| Chris Ramer is the only women's basketball coach in
Villa Julie/Stevenson history, with a record of 103-300. Stevenson athletics photo |
After 16 seasons as the head women's basketball coach at Stevenson, Chris Ramer has announced his resignation. He will continue to serve as the university's assistant athletic director and head men's golf coach.
The Mustangs were 4-21 this past season.
"I would like to thank our past president, Carolyn Manuszak, our past senior woman's administrator, Carol Zimmerman and our athletic director Brett Adams," said Ramer. "They gave me an opportunity to not only coach at the college level, but to start a program from its beginnings."
"In addition, I would like to give a special thanks to our current president, Dr. Kevin Manning. Under his leadership, he has been very supportive of me personally, and the women's basketball program as a whole, as we strive to be a national leader in Division III athletics."
Ramer was named head coach in 1995 and has been the only head coach in the history of the women's basketball program. He coached in 403 career games, leading the Mustangs to wins in 103 of them, four conference tournaments in seven years and two NEAC South Division titles. He earned his 100th career win with a 55-53 victory over Salisbury on Jan. 20, 2010.
Ramer has mentored six all-conference selections and led Stevenson to its first 20-win season when the team went 20-7 in 2005-06 and advanced to the ECAC Division III South championship. He also led the Mustangs to a 19-10 record in 2006-07 during their last season in the NEAC.
"Coaching these past 16 years, I have had many memorable coaching moments that I will cherish forever," said Ramer. "I had the opportunity to open two new gyms in my career. My first year team was a very special group of young ladies who had very little basketball experience but never gave up on the game. They were the start of something special and I kept telling them and myself that small steps breed success."
Ramer has also served as the head men's golf coach at Stevenson since 2004 and was named CAC Coach of the Year in 2008. During his seven seasons, the Mustangs have had 15 all-conference selections, three runner-up finishes at the conference championship and made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA men's golf championship in 2007.
Ramer has also served as a physical education professor and intramural director.
"Chris has been an integral part of our department," said Adams. "It is very difficult to imagine that the sideline will be manned by someone else. Our 16 years together has been a great coaching experience. His relationship with the students and their academic success, there is no comparison."
"My wife and three daughters have been very supportive of my coaching 16 years of basketball at Stevenson University," said Ramer. "I would like to thank Brett Adams for his continued support throughout both of our coaching careers. I am very proud that I have had an opportunity to coach so many young women who have graduated and truly define what it means to be a student-athlete."
The search for a new women's basketball coach will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.