SJ Sports: First Year Success

Months before the start of the season, Terry Mancini knew he had some big shoes to fill when he accepted the girls’ basketball head coaching position at Haddonfield Memorial High School. As the new head coach for the Lady Bulldogs, the responsibility of continuing the successful athletic program of former coach Trish McNutt-Green was immense. McNutt-Green compiled a 250-50 record and guided Haddonfield to five state titles and six Colonial Conference crowns in 11 seasons.

Regardless of McNutt-Green’s championships, Mancini, who was an assistant to McNutt-Green last year, wasn’t intimidated. “I never doubted my experience as a coach or a head coach,” said Mancini, who served as the assistant boys’ basketball coach at LaSalle High School in Philadelphia for ten years and the head women’s coach at Cabrini College for five years.

Coaching credentials may look good on paper, but it can only take a team so far. Evident the minute the Bulldogs step on the court, Mancini’s coaching qualifications produced immediate results in his team and players. This season Haddonfield went 19-7 and was a game behind champion Haddon Heights in the Colonial Conference. The Bulldogs advanced to the South Jersey Group 2 championship before falling to eventual champ, Northern Burlington, 39-34.

Despite the success of this season, looking back the fate of this year’s squad may not have been as positive. Combining several factors such as a new head coach, a loss of four seniors and the recovery of Julie Sobolewski and Julieanne Rusie, two key players returning from serious ACL injuries, the Bulldogs had many obstacles to overcome before they could continue their history as one of the top teams in both the conference and state.

According to Mancini, adversity causes some to crumble and others to rise. “We had lots of adversity this year,” he said about the 2002/2003 season. “But I think that only made us stronger.”

One factor, however, that helped make this season a little less challenging was Mancini’s familiarity with his players. As the assistant coach for Haddonfield last year, Mancini believes that his interaction with the girls last season made his transition to head coach easier. Although he has introduced new philosophies such as a more aggressive defense, different plays and a change in the movement of the offense, Mancini is pleased with the team’s adjustment.

“The girls were great from day one,” he said. “I think getting to know them last year helped a lot.”

And Mancini’s team agrees. Even after playing under McNutt-Green for the past three years, senior point guard Brighid Marquess, believes that the transition in the coaching staff went smoothly for the team. “We were all comfortable with him from last year and had a pretty good relationship with him,” said the squad’s co-captain.

In fact, Marquess, who emphasized that she had a good relationship with Coach McNutt-Green as well, notices that the two coaches share many similarities. “They are both very tough, mind challenging, and intense coaches.”

It most likely wouldn’t shock Mancini to hear he was described in such a manner. He not only admits his intensity, but also takes great pride in it.

“I was an intense player and now I am an intense coach,” he said. “I think teams feed off a coach’s intensity.”

Although alike in some aspects, both Mancini and his players will be the first to point out the unique dynamics of this year’s team.

“I know a lot of teams say this, but we are really good friends,” said Marquess. “One of the things Coach Mancini has preached to us since the beginning is loyalty. He told us to act like a family and that will bring us together on the court. And it really has brought us closer because we are able to trust each other in all aspects.”

Content provided by South Jersey Sports Club.

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Author: SJ Sports Club-Grace Hagan