Questions linger about Coach Deike's departure, legacy

By Dana Bell and Clay Ihlo
Staff Writers

Former head women’s basketball coach Terri R. Deike said late Wednesday she would not apologize for expecting exemplary performances from her players and the University, even if her demands for excellence crushed her career with the Patriots.

Deike will not return next season after University officials announced Tuesday decided her contract was not being renewed.

As the University’s first women’s coach, Deike lead the team since its 2003 inception, compiling a 90-61 record through six seasons that included three American Southwest Conference Division titles and two appearances ASC tournaments, according to University records.

“I know I’m very hard and I’m very demanding. I expect excellence and I expect it every day,” she said. “The way you are on the court is not the way you are off the court. I would give them the shirt off my back and they know that…help them get their car fixed, get them to a doctor when they’re sick, cook for them, whatever.

“I apologize if some of them thought I mistreated them, but I can’t apologize for how I coached about what I expected from them,” she said.

Coach Deike reviews strategy with players at courtside.

Dr. Howard Patterson, Vice President for Student Affairs, said Wednesday the change at head coach was immediate, but he would not go into detail about who made the final decision to severe ties or why.

“That’s normally a decision made by the supervisor,” he said, noting the personnel change was made in accordance with University policies.

Patterson said the longtime coach’s contract runs from year to year, giving the University the option to renew or not.

Although Deike is relieved of her coaching duties, she may remain as associate athletic director until Aug. 31, Patterson said, adding he was unaware if Deike had tendered her resignation.

Assistant coach Cassi Little, who served alongside Deike for about two years, will act as interim head coach until a replacement is named.

The University is launching a national search for a successor and plans to have a new coach on board by Aug 1, Patterson said, adding, “There’s going to be a job notice posted NCAA News (on-line) within a week.”

Deike said the University’s decision was unexpected and damaging.

In 2007-2008, coach James Vilade and Deike shared the duties of assistant athletic director, with Deike as Interim Associate Athletics Director for Internal Affairs and Vilade acting as Interim Athletics Director for External Affairs. Both were also being considered for the athletics director position that Vilade landed in July of 2008.

She said certain working relationships became strained after Vilade was named athletic director instead of her, suggesting that her non-renewal may be based more on gender bias than just cause.

Deike speculated dissatisfaction expressed by some players – including one student’s efforts to transfer to Hardin-Simmons - further soured the opinions of her supervisors.

"The only thing Dr. Patterson said was there was ‘poor leadership’ that’s the only explanation that was given…they could have come up with some a little bit more believable," she said.

University officials remain mum on her take of the situation.

“I really can’t comment on her comments,” Patterson said, noting that everything that’s available is in the press release.

Vilade echoed the comments, saying, “The University has issued a press release. It’s our policy not to talk about personnel” matters.

According to a statement released late Tuesday by the University, Vilade was quoted as saying, “We thank Coach Deike for her dedication and service to UT Tyler, the athletics department and the women’s basketball program. Coach Deike played a major role in helping UT Tyler move toward NCAA membership and she was involved in many other facets of the athletics department.”

Junior Melissa Thomas said she learned late Tuesday about the head coaching change after receiving a phone call from Deike.

“Coach Deike is a great woman and she leaves behind big shoes to fill,” Thomas said.

Other players praising Deike were Caitlyn Scelfo and Kasey Buggs.

Scelfo, the manager of the basketball team had previously spoken highly of Deike on a website blog, “I transferred to UT Tyler with high hopes of playing basketball for their Women’s Basketball Program under head coach Terri Deike.”

In a UT Tyler website feature about Buggs, Buggs said that Deike was instrumental in getting her to come to U T Tyler. “Coach Deike was very persistent, saying ‘Come on, we have great things at UT Tyler, our program is just starting out and we could use you on next year’s team,'’’ recalled Buggs, who already had been accepted to UT Arlington.