Sweet harmony in Nashville
by Mac Claire, www.ABAsite.tk
Published on September 27, 2004 under American Basketball Association (ABA)
Nashville Sounds
September 27, Nashville â When country singer Sally Anthony chose former WNBA draftee Ashley McElhiney as head coach of the expansion Nashville Rhythm, it marked the first time in history that a woman was given the job to coach a professional men's ball club.
Somewhere in Heaven, women's rights activist Bella Abzug must be beaming with pride.
Coach McElhiney has an impressive background. She performed at Vanderbilt from 2001-2003, and won Vanderbilt's top defensive player award three consecutive seasons, and was named to Vanderbilt's All Century team. During her career, she dished out 683 assists.
Obviously, this woman has the credentials that command respect.
"Any coach would feel pressure, "she said from her Nashville office when asked about the added burden of being the first female head coach in a men's league. Clearly, she wanted to deflect the attention away from her gender.
It is an important story, though.
When General Manager Daniel Bucher was questioned about the risk of Coach McElhiney running the show, he noted, "She has a great basketball mind. It is only a risk because she the first female at the helm on this level. That's the only reason."
This will be an adjustment for the players because they are used to taking directions from a coach who is older than they are, and of the same gender. Still, Coach McElhiney is not worried about players stepping out of line. As she said, "They will know that I am the head coach." Bucher added, "It's my job to give her that support, and I will."
Like Ms. Anthony, Bucher is a risk taker. All he did was walk away from a lucrative information technology career with Sally Mae. When asked if he was typically a risk taker, he said, "No, I've never taken a risk quite like this." He was even more candid, saying that he took the risk because his brother Tony Bucher owns a part of the franchise. "This is the biggest risk I've ever taken," he repeated.
When asked what motivated her, Coach McElhiney said, "Nobody expected me to play at Vanderbilt or on a Division I team. I used that as motivation." When it was suggested that the season's scenario would have to end with her as the championship winning coach, inspiring women everywhere, she said, "Well, I hope so!"
Coach Ashley McElhiney will make her former college, the ABA, and an entire gender proud.
Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.
American Basketball Association Stories from September 27, 2004
- Sweet harmony in Nashville - OSC Original by Mac Claire, www.ABAsite.tk
- Heatwave signs first eight players - Sacramento Heatwave
- ABA returns to Phoenix in 2005 - ABA
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
