Ward looks to get Lady Vols back to championship level
This may be spring break week for Starkville Academy, but Marianne Ward hasn't taking much time off.
After being promoted to head girls basketball coach of the Lady Volunteers last week, Ward has already put a plan for the future in motion.
Ward has used this week to schedule offseason camp dates for the team, which she considers the first step in getting the program back to winning championships like it did under coach Glenn Schmidt.
Under Schmidt, Starkville Academy was MAIS Division II, AAA and Overall State champions in 2011-12 and 2012-13 and Division II and AAA State champions in 2013-14. The Lady Vols had a perfect 43-0 record in 2012-13.
“I'm trying to get the program back to that era,” Ward said.
Starkville Academy boys coach Bill Ball brought Ward in last season to work with the junior varsity girls and assist with the varsity.
Ball watched Ward go about her business and knew she would be a good candidate to take over the head coaching position of the varsity girls. The administration made the move official last Thursday.
“I've enjoyed working with her and watching her grow as a coach,” Ball said. “Her work ethic is second to none and her excitable attitude about the game has been a real boost to every girl that plays.”
During her playing days, Ward wore the WA on her jersey for several years.
Ward was a four-year letterman at Winston Academy and was chosen to the MAIS District 2-AA team for four-straight years. She scored 1,771 points with 681 rebounds in 127 games with the Lady Patriots.
After high school, Ward went on to play collegiately at the University of West Alabama.
Ward begins her head-coaching career next season at Starkville Academy with around 15-16 girls available. The eight players she worked with on the junior varsity will move up to join her.
That will help Ward play a more up-tempo style that she desires.
“This year was kind of hard because we really couldn't pressure like we really wanted to,” Ward said. “The next year is looking pretty good because we have a good amount of numbers coming in. I'm looking forward to applying pressure to a lot of people.”
Meri Laci Archer is a graduating senior and will not be back with the Lady Vols, but Lillee Alpe returns along with many others with experience.
“We lost Meri Laci and that's a big loss because she contributed a lot to the team, so we'll be trying to find somebody to fill that spot and bring the intensity that she had,” Ward said.
Nora Kathryn Carroll-smith, who was a big part of Schmidt's championship teams, will be Ward's assistant coach.
Ward said having someone present that understands the tradition of winning at Starkville Academy will be key moving forward.
“I'm so excited to have her as a part of the team and the girls are so excited,” Ward said. “She has been there and done that. She knows what it takes to win all of those championships.”
Ball likes what the coaching duo of Ward and Carroll-smith bring to the table.
“We have two of the best young coaches in the state and I can't wait to see where they take our girls program over the next few years,” Ball said.