Amy Waugh resigns

[BMoreX]

Shannon Russell ‏@slrussell 12m
#Xavier women's basketball coach Amy Waugh has resigned after 2 years with the program.

Shannon Russell ‏@slrussell 10m
Waugh: “There is no perfect timing, but with practice getting started and our fall break on campus, this was the time to make my decision."

More from Waugh if you follow Shannon on twitter.

Just out of nowhere.

[XUFan09]

Whoa.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2

[JAX 3758]

This has something shady written all over it. Who cares if it's fall break. The season starts in a month. If this was Mack, half of us would be over on campus burning down buildings bc it was so close to the season

[GoMuskies]

Well this can't be good.

[casualfan]

This is reallll odd. A month before the season is set to begin and in a new league no less?

[nuts4xu]

Something had to have caused such a sudden departure.

Very strange.

[drudy23]

Great...more reflections sessions coming.

[xumuskies08]

Crazy. It's insane to me that someone would step down so close to the season. There has to be more to this story.

[SM#24]

Nobody resigns this close to the season without it being some sort of scandal unless there are serious health concerns. So which is it ?
1) sex scandal
2) mistreatment of players/asst. coaches
3) NCAA violations

[blueblob06]

This is nuts. Not good at all.

[nuts4xu]

1) sex scandal


I love a good sex scandal. They are awesome, especially when it deals with a female coach. I have a number of imagined story lines flowing through my brain right now, and all of them would cause Amy to resign.

[casualfan]

Nobody resigns this close to the season without it being some sort of scandal unless there are serious health concerns. So which is it ?
1) sex scandal
2) mistreatment of players/asst. coaches
3) NCAA violations

This is going to sound really really bad, but i hope it is something personal. It looks like we're finally turning the corner after all the Dez stuff and another scandal would just rip that scan right back open.

[blobfan]

Well, we do have a new AD. Is it possible something wasn't going well in that regard? She said she's been wrestling with the decision all summer. The timing works. It isn't necessarily something salacious.

[GoMuskies]

I don't think the timing works at all. If you're going to quit for the "normal" reasons, you cannot do it after practice has started.

[casualfan]

I don't think the timing works at all. If you're going to quit for the "normal" reasons, you cannot do it after practice has started.

Totally agreed. If this was related to the AD I think she would've bit the bullet and rode out the season.

It's not a great look to potential employers to quit on your squad this close to the season.

[Cheesehead]

Very odd. Stay tuned, there has to be more to this story. The timing is not just bad, it's freaking the worse time possible.

[blueblob06]

Very odd. Stay tuned, there has to be more to this story. The timing is not just bad, it's freaking the worse time possible.
Eh, day before the season would be worse.

[GoMuskies]

I know Chris Mack coached girls high school basketball for a time, so I would think he is also qualfied to coach the women. I think he should just coach both teams this year.

[HomerCecil]

Something fishy is up. You don't just decide to resign at this point in the year. There is definitely more to this story, but I'll be surprised if it ever comes out. There is basically no media interest in any of the women's teams in the area. The Enquirer basically just published the press release, and they'll probably have little incentive to push for more information, unfortunately.

[ballyhoohoo]

Nuts and I are working on the script for the show time movie for the sex scandal.

[nuts4xu]

Something fishy is up.

Yes, that will be part of the script....

Giggity!

[PMI]

I know Chris Mack coached girls high school basketball for a time, so I would think he is also qualfied to coach the women. I think he should just coach both teams this year.

Agreed. Coaching women's hoops can't take any more time out of the week than the coach's show.

Before I get attacked, just kidding. It would take at least three times that. This is a strange development indeed.

[GoMuskies]

Agreed. Coaching women's hoops can't take any more time out of the week than the coach's show.

Before I get attacked, just kidding. It would take at least three times that. This is a strange development indeed.

No need to apologize. If he's just looking to have the same level of success as Waugh, I think you've got it about right.

Just glanced at the women's roster: 8 freshmen, 3 sophomores and 2 seniors. That's some interesting class balance.

[PMI]

Wasn't the girl's team like top 10 in the country a few years ago? Has Waugh just absolutely destroyed the program or something? I know she was the Brad Redford of the Xavier girl's team back in the day, but it doesn't sound like she was much of a head coach.

[drudy23]

Nuts and I are working on the script for the show time movie for the sex scandal.

Shoot for Cinemax.

[GoMuskies]

Who plays Amy in the movie?

http://www.cincinnatimagazine.com/Pics/Style/2011/NOV%202011/NOV11_Amy_Waugh.jpg

[nuts4xu]

Who plays Amy in the movie?


Jenna Jameson, duh!
http://www.bubblews.com/assets/images/news/174454809_1365967442.jpg

[ballyhoohoo]

Who plays Amy in the movie?

http://www.cincinnatimagazine.com/Pics/Style/2011/NOV%202011/NOV11_Amy_Waugh.jpg

Nuts will handle casting the primaries. I'm handling the casting of the extras for the soaping shower scenes.

[blobfan]

Agreed. Coaching women's hoops can't take any more time out of the week than the coach's show.

Before I get attacked, just kidding. It would take at least three times that. This is a strange development indeed.
If you were coaching. Once they ran around the gym long enough to get sweaty you'd be watching the remote feed from the camera in the shower. 3 hour showers mandatory, right?

:P

Wasn't the girl's team like top 10 in the country a few years ago? Has Waugh just absolutely destroyed the program or something? I know she was the Brad Redford of the Xavier girl's team back in the day, but it doesn't sound like she was much of a head coach.
I was under the impression that the previous coach stopped recruiting after a certain point and left with the roster mostly empty.

[nuts4xu]

All kidding aside, I have to assume she left the program for reasons that are not scandalous.

If so, it seems like a total dick move. She left the program after the start of practice, in arguably the most exciting time in the history of Xavier athletics, with 8 freshman on the squad. What kind of asshole does this to their team? At least stick it out, and get through the first season in the Big East.

If she left for reasons all her own, I have to think this will not be favorable to her career as a Division I college basketball coach.

[XavierGrad]

Scandal is right. No one walks away after 2 years from a job like that, especially someone who is young and single....and especially right when practice is starting up. Sounds like the type of deal where Xavier will want to rid themselves of her image.......Be tough for her to get another coaching job. With all the retention problems the last 2 years I hope coach Neal can keep the current roster here.

[kyxu]

If she left for reasons all her own, I have to think this will not be favorable to her career as a Division I college basketball coach.

Until there's an opening at Winthrop..

[X-band '01]

Wasn't the girl's team like top 10 in the country a few years ago? Has Waugh just absolutely destroyed the program or something? I know she was the Brad Redford of the Xavier girl's team back in the day, but it doesn't sound like she was much of a head coach.

In defense of Waugh, Kevin McGuff left the cupboard completely bare when he took the Washington coaching job. He hit some home runs in recruiting with Amber Harris and Ta'Shia Phillips; Xavier just hasn't been able to recruit at the same level since that time.

[PMI]

If you were coaching. Once they ran around the gym long enough to get sweaty you'd be watching the remote feed from the camera in the shower. 3 hour showers mandatory, right?

:P

I was under the impression that the previous coach stopped recruiting after a certain point and left with the roster mostly empty.

Based on most of the women's college basketball players I've seen, they can keep shower time to themselves...

But that's interesting if she inherited a messy situation from the old coach. Just seems odd, considering how much less parity (although far more parody) there seems to be in women's hoops, that they would go from a great program to a mess so quickly. I guess Waugh wasn't putting in the necessary 3 hours a week it takes to run the ship effectively, opting instead to get all scandalous and such.

