Penn College Women's Hoop Coach Welcomes New Aide
Published 10.28.2003
Penn College women's basketball coach Jeff Chamberlin is quick to admit that there are more negatives than positives facing this year's team. Yet, he remains optimistic.
"Overall, we lack height, size, strength, ability, game-time experience and knowledge," the coach said, but one big plus he has for the first time this season is a paid assistant to help get the players where they need to be to compete on the collegiate level.
Joining the Lady Wildcats is Adrienne Wydra.
"She was a multi-sport (basketball, track and softball) standout in college (Lycoming and Susquehanna)," Chamberlin said. "One thing she brings the team is a great deal of knowledge about the sport and she's really dedicated. She gives everything out there on the court. When the girls see a coach working that hard on the court, it inspires them to work even harder. Adrienne is a heck of an athlete. Her motor is always running 110 mph every second out on the court."
In addition to her on-court presence during practice, Wydra, who also is the women's cross country coach at Lycoming College, will share off-court duties with Chamberlin.
"In years past, I had to wear many different hats where I'd have to not only be the coach, but the administrator, the recruiter and I'd have to deal with the girls' personal issues.
"The one real strong suit that Adrienne brings to the team is she's going to be a really good recruiter. She's going to take a lot of pressure off me and allow me to focus more on coaching," Chamberlin said. "I'm really excited to have her on the team. She's going to be something special for our program."
Said Wydra, said Wydra, a native of Ashland who played high school ball at North Schuylkill, "I hope to bring a little enthusiasm. My specialty was defense, so I hope to bring that aspect of the game to the girls. And just having a female (coach) with the team will help a lot."