Many experienced coaches, justly or unjustly, are labeled as either “old-fashioned,” “stuck in their ways” or some combination thereof. If such labels are being bandied about with respect to Ashland University head women’s basketball coach Sue Ramsey, they are quite unwarranted. This experienced coach has always been willing to adapt to changes in the game and tailor her strategy to match her personnel and has done so quite effectively, especially in recent years.
Ramsey’s last two seasons have been her finest as a collegiate head coach. In 2004-05, the Eagles went 20-9, reaching the 20-win plateau for the second straight season, and captured the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) South Division title for the third time in four seasons. The previous year, Ashland was 23-8 and advanced to the NCAA Division II tournament for the first time in program history, winning its first-round game there. That team set a school record for most wins in a single season.
A stellar transition/fast break offense is the defining characteristic that linked those two successful squads. The teams were constructed around that philosophy and executed superbly. The 2004-05 team led the GLIAC in field goal percentage (.472) for the second straight year and scored 73.6 ppg., the second-best mark in the conference. The previous season, Ashland led the conference and was nationally ranked in both categories (.492, 81.5 ppg.). While both of those squads depended heavily on dominant post play, this year’s squad is much more guard-oriented. Ramsey intends to adjust her transition/fast break accordingly, meaning that opponents will see a good deal of pressing and trapping.
Ramsey has spent 18 years as a collegiate head coach, the last 10 of which have been at Ashland University. She owns a career record of 245-254 and is the all-time wins leader at Ashland with a 150-126 ledger. AU’s 2005-06 season opener against Indianapolis on Nov. 19 will be the 500th game of Ramsey’s collegiate coaching career.
Last year’s team fell just shy of making a return trip to the “Big Dance,” but the season can hardly be considered a failure. The Eagles advanced to the GLIAC tournament semifinals for the second straight year and boasted two first team All-GLIAC players (senior center Jackie Mason and sophomore guard Amber Rall) for the first time in AU history. Mason broke her own single-season record for blocked shots and sophomore forward Catherine Portyrata set the school mark for field goal percentage.
Some of the most productive players in AU history have played for Ramsey. Three of the most prolific scorers in school history – Tammi Scott, Jodi Dobransky and Alanna Buurma - played for Ramsey. The school’s top three assist leaders – Sara Whitis, Angie Heintz and Shani Roston – were directed by Ramsey. Mason established AU career records for rebounds, blocked shots and field goal percentage.
Each season brings different challenges and Ramsey is an expert at adapting to the situation at hand. Ramsey was named AU’s head coach on October 11, 1995, four days before the start of fall practice. That team was picked 11th out of 13 teams in the GLIAC preseason coaches poll. Those Eagles won their first 11 games and finished 16-10 with a trip to the GLIAC tournament.
More success came the Eagles’ way in 1996-97. That AU team opened the season with a 12-game winning streak on the way to an 18-9 finish. One of the most impressive wins in the history of the program came when AU won at powerful Oakland, 81-62.
In 1997-98 the Eagles were dogged by injuries all season. There were times when the Eagles didn’t have sufficient numbers to run a full practice. Relishing the role of underdog, AU took nine players to powerful Michigan Tech and won, 79-73. Tech was one of the top teams in the conference, region and country.
By the end of that season, Ramsey had the Eagles playing their best basketball. In the GLIAC tournament, Ashland advanced to the title game against Northern Michigan before losing. In the semifinals, the Eagles nipped Ferris State in double overtime, 101-92.
Ramsey’s teams have performed just as well off the court as they have on it and that’s no accident. Every player who has ever played four years for Ramsey has earned a diploma, and that’s one of her proudest accomplishments. Not only do Ramsey’s players graduate, but they also excel in class. Ashland has placed 19 players on the GLIAC All-Academic Team in the past four seasons.
The AU head coach serves as advisor for AU’s Student-Athlete Athletic Council (SAAC), working with representatives from all 20 Ashland teams. Ramsey is also active in Athletes in Action (AIA). In the spring of 1998, she coached an AIA team that toured Australia. In the summer of 2003, she directed a team that visited Switzerland and Greece. Current Eagle Maria Dehne was included on that squad. Several former Eagles have also played with AIA touring teams. Isolina Brescia, one of the Eagles’ finest all-time point guards, found out about Ashland through Heather Dennis, a former AU player touring with AIA.
Ramsey is also an active force on the national level. She spent four years as a member of the NCAA Division II women’s basketball committee, taking on a wide range of responsibilities dealing with the NCAA Division II tournament. Ramsey is currently on the board of directors of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and is serving as the Division II legislative chair.
Prior to arriving at Ashland, most of Ramsey’s experience came at the Division I level. She spent eight years (1986-1994) as the head coach at the University of Dayton, accumulating a record of 95-128.
In 1992-93, Ramsey guided the Flyers to a fifth-place finish in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (MCC) regular season and then prepped the Flyers for an impressive run in the MCC tournament. UD picked up one of its biggest wins during the postseason by upsetting Notre Dame in South Bend. That team finished 15-13 and was one win away from the NCAA Tournament.
Ramsey has had stops as an assistant coach at Cincinnati (1984-86) and Miami (1983-84) and as a graduate assistant coach at Illinois State (1982-83). Her coaching career, now in its 26th year, found its beginnings at Noblesville (IN) High School (1979-82) where she was twice selected as the county coach of the year.
Ramsey’s resume as a player is as impressive as her coaching dossier. She played three years at Indiana University (1974-77) where she was the first woman to receive a basketball scholarship and served as a co-captain. She also played one year at Miami (1977-78), where she was a co-captain.
Ramsey graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Miami in 1978 and earned her master’s degree in educational administration from Dayton in 1988.
In addition to her basketball duties, Ramsey is also AU’s senior women’s administrator.
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