| By Drew Moody
Glenville State College head women's basketball coach, Bunky Harkleroad,
has been named head coach of Sacramento State University's Lady Hornets,
an NCAA Division 1 school.
The news earlier this week shocked players and college administrators alike.
Team members went into virtual seclusion Tuesday holding practice without
their coaches.
The exception was Lady Pioneer shooting guard Ginny Petties Mills, who
made a surprise visit to Harkleroad's office Tuesday morning to say goodbye,
immediately giving him a warm hug.
"I'm going to miss you," she said.
Mills admits at first she was angry but quickly got past it. "Now I get it.
And I'm happy for you," she said smiling.
"I told the team you're not the one that shoots the three-pointers or wins the games."
Mills led the nation last season in three-point shots made per game.
She's confident the team will pull together and have a successful upcoming
season. "We know what to do; we'll be fine."
Waco Oil and Gas president I.L. Morris, a long time benefactor of Glenville
State College and its athletic teams, echoed Mills optimism. A Division 1
University's interest in GSC's coaching program speaks well for the Lady
Pioneers and Glenville State College athletics in general, he said.
Sacramento State athletics noticed the nation leading statistics the Lady
Pioneers were posting and it put Glenville on their radar. So when the
coaching position opened about three weeks ago SSU officials contacted
Harkleroad inviting him to apply for the position.
GSC Athletic Director, Janet Bailey, said Harleroad is a tremendous coach and
will be missed at the college and in the community.
"I've been given a incredible opportunity largely because of the Lady Pioneers
hard work," Harkleroad said. "I can't say enough how much I appreciate the
players, community and administration here."
He led the Lady Pioneers to the WVIAC Tournament Championship to finish
out his second season at GSC. This year the team was named WVIAC season
champions and he was named WVIAC Coach of the Year. And for the
previous three years the Lady Pioneers have led the nation in points
scored per game, averaging over 95 per outing.
Harkleroad becomes the first coach in GSC history to leave the college and
land a Division I head coaching position.
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