JACK SLAYTON Sports Editor

After 31 years in the profession, Tennessee Wesleyan women's basketball Coach Stan Harrison is hanging up his sneakers. Harrison met with his team late Monday afternoon to inform them of his decision to resign.

 “Over the last two or three seasons, I found myself near the end counting down the number of games we had left to play - I realized that I lacked the passion and fire I once had,” said Harrison. “I knew then it was time to think about getting out. It was a tough decision because I have really enjoyed the experience, but it wasn't fair to the program.”

Harrison came to Tennessee Wesleyan from Knox Halls after seven years as a middle school school coach.

In his 24 years as the Lady Bulldogs' head coach, Harrison amassed a career record of 510 wins and 244 losses (19-12 this season), winning nine conference championships and taking his teams to seven national tournaments. He was named Coach of the Year six times.“

Thanks to a lot of talented players along the way, 500 wins was a goal that I had set for myself and was fortunate enough to accomplish this season,” said Harrison. “There is more I would have liked to have done, but I was never in it for the records. Realistically, it's time for me to step aside.”

Harrison will remain at Wesleyan as a teacher and the full-time athletic director, responsibilities he has shared along with coaching basketball for the past several years.“

We have 13 varsity sports and come this fall, we'll have three junior varsity programs - that's about 225 student athletes,” said Harrison. “The need for a full-time athletic director was there.“

I feel like I've been a successful coach and now I'd like to be a better athletic director,” he added. “It was difficult to give both jobs the attention they deserved, especially when you have to focus on your team basically from the first of October to early March. I want to be a good athletic director and that will take time.”

In his role as athletic director, Harrison didn't have to look far for his replacement as women's basketball coach and has already named long-time assistant Jeff Rice to the post.

Rice has served as Harrison's assistant since 1991 and is also the head softball coach.“

Jeff has been a big part of Wesleyan athletics for the past 15 years and a tremendous asset to the women's basketball program,” said Harrison. “He is more than qualified and ready to handle the responsibilities. It was the easiest hiring decision I've ever had to make.”

For the time being, Rice will remain involved with the softball program and share those duties with Toby Brooks, who also serves as the head volleyball coach.“Jeff and Toby are great friends and work well together - both would like to continue with their present assignments, at least for now,” said Harrison. “In the early fall, Jeff will work with the softball program while Toby focuses on volleyball and in the spring, Toby will prepare the softball team until Jeff finishes with basketball.”

Having nine of 10 players returning next year from this season's roster, along with the transfer of former Central standout Jennifer Patterson from Eastern Kentucky, was another key factor in Harrison's decision.“

I'm leaving the program just the way I had hoped to - the cupboard is pretty full,” said Harrison. “I don't mean to put any pressure on Jeff - I certainly know there is a lot more to winning and losing than just having good players, but he will have some talent to work with.”

Although Harrison is happy with 500 wins, it is not what he takes most pride in over his 24-year career.

Harrison has a 100 percent graduation rate among the student athletes that completed their four years of eligibility in the women's basketball program.“

When I talked with the players on Monday, I told them they were still mine when it comes to their academic success,” said Harrison. “I fully expect them continue working in the classroom and earn their degrees.”

Actually, Rice will start his career with two more wins on his resume than Harrison did in 1982.

Due to a death in the family, Harrison was absent from the Wesleyan bench for the first time in 24 years during a two-game road trip to Florida in mid-December.

Rice coached Wesleyan to a pair of victories in a tournament at Warner Southern College and Harrison would not count them on his personal record, saying those wins belonged to Rice.“

Jeff took them on the trip and coached the team,” said Harrison. “I felt like it was the right thing to do.”

As for filling Rice's vacant assistant position, Harrison hopes that will come in time.“

Right now, my focus in finding a women's soccer coach and I will start the process of bringing applicants to campus for interviews following next week's spring break,” said Harrison. “Hopefully, we'll then be ready to see what we can do about finding Jeff an assistant.”