[Kahns Krazy]

Broads. It's probably just her time of the month. Give it a few days and she'll be back and act like it never happened.

/ducks
//runs
///fast.

[LadyMuskie]

It's an odd departure. She seemed happy at the season ticket holder open house a few weeks ago. Assuming it's not scandal, and she really does need to "just take a break", what is going on that this keeps happening? First Kelsey, now Waugh. Is this just happening at X, or is it the overall culture of the college game?

[xavierj]

It's an odd departure. She seemed happy at the season ticket holder open house a few weeks ago. Assuming it's not scandal, and she really does need to "just take a break", what is going on that this keeps happening? First Kelsey, now Waugh. Is this just happening at X, or is it the overall culture of the college game?

I think they had too many concussions while playing:lol:

[LA Muskie]

It's an odd departure. She seemed happy at the season ticket holder open house a few weeks ago. Assuming it's not scandal, and she really does need to "just take a break", what is going on that this keeps happening? First Kelsey, now Waugh. Is this just happening at X, or is it the overall culture of the college game?
It's uncommon. And if it was a short-term health problem, you would think she would take a leave of absence instead of resigning. I'm not going to jump to any conclusions, but the timing and nature of this departure is curious to say the least.

[muskiefan82]

I think Glow should be involved in casting as well.

[PMI]

Is there really anyone who truly thinks that she left simply because she needed a break? Or because she decided this late into the fall that it was "just time?" I'm not going to speculate on why she left, because I don't know, but something very obviously happened.

[GoMuskies]

Is there really anyone who truly thinks that she left simply because she needed a break? Or because she decided this late into the fall that it was "just time?" I'm not going to speculate on why she left, because I don't know, but something very obviously happened.

I'm afraid she may have watched her 8 freshmen and 3 sophomores practicing and decided that she may as well leave now and save herself the pain of going through an atrocious season with them before getting fired.

[PMI]

I'm afraid she may have watched her 8 freshmen and 3 sophomores practicing and decided that she may as well leave now and save herself the pain of going through an atrocious season with them before getting fired.

I'd be curious as to what's next in her career, if she really did leave without any incident. Honestly, she'd have to be a real piece of shit to just up and leave because she thought the team she built was going to suck. I don't know much about her, but if betting were legal and I was into that sort of thing, I'd be willing to wager that an incident definitely occurred.

[X-band '01]

If it were just a matter of quitting because things were getting tough, then why would she have played her junior season (post-Elite 8) when the roster was gutted due to graduation? That doesn't sound like Amy at all.

I wish it weren't the case, but there will indeed be a lot of speculation as to what's happening that she would resign now instead of during the spring or summer.

[HomerCecil]

This pretty much blows up recruiting for this season, as well.

[Titanxman04]

I don't know much about her, but if betting were legal and I was into that sort of thing, I'd be willing to wager that an incident definitely occurred.

You're so fallable. In the other thread, you were talking about placing wagers on Xavier's finish for beers. PMI, I got you this time.

[PMI]

You're so fallable. In the other thread, you were talking about placing wagers on Xavier's finish for beers. PMI, I got you this time.

I only try to cover my ass when speaking about monetary wagers, Titan. Never know who's tuning in... I, of course, have never and would never break any law of any kind, for those with any interest in the matter!

[Titanxman04]

I only try to cover my ass when speaking about monetary wagers, Titan. Never know who's tuning in... I, of course, have never and would never break any law of any kind, for those with any interest in the matter!

So when X played in Lexington and you peed on that hobo...?

[PMI]

So when X played in Lexington and you peed on that hobo...?

That was on Saint Patty's Day, which, as well all know, is a day where rules and laws are temporarily suspended until the next morning. Plus, he was on fire and the guy with the hose was busy running the wet t-shirt contest.

[Titanxman04]

That was on Saint Patty's Day, which, as well all know, is a day where rules and laws are temporarily suspended until the next morning. Plus, he was on fire and the guy with the hose was busy running the wet t-shirt contest.

Where the hell was the wet t-shirt contest that day?!? We would have showed up to that!

On a serious note, I remember having a nasty stomach virus that game against BYU. I spent half the time in the bathrooms at that damn place. T'was terrible I tell you.

[casualfan]

Keeps getting odder and odder. If this was something that has been in the works for weeks as has been reported wouldn't you take the time to notify your top recruit?

Mike Dyer ‏@MikeDyer 39m
Winton Woods 2014 forward/center Imani Partlow (XU commit) was surprised to learn about Amy Waugh leaving, says coach Calvin Johnson

Mike Dyer ‏@MikeDyer 39m
"No one called us for a heads up" Waugh was stepping down, according to Johnson

[nuts4xu]

I spent half the time in the bathrooms at that damn place. T'was terrible I tell you.

The bathrooms in Rupp Arena are about the same size as your average jail cell but smell even worse! I know the place has history, but in my humble opinion, that barn is a complete dump for a home basketball facility.

[XavierGrad]

Keeps getting odder and odder. If this was something that has been in the works for weeks as has been reported wouldn't you take the time to notify your top recruit?

Mike Dyer ‏@MikeDyer 39m
Winton Woods 2014 forward/center Imani Partlow (XU commit) was surprised to learn about Amy Waugh leaving, says coach Calvin Johnson

Mike Dyer ‏@MikeDyer 39m
"No one called us for a heads up" Waugh was stepping down, according to Johnson

Exactly. Plus there would be an emotional press conference. Leaving a school you played at, were assistant coach at and then head coach at.

She has already been removed from staff directory on the website. Clearly the administration wants to cut ties and move on immediately. If she was resigning by choice b/c of burn out she still would have called every recruit personally and explained it to them. One thing is for certain, the program is in worse shape now then when she took over. Commits for next year are not going to be very happy with her...hopefully they like the rest of the coaching staff and want to stay at X, otherwise it could set the program back even further.

[HomerCecil]

Even if they like the rest of the coaching staff, it doesn't mean they'll stay, considering this entire staff will likely be gone after the season anyway.

[coasterville95]

Is it written somewhere that we can't have a scandal free or at least snake bite free off season?

I remember the glory days of the women's program just a few short years ago. The last two seasons it's been a hot mess without the hot.

Re a "I'm leaving" press conference. They may still be sore from when they handed Miller a
Microphone.

Still who leaves a program less than a month before opening day? Where can you go?

As far as worst timing? How about right before a high profile game and the coach is nowhere to be found on the court at tip off? Sick thought I know.

[SM#24]

I'm willing to bet she's pregnant and a Catholic school didn't want to parade around an unmarried pregnant coach.

[BlueGuy]

I'm pretty sure there are laws against forcing someone's resignation because they are single and pregnant.

[LA Muskie]

I'm pretty sure there are laws against forcing someone's resignation because they are single and pregnant.
Maybe she was taking a class so they had the Student Disciplinary Committee do it. (Sorry...couldn't resist...)

[PMI]

Keeps getting odder and odder. If this was something that has been in the works for weeks as has been reported wouldn't you take the time to notify your top recruit?

Mike Dyer ‏@MikeDyer 39m
Winton Woods 2014 forward/center Imani Partlow (XU commit) was surprised to learn about Amy Waugh leaving, says coach Calvin Johnson

Mike Dyer ‏@MikeDyer 39m
"No one called us for a heads up" Waugh was stepping down, according to Johnson

Clearly this was something sudden and it looks pretty obvious that she did something wrong. I think it's pretty naive to believe that she just walked away amicably at this given time, and without notice. Maybe we'll never find out, and frankly, I don't really care. But she did something.


I'm willing to bet she's pregnant and a Catholic school didn't want to parade around an unmarried pregnant coach.

