WBB | Cieplicki steps down as women's basketball head coach, Hillsman named interim replacement for 2006-07

Former coach saw eight people involved in program unexpectedly leave during 28-55 three-year tenure

By: Mark Medina, Ben Peskin and Ethan Ramsey

Posted: 5/11/06

June 6 -- Keith Cieplicki stepped down as Syracuse women's basketball head coach today.

SU Director of Athletics Daryl Gross named current assistant coach Quentin Hillsman interim head coach for the 2006-07 season at a news conference at Manley Field House this afternoon.

Cieplicki's tumultuous three-year tenure ends with an overall record of 28-55. SU went 9-18 in 2005-06, finshing last in the Big East with a 2-14 record.

Five players, two assistant coaches and one director of basketball operations left the program since Cieplicki replaced former head coach Marianna Freeman in 2003.

Cieplicki resigned to explore opportunities in the Syracuse community, possibly ministry.

"Everyone said to me, 'Well, if you had won more,' and maybe those factors would have changed where I am today," Cieplicki said. "In all fairness, there is something deeper inside. It's something that I want to follow. I've really been growing in my faith and my relationship to the Lord as well as seeing the incredible needs of the community."

Gross said the annoucement did not come as a surprise.

"I wouldn't say it comes as a shock," said Gross, who compared Hillsman to Dallas Mavericks head coach Avery Johnson, the 2005-06 NBA Coach of the Year. "I would just say it comes through our talking and processing through the future that this has come about."

Gross said he will conduct a nationwide search for Syracuse's next head coach, and that Hillsman will be part of that search.

"We are going after the top people," Gross said.

Lina Lisnere, a freshman forward who averaged 7.5 points in 2005-06 and is currently in her native country of Latvia, had not heard of the news until contacted via e-mail by a Daily Orange reporter.

"I gotta say that I'm very surprised, because I had no idea that coach (Cieplicki) was thinking about leaving," Lisnere wrote. "However, at the same time I'm just very excited about coach (Hillsman) cause he's probably one of the best coaches I've ever seen, and you gotta love his knowledge and passion about this game."

Hillsman was hired as an assistant in April 2005. Associate head coach Matt Luneau, who was hired upon Cieplicki's arrival remains on staff.

Hillsman credited Cieplicki with laying a foundation for the program.

"What he does for people is worth so much more than basketball," Hillsman said. "I think that's one of the things that he has instilled in us as a staff and he has instilled in me to reach out to other people. He is pursuing that and I think it is a great opportunity for him."

Hillsman served as an assistant at Alabama for one season prior to accepting a position at Syracuse. He has also served as head coach at three prep schools -- the Patterson School in Lenoir, N.C., Laurinburg (N.C.) Institute and the Newport School. He won the independent national girls prep school titles at the first two.

The three players who left the Syracuse program in the spring of 2004 -- Marchelle Campbell, Tierra Jackson and April Jean -- accused Cieplicki in his first season at SU of threatening scholarships, making racially insensitive remarks and acting disrespectfully toward players and administrative staff.

Cieplicki and former athletic director Jake Crouthamel denied the allegations.

The team went 6-21 (3-13 Big East) in 2003-04, one of the worst seasons in program history. Julie McBride was the lone bright spot, becoming the school's all-time leading scorer.

In the middle of the following season -- Cieplicki's most successful with a 13-16 (4-12) record and one win in the Big East tournament -- assistant coach Morgan Hall abruptly left the team in December 2004. Hall played for Cieplicki at Vermont, where he coached for six seasons before coming to SU.

But any progress shown by the Orange's 65-58 win over Georgetown in the first round of the Big East tournament was overshadowed by the loss of two more players, one more coach and the director of basketball operations in April 2005.

Players Lauren Kohn and Jessica Richter both left because they were unhappy with the program.

Assistant coach Mandy Ronay and Director of Baskeball Operations Amy Reckner also left the program at the same time. Reckner was Kohn's high school coach.

Cieplicki envisioned a .500 record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament at Media Day prior to the 2005-06 season. But the Orange regressed to a 9-18 (2-14) record and finished last in the conference. The young team suffered injuries to many players all year. Only Tracy Harbut and Jill Norton were Freeman recruits. Harbut is the only one that returns for 2006-07.

The women's basketball program has long struggled at Syracuse, posting only one winning season since 1990 -- under Freeman in 2000-01.

Cieplicki is the all-time winningest coach at Vermont. He compiled a 127-53 overall record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2000. He was named America East Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2002.

Cieplicki has coached basketball for 20 years. He was an assistant at Vermont and Boston College, as well as head coach at Rice Memorial High School -- his alma mater -- before accepting the head coaching position at Vermont.

Cieplicki was the fourth head coach in Syracuse history.

Return to dailyorange.com for updates.

Former assistant sports editor Rob Anthes contributed to this report.