College Hockey: Miami coaches return to alma mater
Nov. 30, 2007 — (CSTV U-WIRE) OXFORD, Ohio — When it comes to Miami University athletics, keeping the family together is extremely important, according to Athletic Director Brad Bates. While the Miami family may not be linked by DNA, they are connected by their own experiences as former RedHawk athletes.
"The Miami family means the family of excellence," Bates said. "Whenever you can take advantage of that excellence and bring back Miami alum, their passion towards the institution is greater on every level."
Many colleges and universities throughout the nation hire former students to coach their sports programs, according to Bates, and many use those opportunities to start their coaching careers in a familiar setting.
A recent alumni hire in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) will be facing Miami Saturday: Central Michigan University’s Butch Jones was named head coach of the CMU football program in January. Jones returned to his alma mater in 1995 as the running back coach and moved his way up the ranks.
Currently, the Athletic Department employs 17 Miami alumni coaching in football, women’s and men’s basketball, synchronized skating, ice hockey, swimming and volleyball. Perhaps one of the most prominent and successful Miami alumni is men’s basketball Head Coach Charlie Coles, currently in his 11th season with the ‘Hawks.
Under Coles, Miami amassed a league-best five straight Mid-American Conference Championship game appearances from 1997-2001; three MAC regular-season crowns in 1997, 1999 and 2005; and the MAC tournament title in 1997 and 2007. In 2005 Coles was honored as the MAC Coach of the Year.
However, his stellar accomplishments and records were not achieved entirely on his own. When searching for an assistant coach in 1998, Coles turned to someone he once mentored on and off the basketball court. That someone was Miami graduate and athlete, Jermaine Henderson, who had played under Coles while at Miami.
"I noticed his leadership qualities my first year coaching at Miami," Coles said. "He was our designated speaker for the team, he dressed nicely, he was always early and he was a good student. That’s hard to find."
Coles refused to let a good thing get away, regardless of whether it was what Henderson actually wanted after he graduated. Despite his age and lack of experience, Coles took a chance on Henderson and brought him on his staff.
"Henderson has been a person capable of leading his entire life and I recognized that despite his young age and lack of experience," Coles said.
The transition into coaching came natural to Henderson, who retired a red and white jersey for a suit and tie. The athlete running tiresome sprints on the court was transformed into the general patrolling the sidelines.
"Coaching allows you to relive the unique things you learned as a Miami student-athlete," Henderson said. "More importantly, (coaching) allows you to instill that same camaraderie in your own players."
Now strategizing together, Coles and Henderson share a different type of relationship than they once did when Henderson was the one putting up big numbers.
"My son and I went through stages," Coles said. "We were father and son then became two adults and now he is my best friend. My relationship with Jermaine is just the same."
Although every season is different for the RedHawks, the idea of family is one thing Henderson says never has changed with Coles.
"Make the team bigger than yourself," Henderson said. "Instilling in athletes what it means to be part of this family is Coles’ main strategy, and that is something that will never change."
The Coles-Henderson tandem has developed far beyond expectations, as Henderson was named associate head coach of the team in June of 2005 for his outstanding work with the team, according to Coles. Henderson’s title of associate head coach was the first in the program’s history.
"I like to believe that all of us are equally committed," Bates said. "But clearly, the relationship with your alma mater is unique and special."
But Coles and Henderson make up only a small fraction of the Miami family. Enrico Blasi, a 1994 Miami graduate, returned to his alma mater in 1999 as head coach of the hockey team and has since led the RedHawks into a nationally prominent program, achieving the first No. 1 national ranking of any team in school history during the 2005-06 season.
Maria Fantanarosa, a 1990 Miami graduate, is in her 10th season as head coach of the women’s basketball team, advancing the RedHawks to six winning seasons in the past eight years, including two Mid-American Conference East Division crowns and the 2003-04 MAC Championship.
Pete Lindsay, a six-time Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year, graduated from Miami in 1972 and is currently in his 23rd season as the head coach of the men’s swimming and diving program.
"You always have to try and hire the best person to match the context at the time," Bates said. "And, if all else is equal, you definitely want to hire a Miami alum."