I don't think there's a chance that that's what it is.

[GreatWhiteNorth]

The timing is just totally wrong and suspicious for a "no-fault" resignation, esp. for Amy, who has such strong ties to X. I just hope that it's personal and not scandalous. Will we ever going to find out the truth?

[X-band '01]

Now we're starting to cross the line into unsubstantiated rumors - but even if it were true, why not just take a leave of absence? If indeed she was pondering resigning during the summer, I'd have to think something else is going on.

[PMI]

Now we're starting to cross the line into unsubstantiated rumors - but even if it were true, why not just take a leave of absence? If indeed she was pondering resigning during the summer, I'd have to think something else is going on.

Who's starting rumors? You can look at the information we have and conclude that this is a very bizarre circumstance. Nobody has suggested they know what happened, but something obviously happened. Maybe a health issue that she wanted to keep private could explain it, but it would still conflict with some of the shadiness/quietness of the situation, ie. Xavier's seeming desire to cut ties quickly.

[X-band '01]

Maybe that's a bad choice of words on my part - I understand that the timing of her resignation is going to fuel wild speculation. It's foolish to expect otherwise.

I don't think it's wise to completely let our imaginations run wild and throw random guesses that something inappropriate was going on either.

[Bigbluebrotha]

Wow. What a crazy day for the program. While the timing is more than curious, especially with the improvement from year one to year two, the chance to coach in a new conference and an influx of moldable new talent, I think it's a bit irresponsible to assume scandal, yet I understand how such conclusions are being drawn.

While the photo of Jenna Jameson is appreciated, I think that post is completely uncalled for in a forum that's meant to support the program.

Whatever the reason, it seems to that Amy Waugh made a brave choice to step aside to ensure a program in which she invested much of her life continues to move forward.

A cherished element of the Xavier mission is teaching the university community to become men and women for others. In that spirit, I encourage all to focus not on the situation, but on supporting a member of OUR COMMUNITY who is obviously facing a challenging time and ultimately embodied the university mission by becoming a woman for others.

I hope the for the best for her and wish her luck in her future pursuits. I invite OUR COMMUNITY to join me.

[PMI]

Wow. What a crazy day for the program. While the timing is more than curious, especially with the improvement from year one to year two, the chance to coach in a new conference and an influx of moldable new talent, I think it's a bit irresponsible to assume scandal, yet I understand how such conclusions are being drawn.

While the photo of Jenna Jameson is appreciated, I think that post is completely uncalled for in a forum that's meant to support the program.

Whatever the reason, it seems to that Amy Waugh made a brave choice to step aside to ensure a program in which she invested much of her life continues to move forward.

A cherished element of the Xavier mission is teaching the university community to become men and women for others. In that spirit, I encourage all to focus not on the situation, but on supporting a member of OUR COMMUNITY who is obviously facing a challenging time and ultimately embodied the university mission by becoming a woman for others.

I hope the for the best for her and wish her luck in her future pursuits. I invite OUR COMMUNITY to join me.

I'm not trying to start unsubstantiated rumors, but exactly what about quitting, after practice has already started, do you see as a "brave choice?" Regardless of what people want to be written/censored on this board, which I can appreciate, is there anyone who really thinks something didn't happen? Do any of you truly believe she just courageously walked away from the head coaching position of her alma mater at a completely unfavorable time for the rest of the team?

[HomerCecil]

I'm not trying to start unsubstantiated rumors, but exactly what about quitting, after practice has already started, do you see as a "brave choice?" Regardless of what people want to be written/censored on this board, which I can appreciate, is there anyone who really thinks something didn't happen? Do any of you truly believe she just courageously walked away from the head coaching position of her alma mater at a completely unfavorable time for the rest of the team?

Exactly.

[Bigbluebrotha]

I'll consider it brave because she knew her heart wasn't in it and she knew that wasn't going to help the program. Knowing her history with the program and knowing the effort she displayed as a player, that had to be a hard choice for her. Again, I understand why people are drawing conclusions and some valid points are being made. It's simply my opinion. I also think the fact that Brian Neal brings substantial head coaching experience made the choice a little easier for her.

[paulxu]

I hope for everyone's sake, that if there were reasons other than stated, that they just fade away. Who needs negative publicity that serves no purpose.

She didn't duck a phone interview with Shannon, and offered the reason that her heart wasn't in it, and that it had been discussed earlier with Christopher.

Good to have an assistant with head coaching experience to step in, and hope they have a respectable season.

(I did have the chance to meet Amy when she first took over, and found her personable, engaging, and generous with her time to a visiting alum.)

[PMI]

I'll consider it brave because she knew her heart wasn't in it and she knew that wasn't going to help the program. Knowing her history with the program and knowing the effort she displayed as a player, that had to be a hard choice for her. Again, I understand why people are drawing conclusions and some valid points are being made. It's simply my opinion. I also think the fact that Brian Neal brings substantial head coaching experience made the choice a little easier for her.

You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but I just think the timing of it alone invalidates any chance that the move is "brave." If she were going to step down because her heart wasn't in it and she wasn't going to help the program, she needed to make that decisions WAY before now. If that's all it is, then with this timing, it was a very selfish decision. Or to be more accurate, the time leading up to now was probably selfish indecision. A similar example I can think of was Dale Hunter coaching the Caps a couple years ago. He accepted the job half way through the season and immediately realized his heart was not in it at all. But he was one of the best players in franchise history and felt like he owed it to the team to finish the season, which was a fairly successful one, and after which he immediately quit. You have to stick it out if you make it this far, in my opinion. This is almost like leaving at the alter. Now the team is going to have to move forward with an interim head coach and a team full of new faces who have to start over this late in the game.

I think any way you slice it, Amy Waugh made a decision that was not fair to this team, because I by no means believe Xavier would've just asked her to leave at this time of the year for nothing. Sorry, but quitting now because you're not that into it isn't good enough for me. If this were Mack who had just quit out of the blue, nobody would act for a second like there wasn't something major going on. I get that this isn't nearly the same scale, but still.

[DC Muskie]

This is by far the most I have ever read about women's basketball in general, let alone Xavier's.

Strange way to end your career. I just hope the girls are able to move forward and I hope this isn't Amy's defining moment in her life.

[sirthought]

PMI is making a lot of good points. None of what we've been told is likely the real story.

Looking at some points as I see them:

1) How many Division 1 coaches just give up their jobs without some other job to jump to or a serious health issue, which is usually cited as the explanation for the leaving? None. The pay is too good and it's a position they've worked hard to achieve. She didn't indicate that she was no longer interested in the coaching profession (as we've heard from certain other past XU coaches).

2) If she was having a personal crisis, such as family or mental or physical health, most Universities would work with their head coach to the best of their ability. They have a lot invested in this person and don't want to squander that. Get counseling. Allow for a leave of absence. If that doesn't cut it, then cite that as a legitimate reason and move on. Once the crisis is past, the coach might be lucky enough to get back in the game.

3) We have a new athletic director who is charged with creating a high profile for the school in the dawn of a new conference affiliation. Xavier put all of their eggs in the hoops basket and need to keep producing the headlines for it to pay off in donations and admissions. My guess is he's been a hard ass on her performance and she's taken offense to how her course of action should be judged. Or maybe the expectations have been presented in a way she felt was a no-win situation for her, so she's saying to screw it.

Yes, Amy got a raw deal with the talent she inherited for a team that was tasting success, but she hasn't exactly recruited anyone who might make the team a contender in the Big East. (Although I'm not saying I'm an authority on the women players, we would hear in the news of any home runs on that front.) Maybe the AD's own evaluation of the team's prospects were too harsh for her to take it any more.

