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| Ashley Reid |
Lisa Campanell Komara, who recently completed her 13th season as the women's basketball coach for The College of Wooster, has accepted a new opportunity to be the school's first women's golf coach, and with that move, four-year assistant Ashley Reid will take over as the head women's basketball coach, director of athletics Keith Beckett announced on Friday.
"I felt Ashley's experience, motivation, knowledge of the College, understanding of the NCAA Div. III philosophy, and dedicated service made her the perfect person to succeed Lisa," stated Beckett. "I am excited about this opportunity for Ashley and I look forward to continued traditions and program development under her guidance."
Reid will become the program's sixth head coach after helping direct the Fighting Scots to improved win totals each of the last two seasons while assisting with recruiting and working with the post players. She coached two of those to first-team all-North Coast Athletic Conference Team status – Kaitlin Krister in 2009-10 and Carly Loehrke in 2006-07.
A 2004 graduate of Walsh University and that program's second all-time leading scorer (1,725 points), Reid was an assistant coach at her alma mater for two years before coming to Wooster at the onset of the 2006-07 season. She made an immediate impact, helping the Scots to their first winning season (14-12) since 1992-93, and they reached double-digit victories again this past winter (11-15).
"I'm very excited and honored to be the head women's basketball coach at The College of Wooster," Reid commented. "I have been around the sport of basketball my entire life and look forward to the challenge. I am very appreciative of the confidence that the administration has shown in me, and very eager to get things started."
Campanell Komara, who won 122 games as women's basketball coach for the Scots, is equally enthusiastic about her new position, which also includes a future role assisting in the management of the $30 million student recreation center, set to open in January 2012. The College's inaugural women's golf team will begin competition this fall.
"When (the announcement) first came out, I had an immediate interest in it. I'm always up for new challenges, being able to take a program from scratch and build it," remarked Campanell Komara. "I have been a college basketball coach for 27 years. I've been very passionate about it. On the other end, I'll have more time to enjoy watching my two sons participate in their athletic activities. I'm also happy to get back into some athletic administration for my continued professional growth."
Campanell Komara has volunteered at a number of LPGA tournaments, including the 1992 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh, and she plays competitively. She also taught golf classes for the physical education major at Bethany College during her tenure there (1985-97) and has volunteered at various elementary schools as a golf clinician.
"I am enthusiastic about Lisa's decision to take on the role of head coach for women's varsity golf," Beckett added. "This position will afford her the opportunity to build a program from the ground up, utilizing her proven leadership skills and offering students under her charge a rewarding co-curricular experience."