.
Michele is in her 16th season with the Polar Bears. Last year the team had an impressive 23-5, 17-1 OAC record. She has over 300 wins to her credit.
Coach Durand is also senior women's administrator and assistant professor in the department. She is a graduate of Bluffton University and BG.
She came to Ohio Northern after 11 years at Bluffton University where she was the winningest basketball coach in the school's history.
Upcoming games: Saturday, Jan. 28, Capital
Pictured: Coach Durand, Coach Huelsman, Ada HS Captains Alyssa Vore and Haley Wyss. Twelve Ada girls basketball players were guests of Rotary.