4) The only other logical reason would be some unannounced scandal has occurred. Amy or someone in her ranks broke rules or acted inappropriately and she didn't manage it as the school would prefer. Even if it was a small violation, with her record, that might have been an adequate excuse the AD needed to say let's end this and I'll let you walk away like things are on your terms.

Sucks for everyone involved because Xavier fans like to root for Amy. If she wasn't pushed out then this has to be one of the biggest failures of a coach to walk out on the players and families who have committed themselves to play under her guidance. I wish her nothing but the best and hope the students overcome this adversity.

[Mrs. Garrett]

I don't guys. I'm really nervous. Nervous that I'm going to lose a shit load of sleep worrying about the state of our women's basketball program.

[wkrq59]

Ahhhh, we're off again. First, Amy Waugh did not coach the "girls" basketball team. She was the women's team coach. Any other terminology is at least disrepectful.
Now then, my major question is: Why so many opinions offered pro and con--mostly con--and extensively defended????
Before this day how much have most of us given one-two-ten-tinkers-damn about the women's program? How many times except perhaps over the UC or Dayton games have we either spoken of or placed a bet on the outcome of a Xavier women's basketball game?
But we are suddenly concerned that :
1)There must be something scandalous have happened;
2)There are of course the proforma speculations that she is either pregnant or inolved in some sort of other female to female scandal or, her monthly cycle has to be a factor.
And the options of when to quit are completely out of her hands??? This resignation is somehow dirty pool, unfair to her players, unfair to her school, unfair to who gives a damn??? Of course it is but what's fair?
This resignation causes me to have only one concern: I hope she is going to be okay both physically and mentally.
That would be my prayer for her. I say judge not lest you be judged. But I ask the following:
When would it be the right time to have an unexpected heart attack and die? Certainly not right before the start of the season.
When would it be the right time to become clinicly depressed and have what is called a nervous breakdown? Certainly not before the start of the season.
Finally, we are supposed to be "The Xavier Nation." Anytime one of our members or the relative or child of a member is in need of prayers, we rally to pray for them and show our kindness and Xavier spirit, even if its to an old fart like me who worries each time he has a test to determine whether he is cancer free? Speculation in these times is I believe inappropriate and useless.

:thumbsdown::headscratch::dunno::stop:

[Bigbluebrotha]

PMI is making a lot of good points. None of what we've been told is likely the real story.

Sucks for everyone involved because Xavier fans like to root for Amy. If she wasn't pushed out then this has to be one of the biggest failures of a coach to walk out on the players and families who have committed themselves to play under her guidance. I wish her nothing but the best and hope the students overcome this adversity.

PMI is making good and reasonable points. I guess I'm just one of those people for which this stinks. The timing is horrible, but the she played with such heart and fight that this is hard for me to fathom. I think it would be too early for a new AD to force her out, especially because she actually built the roster with players she recruited with her staff, she'd be working with depth on the roster for the first time as a head coach and she improved her record significantly in the second year with a team that didn't feature All Americans. Those are signs of progress.

As someone wrote earlier, news coverage of the women's program isn't exactly robust, so, if this is due to a legal situation, records will surface and we'll learn more. Until then, I wish the best for the team and Amy. I think the staff has enough experience that it will rise to the occasion. Every team needs a rallying point and the ladies clearly have one this season. Interested to see what happens at Musketeer Madness.

[XU-PA]

Ahhhh, we're off again. First, Amy Waugh did not coach the "girls" basketball team. She was the women's team coach. Any other terminology is at least disrepectful.
Now then, my major question is: Why so many opinions offered pro and con--mostly con--and extensively defended????
Before this day how much have most of us given one-two-ten-tinkers-damn about the women's program? How many times except perhaps over the UC or Dayton games have we either spoken of or placed a bet on the outcome of a Xavier women's basketball game?
But we are suddenly concerned that :
1)There must be something scandalous have happened;
2)There are of course the proforma speculations that she is either pregnant or inolved in some sort of other female to female scandal or, her monthly cycle has to be a factor.
And the options of when to quit are completely out of her hands??? This resignation is somehow dirty pool, unfair to her players, unfair to her school, unfair to who gives a damn??? Of course it is but what's fair?
This resignation causes me to have only one concern: I hope she is going to be okay both physically and mentally.
That would be my prayer for her. I say judge not lest you be judged. But I ask the following:
When would it be the right time to have an unexpected heart attack and die? Certainly not right before the start of the season.
When would it be the right time to become clinicly depressed and have what is called a nervous breakdown? Certainly not before the start of the season.
Finally, we are supposed to be "The Xavier Nation." Anytime one of our members or the relative or child of a member is in need of prayers, we rally to pray for them and show our kindness and Xavier spirit, even if its to an old fart like me who worries each time he has a test to determine whether he is cancer free? Speculation in these times is I believe inappropriate and useless.

:thumbsdown::headscratch::dunno::stop:

Thank you sir, I wish I had the ability to put my feeling into words as you do, thanks for summing up for me.
I was getting angrier and angrier with each page of this crap, that you Q. I guess I am one of few XU fans who does treat the womens program as a program not something to poke fun at because they are not male players. this development is sad, quite sad because I have found Coach Waugh to be a wonderful hard working person who cared about her players, about Xavier and about the game.
Praying that everything goes well for her

[XU-PA]

For those who haven't seen this, a better explanation than went up on goxavier.com

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/xavier/2013/10/09/womens-coach-amy-waugh-resigns/

[HomerCecil]

I don't really think that's much of an explanation. There's never a good time? Well, there are certainly times better than within a month of the season starting. Again, recruiting is going to take yet another hit because of this.

[bobbiemcgee]

If she left for reasons all her own, I have to think this will not be favorable to her career as a Division I college basketball coach.

The talk about her "tank level" should blow up any aspirations about that. Head coach in the BE and can't muster any enthusiasm? Huh? Waiting for other shoe to fall.

[Fireball]

It seems that she has been contemplating this for a while.

What I wonder is if she has known she was going to step down for a while, but waited for the beginning of practice for fear that a good portion of her large freshman class would transfer out. Seems that transferring out would be much more difficult now that we're 1.5 months into the school year and the season has essentially started.

[danaandvictory]

The talk about her "tank level" should blow up any aspirations about that. Head coach in the BE and can't muster any enthusiasm? Huh? Waiting for other shoe to fall.

My interpretation is that she doesn't want to coach any more, period. Obviously it's going to be difficult to get another job after this, but she had to know that.

[UnCaged]

On a serious note, I remember having a nasty stomach virus that game against BYU. I spent half the time in the bathrooms at that damn place. T'was terrible I tell you.

Holy hell I had a stomach virus after that game...spent the entire day Saturday in my sister's bathroom (she lives in Lexington and was nice enough to bring me Gatorade in between whatever spewed out of the areas of my body). Did you give me that sinister disease? Saying this even though I don't believe we've ever met in person and knowing that I stayed up LATE at some area bars that evening.

[PMI]

Guys, first off, while I admittedly am not interested at all in women's basketball, any fun I poke at it is in jest. I'm pretty sure that goes for everyone who made jokes in this thread. I doubt anyone has any legitimate ill will against the program, Waugh, or anyone else. Relax. Better yet, don't get your panties in a twist.

In all seriousness, I don't pretend to know any details of what happened, and I'll defer to others when it comes to the topic of how hard a worker she is/was as a player/coach, her passion, etc. But this really isn't too difficult to read between the lines here. Something happened. I'm guessing those of you who believe she just nobly walked away because it was apparently a fine time to do so, and she just wasn't up for it anymore, are the same people who take every word a coach or administration says publicly literally. The difference here, which I think speaks volumes, is that nothing has even been said by either side. It's kind of like she just disappeared, and every side wants to bury it and move on. How does that not come across as at least a little fishy?

