Goodenough Resigns to Accept Head Coaching Position at Abilene Christian

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern head women’s basketball coach Julie Goodenough has announced her resignation to take the same position at Abilene Christian University, as announced by Director of Athletics Hank Small on Wednesday.

Assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Jarod Newland will join Goodenough at Abilene Christian and will serve in the same capacity.  Current CSU assistant Sloan Calvert has been named the interim head coach.

“We are so very appreciative of Julie and the work she has done with the CSU women’s basketball program,” says Small.  “We are thankful for her dedication and commitment to our program and all that she has accomplished.  Julie is not just a great coach, but a wonderful woman and truly embodies the type of leader we want for our student-athletes.  She has taken our program to new levels during her time here and we will always be grateful for that.  We wish her, Rob, Bailey and Macy the best of luck in their new journey.”

Goodenough compiled a 78-105 overall record and 37-55 conference record in her six seasons with the Buccaneers.   Eight of her players have been named to All-Conference teams, with junior forward Rachelle Coward earning Big South All-Conference second team this season.

Under her tutelage, Katie Tull earned the 2010-11 Big South Player of the Year honor, leading the nation in 3-point shooting.  Kelsey Wasmer joined Tull in receiving BSC honors, garnering All-Second Team and All-Academic Team attention.  The Buccaneers were consistently one of the top 3-point shooting teams in both the league and the nation, leading the Big South in 2010-11 and 2011-12 and ranking fourth in the nation in 2011-12.  They have ranked in top eight of the NCAA for the past four seasons in the category.  

Prior to Coward, Tull and Wasmer, Keena Wicker (2006-07), Pam Tolbert (2007-08), Crystal Robinson (2007-08) and Tina DeCarvalho had all earned conference honors.  The 2009-2010 campaign was also a banner year for Charleston Southern as Tolbert earned Second-Team All-Conference honors; Ali Schwagmeyer and Kiki Rutledge found their names on the All-Freshman Team and DeCarvalho was again named to the Academic All-Conference Team.

Two of CSU’s five winning seasons have come under Goodenough, as the Buccaneers went 17-14 in 2009-10 to rank second in school history in wins before matching that total in 2011-12 with a 17-15 record.  Twice the Bucs have competed in postseason play, earning berths in the Women’s Basketball Invitational in 2009-10 and 2011-12.  This past season, Goodenough not only guided the Bucs to their first-ever win over a major program with an 82-77 victory at Clemson but also led them to their first appearance in the Big South Conference Tournament semifinals since the 2001-02 season.  Despite the loss of starters Helen Terry and Anicia Dotson, CSU was able to earn its first-ever win over Campbell in the BSC Quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion Liberty in the semifinals. 

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to be the CSU women’s basketball coach the last six seasons,” says Goodenough.  “I appreciate Hank Small and the CSU administration for giving me the opportunity.  We have, through God’s grace, changed the culture and figured out how to win in making the future very bright for this program.  I love my players and staff and am broken-hearted to leave them. But next season, when they are competing for the conference championship, I will be celebrating in spirit and will be as proud as ever.  Though it is hard to leave this special team, I have to practice what I preach and follow God’s plan for me and my family.  His hand has no doubt been at work in this exciting opportunity to take over the reins at Abilene Christian University.  ACU is rich in winning traditions within the athletic department and has a University vision to be the best Christian university in the nation.  I’m thankful and excited to lead this new team into the Division I era.”

Prior to her time at CSU, Goodenough spent three seasons as the head coach at Oklahoma State.   The Texas native was also the head coach and Senior Women’s Administrator at Hardin-Simmons University.    She is an alumna of the University of Texas at Arlington and Texas Tech. 

Charleston Southern will conduct a nation-wide search for a head women’s basketball coach in the coming weeks.