2004

Til e Mer-:::: l Online from Eastern Mississippi - Star Search I

I

I LOCAL SPORTS East Central coach guides team to best season ever By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant

(8Find a -JOB in the CLASSIFIIIDS

March 13, 2004

DECATUR- Brad Hodge's third year as head women's basketball coach at East Central Community College has been one of absolute pleasure and one that has set a high standard for future Lady Warrior teams to live up to. After going 14-11 and 15-11 in his first two seasons as head coach at ECCC, Hodge has led the 2003-04 team to a 29-2 record heading into the NJCAA Division I Women's National Basketball Championship Tournament next week at Salina, Kan •

The 29 wins set a school record and the current team is the first at ECCC to win both MACJC state and Region 23 Tournaments in the same year

Hodge came to ECCC after serving as an assistant men's coach at Northeast Louisiana University (now UL-Monroe). NLU qualified for the Southland Conference Tournament both of his seasons there. In fact, Hodge may be one of former ECCC men's basketball coach Jay Bowen's greatest contributions to the school. "I was fortunate enough that I ran into Jay Bowen late in the school year one year while he was in Monroe recruiting." Hodge said. "I was at a stage where we were ready to make a move so I could get back out and do some recruiting. "East Central created a position as a dual assistant for men and women Jay brougr.: me over and introduced me to (former women's) coach (Sammy) Pace and fe ,., o e .,. ::– East Central. "I was very fortunate that coach Pace offered me the job," Hodge adoe<: • -~: '"': , :.a iS I had working with those two guys were tremendous They have a c c': =::r.u?s ;-: got to learn from both. It was a fantastic expenence. and .,.,ou d'"' t tra<::e those two guys for anything.· Hodge deflects much of the credit away from htmsel' for t'l s yea~ s s ....:-.=-ss "I've just been very fortunate." Hodge said "I ve got a gooc ac- -:s:-.::::o- :-z- ·e :-s support me as a head coach. I know I made a lot of,..,.. s.a· e:s :..:.... cr .:u: !"'E"t .: ~ learn from those mistakes and gain some matunty "You're only as good as your admtmstration anc 1 sta;-;:s ~ n= t:x = p ; :..:-: ~::>le

u:t;: meridianstar.com/MERIDIANSTAR/myarticles asp?P=63 51~'--"

00 1 3 13 04