Again, if this exact same thing happened in the men's program, where Chris Mack just up and quit more than a week into October, and nobody released any information about anything, the speculation would be off the hook here. The board would probably shut down due to traffic and many of us would lose our minds. Nobody would just say, "Good for him. His heart must not have been in it even though I'm sure the school still wanted him here. Best of luck with whatever he decides to do next." Those words would never be typed here, even by the most staunch Xavier homers.

What we know, at the very least, is that the timing is just about as bad as it could be for the girl's... err, women's program to lose a coach. We know that nobody has said (or seems to be planning to say) a single thing about what happened, other than the typical public speak (i.e., "we wish Amy the best," "I've been wrestling with this decision and now was the time," "bullshit, bullshit, bullshit," etc.) We know that Greg Christopher has been on the job far long enough to have had plenty of sufficient time to make a change over the summer, if he were the one who didn't want Waugh coaching the team. The same goes for Amy, if she were the one who didn't want to coach the team. Is it so irresponsible to suggest that something must have happened? Not once have I speculated on what that something might have been, how severe it was, or anything like that. But something had to have happened.

And again, in the highly unlikely case that she really did just decide to walk away, she chose a terrible time to do so, and that would mean that it was a selfish move. So I don't really see any way to defend this as a brave or selfless move by Amy. In fact, I think it's exactly the opposite. At the very least, she made a bad decision somewhere along the way, and now the women's basketball program is paying for it. If this happened to the men's program, I can only imagine the vitriol, disgust, and juvenile nicknames that would be directed toward Chris Mack right now.

[muskiefan82]

I have only two things I will remember about Coach Waugh.

1. The way she played and what her team accomplished.
2. The way she talked to, treated, and inspired my daughter at Girls Night Out.

1273

I hope she is well, that she knows that she was and is valued, and that I will always view her as someone who showed my daughter that she cared.

[Bigbluebrotha]

Thank you, as always, XU PA.

[usfldan]

It is very much possible for a decision to be selfish, courageous, and even correct all at the same time.
Nobody involved has given us a reason not to believe what we’ve heard so far. And given what we’ve been given it was probably both courageous and selfish for Waugh to step down now. Would it have been best for her or the program if she went through the motions of a season just to keep up appearances, at risk to her mental or physical health? It would have been the more acceptable choice to us as outsiders, but probably worse off for both sides.
The timing (after the first practice) also makes a lot of sense. It’s been stated Waugh and Christopher were in communication on this. If I were in his position, I probably would have asked her to see if she could get through a few practices and once things got rolling, hopefully she would realize the anxiety was all for nothing and she was back doing what she wanted to do all along. Instead, she probably got through the first practice, realized it wasn’t getting any better, and let Christopher know.
Haven’t other coaches taken a “leave of absence” and then quietly disappeared? Like Lute Olsen at Arizona or Rick Majerus at USC? Even Coach K had a year where he had to just step away.
I was disappointed to hear of her resignation, but trust it will turn out to be the best decision for everyone involved.

[blobfan]

OK. Just to keep things straight: It's never, EVER ok to question a teams choice of mascot, no matter how offensive some people may find it, but assumptions about the health/interpersonal tribulations of a former coach & player should be assumed to be in jest. I need to start a list.

Semi-related bitchy remarks aside, I for one hope that there are no serious health issues or indiscretions at play here. I imagine being a D1 coach is difficult and it's possible that after 2 years of the grind she decided her passion for X is no longer enough to sustain her. The timing sucks but it's done. The new AD said he likes the direction the program is going and the interim coach (or is he official?) is keeping Waugh's designs in place so my thought that perhaps she didn't get along with the AD seems incorrect. Let's hope this little shake-up pulls the team together and motivates them to win. I'm just sorry Waugh is leaving with a losing record.

[spongebob]

In defense of Waugh, Kevin McGuff left the cupboard completely bare when he took the Washington coaching job. He hit some home runs in recruiting with Amber Harris and Ta'Shia Phillips; Xavier just hasn't been able to recruit at the same level since that time.

Disagree with the bare cupboard defense.Last years team was led by Pachko, Gray, Wanninger, Hawkes and Couch, in that order, all kids brought in by Coach McGuff that remained after the coaching change. What stuck out more to me was the unusually large amount of transfers over the course of the past two years. Some will naturally occur with coaching changes, but the rest? You may be on to something on the recruiting issue.

Agree with most, not good timing at all, and likely throws them into a flux recruiting wise with only an interim coach/staff, and unknowns as to how that situation may or may not change. Who knows if Neal would even want to stay past this year??

Beyond that, Wish Amy Waugh the best and hope things work out for her.

[Titanxman04]

Holy hell I had a stomach virus after that game...spent the entire day Saturday in my sister's bathroom (she lives in Lexington and was nice enough to bring me Gatorade in between whatever spewed out of the areas of my body). Did you give me that sinister disease? Saying this even though I don't believe we've ever met in person and knowing that I stayed up LATE at some area bars that evening.

I'm almost positive I wasn't contagious. I traveled witha friend and we stayed at his parents house. After the first night there, I went upstairs and found a bunch of stomach medication sitting on the counter. Apparently I was not too stealthy as I was up all night with that nasty bug I had. I felt terrible that I kept them up. By the time the OSU game came about, I was in tip-top shape.

[X-band '01]

OK. Just to keep things straight: It's never, EVER ok to question a teams choice of mascot, no matter how offensive some people may find it, but assumptions about the health/interpersonal tribulations of a former coach & player should be assumed to be in jest. I need to start a list.



Not a bad way to look at it - but I would definitely agree with the 2nd paragraph.

[Bigbluebrotha]

It is very much possible for a decision to be selfish, courageous, and even correct all at the same time.
Nobody involved has given us a reason not to believe what we’ve heard so far. And given what we’ve been given it was probably both courageous and selfish for Waugh to step down now. Would it have been best for her or the program if she went through the motions of a season just to keep up appearances, at risk to her mental or physical health? It would have been the more acceptable choice to us as outsiders, but probably worse off for both sides.

Haven’t other coaches taken a “leave of absence” and then quietly disappeared? Like Lute Olsen at Arizona or Rick Majerus at USC? Even Coach K had a year where he had to just step away.
I was disappointed to hear of her resignation, but trust it will turn out to be the best decision for everyone involved.

Well stated and I like the perspective. It does seem leaves of absences are more commonplace in recent years. I think Olsen just retired, Majerus had some serious health issues throughout and Coach K was out for back surgery. Tried to coach, but it wasn't working. Resignation is permanent and has thus fueled the speculation fires. Basketball will be played and the team will move forward regardless, I'm concerned for Coach Waugh's personal well being at this point. Went searching for some insight via social media, her accounts have been deactivated.

[Masterofreality]

WTF is going on with Women's coaches in the Big East?

Georgetown's coach "resigned" today- under pressure.....for "unprofessional" conduct.

[paulxu]

I don't know. But I hope they are not connected.

[GoMuskies]

I don't know. But I hope they are not connected.

I suppose it would help nuts write his script if they were.

[Bigbluebrotha]

WTF is going on with Women's coaches in the Big East?

Georgetown's coach "resigned" today- under pressure.....for "unprofessional" conduct.

He was suspended last week for using inappropriate language in practice.

[X-band '01]

inappropriate language? I'm sure he'll be checking to see if Rutgers has any coaching vacancies.

[BlueBlob1]

Looks like what I heard is not valid since my post got deleted.

Let's be honest here people, no one in their right mind is going to give up a job for 200k or whatever she made for no reason. And unless something happened the AD isn't going to fire the 2nd highest profiled head coach 2 weeks into the season.

SCANDAL... Waugh messed up and is now paying the price.

[X-band '01]

Again, she was not fired - she resigned. Even if something did happen, I'd have to believe that the players would be more relieved to see her go than disappointed and stunned, which seems to be the consensus at the moment.

Until there's something of substance, any rumors or insinuations of impropriety are going to be deleted.

[XU-PA]

Looks like what I heard is not valid since my post got deleted.

Let's be honest here people, no one in their right mind is going to give up a job for 200k or whatever she made for no reason. And unless something happened the AD isn't going to fire the 2nd highest profiled head coach 2 weeks into the season.

SCANDAL... Waugh messed up and is now paying the price.

you are full of it, completely. she was interviewed, the AD was interviewed. As someone a hell of a lot closer to the program than you I can tell you that what is in the interview, is what it is. Nothing more, nothing for small minds to conjure up from nowhere.
I suggest you "be honest here" you have absolutely no knowledge of what you're talking about, no inside information, no facts.
Read this, enlighten yourself.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/xavier/2013/10/09/womens-coach-amy-waugh-resigns/

I'm not the first one to think this, but to those people who's knowledge of women in sport starts and stops at Erin Andrews, please don't bring your rumor mongering garbage here, it belongs over the washline in the backyard guys. If you want the salacious stories, stick with entertainment tonight, TMZ and internet porn. Musketeer basketball is not the place for it.

[wkrq59]

you are full of it, completely. she was interviewed, the AD was interviewed. As someone a hell of a lot closer to the program than you I can tell you that what is in the interview, is what it is. Nothing more, nothing for small minds to conjure up from nowhere.
I suggest you "be honest here" you have absolutely no knowledge of what you're talking about, no inside information, no facts.
I'm not the first one to think this, but to those people who's knowledge of women in sport starts and stops at Erin Andrews, please don't bring your rumor mongering garbage here, it belongs over the washline in the backyard guys. If you want the salacious stories, stick with entertainment tonight, TMZ and internet porn. Musketeer basketball is not the place for it.
PA, I thank you. It's situations like this that allow the internet, facebook, twitter and chatrooms like this to be causes for concern instead of the wonderful mediums they are or could be. My prayers are still for Amy that she will be able to weather this. BTW if you check the Enquirer website, looks like Landen Amos has given all of the Xavier nation a reason to be proud, and before some of us post the sad things we often do, we ought to read what Landen has to say.
q

[XU-PA]

BTW if you check the Enquirer website, looks like Landen Amos has given all of the Xavier nation a reason to be proud, and before some of us post the sad things we often do, we ought to read what Landen has to say.
q

Makes me proud to wear the X

[X-band '01]

This thread has run its course - I'm not going to let one idiot derail this with his tripe.

[ohiobballfan]

Hi- I just wanted to say to the people who talk about others without knowing the facts that most of the time you are way off base. I have been a close friend of Amy's and her family for more than 15 years. I talked to them recently and understand things better now as I hope you do too. For 28 years there has never been a day without a basketball in her hands. Amy has known nothing but basketball all those years because it was what she loved. Most people who know Amy know she is direct and tells it like it is. That's exactly what she tried to do last week. There were no underlying problems or issues of any kind as Shannon Russell reported in her article, plain and simple it was the truth. As far back as I can remember Amy has based her life on good values, integrity and a solid reputation of which she took great pride in.
It may not have been the best time to do it but she has felt she needed to get away from basketball for the past couple weeks or so. She carried this weight and burden because she could not get up the strength to tell her parents and brothers knowing how proud there are of her. Until she could tell them she let it eat at her until 20 pounds lighter she knew she had to tell them. Her passion and drive for the game she once loved beyond everything else was waning. Her parents had no idea she had been carrying this burden and were as shocked as many of us were. But for the love of her family and team she tried to muddle though till she couldn't do it any longer. A phony is something Amy has never been and she couldn't be the leader she wanted to be for the team she loved. So she knew resigning was what she needed to do because they deserved better than she could give them at this time.
This was not an easy decision for her especially being her alma mater plus bleeding Xavier blue for so many years. Some may think she was selfish but Amy did what she needed to do for herself for the first time and that was make herself a priority. Many of us will remember Amy as a great player, person, and teacher of the game who always was congenial and represented Xavier will with her big, warm and welcoming smile. She was completely honest with her reasons for stepping down and for those who don't believe it, oh well. I for one hope she finds happiness in whatever she chooses to do next because her leadership skills can take her to many new ventures. I hope she finds something new and exciting that she can do for the next 28 years of her life. She has lots to offer. As far as the non-believers believe what you want but from a reliable source this is THE SIMPLE TRUTH.

[paulxu]

I don't recall it being mentioned in the article (it may have been) but I hope she had an opportunity to meet with the team and explain herself so that they move forward in a good way from this with the new coach.

[ohiobballfan]

she did meet with them first thing Wednesday morning

[xudash]

OBBF,

Thanks for the post.

I don't believe she is being shellfish at all. I believe she is being honest with herself, and, in doing so, made the right decision. While the timing may be bad, it doesn't make it any less right.

I would certainly hope that she did meet with the team; they're owed that much.

Things like this happen. Xavier's women's basketball program will move forward from here.

I certainly hope that Amy finds a deep breath and then a new challenge that is rewarding for her.

[wkrq59]

Thanks, OBBF, Dash. This and the action of Band will stop the lurid speculation of some other poster. Thanks again.

[blueblob06]

Thanks for the post. Best of luck to Amy in the future.

[muskiefan82]

Thank you. I know my daughter will miss her, but we will continue to wish her the best and hope that she finds what she is looking for! She will always be part of the Xavier family and we wish her the best!!

[blobfan]

OhioBBallFan,

There's a rule of thumb in customer service that a happy customer tells one person and an unhappy one tells 100. I think that can be applied to online message boards with probably a greater difference in positive v negative feedback. I know I'm frequently guilty of it. So count every negative poster as 1/100 and multiply each positive/supportive poster by 100 and you'll be getting closer to the true fan feeling of Coach Waugh. I also believe most of us that expressed concerns also wish her well. I think that's the message to take back to Coach.

[PMI]

Hopefully she really did just leave because she was burned out, but I still do not buy it. I absolutely believe there is more to this story than what we have on the surface. I'm not saying Ohiofan is being dishonest, but I do think it's interesting how when someone posts something insinuating that there was something more going on, they get waved off just because they don't have a bunch of posts here, whereas when someone who doesn't have many posts here starts a thread like this, everyone is quick to believe it word for word. In any case, the decision was selfish regardless. You don't walk out on the team this late in the game. This decision should have been made over the summer. At the latest, it should have been made before the school year started. The consequences of the decision don't just affect Amy Waugh and her mental/emotional happiness. They affect an entire team and staff of people who signed on to be a part of Amy Waugh's program. For all you people who hold life-long grudges over our men's coaches who left our program in the offseason to have no criticism of Waugh's decision whatsoever is some curious logic. I'd be willing to bet at least some of the ladies on the team feel bailed on. This was terrible timing to have a change of heart, and it was an irresponsible move to make as a professional at that level, in my opinion.

[ohiobballfan]

Well said Blobfan and I will try and convey your message to Amy and her family. As you can imagine I am sure they are not reading these boards and would love to know that Amy still has many who love and support her. It was her love of Xavier and her team that led her to do what was best for the team and university and had to be gut-wrenching hard. She always was a great ambassador for Xavier University and I am sure she will continue to be.
I hope whatever path she takes next will make her happy and she has a choice of open doors.

[XU-PA]

Hopefully she really did just leave because she was burned out, but I still do not buy it. I absolutely believe there is more to this story than what we have on the surface. I'm not saying Ohiofan is being dishonest, but I do think it's interesting how when someone posts something insinuating that there was something more going on, they get waved off just because they don't have a bunch of posts here, whereas when someone who doesn't have many posts here starts a thread like this, everyone is quick to believe it word for word. In any case, the decision was selfish regardless. You don't walk out on the team this late in the game. This decision should have been made over the summer. At the latest, it should have been made before the school year started. The consequences of the decision don't just affect Amy Waugh and her mental/emotional happiness. They affect an entire team and staff of people who signed on to be a part of Amy Waugh's program. For all you people who hold life-long grudges over our men's coaches who left our program in the offseason to have no criticism of Waugh's decision whatsoever is some curious logic. I'd be willing to bet at least some of the ladies on the team feel bailed on. This was terrible timing to have a change of heart, and it was an irresponsible move to make as a professional at that level, in my opinion.

you may not "buy it" but you have no facts to dispute it. til you can return with some info to back your hunch I suggest you take the word of those of us who are close to the program, close to players, and close to coaches. Unless of course you would like to call Ms Waugh, our AD and us liars. The timing was bad, but she did not jump into this as a whim, and after discussions with the AD and her staff she apparently was confident that she and the program were better served this way. How can you be critical of that??

[PMI]

you may not "buy it" but you have no facts to dispute it. til you can return with some info to back your hunch I suggest you take the word of those of us who are close to the program, close to players, and close to coaches. Unless of course you would like to call Ms Waugh, our AD and us liars. The timing was bad, but she did not jump into this as a whim, and after discussions with the AD and her staff she apparently was confident that she and the program were better served this way. How can you be critical of that??

Look, I am not starting bullshit rumors or wishing her ill will. I'm just saying that I think the whole thing feels sketchy to me. Just my opinion, and as I've said all along, I'm don't pretend to be in the know. I can still speculate based on what strikes me as VERY suspicious timing and suddenness.

As for how I can be critical, I think I've made my points pretty clear. I think the timing of it is unfair to the rest of the team. As a leader of the program, I think it sends a really bad message to quit on your team at this stage of the school year just because you heart isn't in it. I'm actually shocked that more people aren't critical of it, but I assume most of that has to do with the fact that it's women's basketball. Again, if this were Mack who had done the exact same thing, pretty much everybody around here would be HIGHLY critical of the decision. It's easy to say that she thinks it's best for both sides if she moves on since her heart isn't in it, but frankly, she can only estimate that from her own point of view, and that makes it selfish to me. Hoe do you think the players who came to Xavier to play for her feel? Do you think they all just think they're better off because their coach didn't want to coach them anymore? I think it's pretty ridiculous, given these circumstances, to think that nobody has reason to be critical of Waugh.

[Charlesbt4]

Hopefully she really did just leave because she was burned out, but I still do not buy it. I absolutely believe there is more to this story than what we have on the surface. I'm not saying Ohiofan is being dishonest, but I do think it's interesting how when someone posts something insinuating that there was something more going on, they get waved off just because they don't have a bunch of posts here, whereas when someone who doesn't have many posts here starts a thread like this, everyone is quick to believe it word for word.

I could not have said it better myself.

If you blindly believe the explanation provided by Waugh and Xavier University, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn that I can sell you.

I hope, as a two-time graduate of Xavier University, that everything regarding the reasons for Waugh's resignation is as they say it is. However, I also wasn't born yesterday.

[LA Muskie]

Look, I am not starting bullshit rumors or wishing her ill will. I'm just saying that I think the whole thing feels sketchy to me. Just my opinion, and as I've said all along, I'm don't pretend to be in the know. I can still speculate based on what strikes me as VERY suspicious timing and suddenness.

As for how I can be critical, I think I've made my points pretty clear. I think the timing of it is unfair to the rest of the team. As a leader of the program, I think it sends a really bad message to quit on your team at this stage of the school year just because you heart isn't in it. I'm actually shocked that more people aren't critical of it, but I assume most of that has to do with the fact that it's women's basketball. Again, if this were Mack who had done the exact same thing, pretty much everybody around here would be HIGHLY critical of the decision. It's easy to say that she thinks it's best for both sides if she moves on since her heart isn't in it, but frankly, she can only estimate that from her own point of view, and that makes it selfish to me. Hoe do you think the players who came to Xavier to play for her feel? Do you think they all just think they're better off because their coach didn't want to coach them anymore? I think it's pretty ridiculous, given these circumstances, to think that nobody has reason to be critical of Waugh.

I don't know what happened but I believe PMI's skepticism is both understandable and fair. Even more, I agree that if it was Mack who made this decision we wouldn't be walking on egg shells discussing it.

[XU-PA]

Hoe do you think the players who came to Xavier to play for her feel?

I can tell you they were shocked, surprised, upset. And I can tell you they are good now and the group is ready to move forward and get this season and the kick off to the Big East underway. I can also tell you based on published reports that all 4 of the recruits signed for 2014/15 are firm in their desire to come to Xavier.

[HomerCecil]

I can tell you they were shocked, surprised, upset. And I can tell you they are good now and the group is ready to move forward and get this season and the kick off to the Big East underway. I can also tell you based on published reports that all 4 of the recruits signed for 2014/15 are firm in their desire to come to Xavier.

For now. They're firm in their desire to come for now. The new staff is an INTERIM staff, and if you don't think that handicaps them both in keeping these recruits AND in recruiting for the 2015-16 class, you're in denial.

The timing is horrible and should/could have been avoided. I'm not sure how anyone can really argue that. It was watching Amy come in as a freshman and win A10 FOY and come back from her Achilles tear as a sophomore to lead that team to the Elite 8 that got me interested in women's basketball. There is no bigger fan of Amy than me.

With that said, this was a really crappy way for this to go down, no matter how you slice it. There is a reason coaching changes are made at the end of the season.

[DC Muskie]

I don't know what happened but I believe PMI's skepticism is both understandable and fair. Even more, I agree that if it was Mack who made this decision we wouldn't be walking on egg shells discussing it.

Oh man if this was Mack, this board would blow up.

I mean if Amy finally came to the conclusion that she couldn't or more importantly didn't want to coach anymore, then I'm glad she came to that decision. However there is a proper time and place to do so. I imagine that Amy is a tough gal, so why couldn't she tough through the following season and then at a more proper time resign?

Was she about to have a breakdown or something?

I don't get it and I feel sorry for all involved. Mostly I feel bad for the players and staff.

[Former_Muskie]

At the end of the day, people realize that there is more to life than athletics. The passion for the game no longer exists. At the end of the day, would you want your boss coming into work and half-a$$ing it?

It is worth mentioning that the quality of players recruited by Waugh's staff have been subpar. Not only from an on-court standpoint, but off-court as well. There is absolutely no "buying in" to this program. Very sad to say the least. I would not have been surprised if Waugh's career was close to an end anyways..

[blobfan]

Her leaving now is disappointing but I don't think the comparisons to recent Men's team coaches leaving are apt. I wasn't upset bout Miller until he starting talking unfavorably about X. I'd be upset with Mack leaving now but if he was coming off 2 losing seasons, I don't think I'd be that angry. If we later find Waugh is lying, or if after saying she is leaving the sport she signs on to another team mid-season or next season, then I'll get angry. For now, I feel bad for the players and hope that the coaches left behind really can step up and bring the team around.

[XavierGrad]

Do you really think her parents would tell you if she was under investigation? If so, I have some ocean front property in Arizona for sale....price is great!

You don't quit because of burn out and delete your twitter and facebook page, period. You don't leave a $200,000/year dream job on a sour note to change careers and start over making next to nothing. No way the university would move on so quickly and her stepping aside be so hush hush if her leaving was her choice.

I would be careful how much you back her because you do not know the whole story. And like many have mentioned, the timing is terrible no matter how you slice it and doesn't not send these young student-athletes the right message about sticking things through in life.

Fortunately, I think coach Neal will do a great job and the program will take a major step forward this year. He has been in the Cincy area for a long time and did an outstanding job at Thomas More.

[Fireball]

I think everyone in the Xavier family hopes that the reasons that Coach Waugh gave for leaving are exactly the reasons why she left. Nobody wants this to be a sickness, or a scandal, or something else like that. We don't want our school to look bad, or Coach Waugh to look bad, or for her to be seriously ill.

However, history teaches us that when someone abruptly resigns like this, that it is exactly something like that. I don't blame anyone for being skeptical of the reasons given by Coach Waugh for resigning. I don't think we should take part in rumor-mongering or rampant speculation on what has actually happened, but nobody should be taken to task for not believing the reasons given for the resignation.

We all hope for the best for our school and for Coach Waugh, but I would be rather shocked if it were just burnout.

[HomerCecil]

Welcome to the women's board. Suggest at any time that the program is anything other than perfect and you'll be brow-beaten by some folks.

[blobfan]

Welcome to the women's board. Suggest at any time that the program is anything other than perfect and you'll be brow-beaten by some folks.

Well of course anyone who says it's possible a coach could resign for exactly the reasons he/she stated must be reactionary. We of course verbally abused Kelsey when he stepped down for fatigue and came up with all kinds of theories about him having affairs with people in the Athletic department and hiding secret illnesses or aspirations to move to another team. No one has ever resigned from their position EVER simply because they woke up one day and realized they were doing what was expected of them not what they loved to do, or that they no longer have 100% passion and should perhaps pass the work on to someone that does. No one has ever had an abrupt mid-life career change. It's completely impossible.

*insert sarcasm smiley here*

So many people are insisting that there MUST be something sinister or underhanded at play here. I admit that's possible but think it's also possible it's nothing more than what was announced. I don't know why the conspiracy theorists can't admit that.

When is the last time something juicy happened at X and news didn't leak within the first week? The rumor mill has spewed nothing. The usual sources of information are saying she simply decided it would be better for everyone involved if she stepped down now.

[PMI]

Well of course anyone who says it's possible a coach could resign for exactly the reasons he/she stated must be reactionary. We of course verbally abused Kelsey when he stepped down for fatigue and came up with all kinds of theories about him having affairs with people in the Athletic department and hiding secret illnesses or aspirations to move to another team. No one has ever resigned from their position EVER simply because they woke up one day and realized they were doing what was expected of them not what they loved to do, or that they no longer have 100% passion and should perhaps pass the work on to someone that does. No one has ever had an abrupt mid-life career change. It's completely impossible.

*insert sarcasm smiley here*

So many people are insisting that there MUST be something sinister or underhanded at play here. I admit that's possible but think it's also possible it's nothing more than what was announced. I don't know why the conspiracy theorists can't admit that.

When is the last time something juicy happened at X and news didn't leak within the first week? The rumor mill has spewed nothing. The usual sources of information are saying she simply decided it would be better for everyone involved if she stepped down now.

I think it's a stretch to call those of us with perfectly reasonable skepticism, conspiracy theorists. Again, other than a couple of insinuations, I have not seen one malicious, unfounded rumor, or even speculation which could be considered across the line. But you are choosing to ignore the circumstances by not acknowledging how bizarre and out of the ordinary this whole thing was. She basically disappeared from Xavier at the flick of a switch, and both sides have clearly gone out of their ways to keep it as quick and quiet as possible. That happened. So for us to reach the logical conclusion that there was almost certainly something else going on is perfectly acceptable. Sure, it's possible that there was nothing more than what they've put on the surface, but I think it's highly improbable. And regardless, those who have chosen simply to side with Amy completely in the whole ordeal, seem to refuse to acknowledge how that decision could have negatively effected the rest of the team. No matter which conclusion you reach about why she left, I don't think it's debatable that she should at the very least be held somewhat responsible for an unneeded shake up of the program a month before the season is set to start. For those who actually care about women's basketball, who also seem to make up most of the side of staunch Amy defenders, how do you you justify her quitting on her team for such benign reasons?

Also, if Waugh pulled a Pat Kelsey, and was coaching somewhere else next year, that would do nothing but reaffirm my belief that something else happened behind the scenes. I am a fan of Pat Kelsey and I root for Winthrop, but I do not believe at all that he left Xavier solely because he was tired and depressed. I don't believe there was some huge scandal, but I think there's something else. The whole story is never told in a standard presser.

As for your last paragraph, I'm not sure you actually want me to answer that, and I never would, of course.

[blobfan]

Go back and read your posts. You don't leave much room for theories that differ with yours. You keep insisting there MUST be something else going on. Post after post. How is that reasonable and open-minded?

Go back and read the "Amy Waugh resigns" thread. Immediately posters jump to the probability of scandal and on the first pages of posts speculation beings, starting immediately with the theory that there's a sex scandal. It's not until the bottom of page 3 that anyone other than myself suggests that there may not be a scandal.

What is being expressed by you and other posters is not reasonable skepticism but rather beating the same drum over and over in hopes you either force people to join your cadence or drown out anyone with an alternate theory.

[PMI]

Go back and read your posts. You don't leave much room for theories that differ with yours. You keep insisting there MUST be something else going on. Post after post. How is that reasonable and open-minded?

Go back and read the "Amy Waugh resigns" thread. Immediately posters jump to the probability of scandal and on the first pages of posts speculation beings, starting immediately with the theory that there's a sex scandal. It's not until the bottom of page 3 that anyone other than myself suggests that there may not be a scandal.

What is being expressed by you and other posters is not reasonable skepticism but rather beating the same drum over and over in hopes you either force people to join your cadence or drown out anyone with an alternate theory.

I'm starting to really question your sanity. I know exactly what I wrote. I have maintained the opinion that something else happened, even though I've also maintained that I do not know for sure. I have NEVER insinuated a sex scandal. Not once. I have laid out an actual argument for why it is highly unlikely that there was not something more than Waugh just quitting because she was burned out. You have done no such thing. So who's not being reasonable and open-minded here? You are A) putting words in my mouth, B) ignoring the whole side of the equation about her decision being selfish regardless of what happened, and C) failing to make any reasonable attempt an an argument for why our theory is not more likely than yours. You, mam, fail.

[blobfan]

I'm starting to really question your sanity. I know exactly what I wrote. I have maintained the opinion that something else happened, even though I've also maintained that I do not know for sure. I have NEVER insinuated a sex scandal. Not once. I have laid out an actual argument for why it is highly unlikely that there was not something more than Waugh just quitting because she was burned out. You have done no such thing. So who's not being reasonable and open-minded here? You are A) putting words in my mouth, B) ignoring the whole side of the equation about her decision being selfish regardless of what happened, and C) failing to make any reasonable attempt an an argument for why our theory is not more likely than yours. You, mam, fail.

Yes. When I refereed to 'posters' I meant you and only you. There is nothing else in my life but you PMI. I couldn't possibly have been referring to your assertions such as "I have not seen one malicious, unfounded rumor, or even speculation which could be considered across the line."

[X-band '01]

Folks, at this point we've seen points of view on both sides of the fence. I'm going to merge this thread with the old one and leave it at that.