EMORY, Va. – Emory & Henry College and Director of Athletics Myra Sims are proud to announce Anne Wright Crutchfield as the College's next Head Women's Basketball Coach. Crutchfield, a 1989 graduate of E&H, returns to her alma mater after spending the past eight years as the Head Girl's Basketball Coach at Franklin County High School.

"I am both humbled and honored for the opportunity to rejoin the Emory & Henry Women's Basketball family," said Crutchfield. "To serve Emory & Henry College as the Head Women's Basketball Coach is truly a dream come true.  I am excited to lead this outstanding group of young women and to continue the Emory tradition of excellence on the court, in the classroom and in the community."

Since 1995, Crutchfield has worked at Franklin County, where she was a three-time All-Roanoke Valley District honoree as a player. She has held the positions of Mathematics Teacher and Guidance Counselor in addition to her coaching duties. She also taught mathematics as an adjunct member of the Virginia Western Community College faculty from 2010-12.

"Getting Anne Crutchfield to be our next women's basketball coach is a home run for the program," said Director of Athletics Myra Sims. "I first met Anne when I interviewed for the job and she was on the search committee. I thought then that she was an impressive person who had a lot of character and integrity and a strong love for E&H. As I've been here these last four years, that impression has been reinforced and I've also become impressed with her approach to coaching and her success as a head coach. So when I learned that we would have a vacancy, I knew that she was the right person to lead the program."

The Eagles finished 19-6 in 2013-14 and were ranked fifth in the state in 6A as Crutchfield was named Piedmont District Coach of the Year. In her eight years at Franklin County, the team made regional appearances in seven seasons, with a district championship in 2009. She has led the Eagles to four Western Valley District Tournament titles, coached three district players of the year, three VHSL All-State honorees and earned three district coach of the year awards. For her career, Crutchfield has an overall record of 141-72, with 127 wins coming at the helm of Franklin County.

After graduating from Emory & Henry in 1989, Crutchfield got her start at Patrick Henry High School in the math and science departments and as an assistant basketball and track coach. In 1991, she helped the Rebels to a Hogoheegee District and Region C Championship as well as a berth in the state tournament.  During her final year at Patrick Henry, she was the head coach, compiling a 14-6 record.

"I am absolutely thrilled for the student-athletes in our women's basketball program because I think she is going to be an inspirational leader for this program and will take it to new heights," Sims continued. "I am also excited because I think she will be a very positive and mature presence in our department. She loves the College and I am confident that she will stay here for a long time to come."

Crutchfield was a four-year letterwinner on the basketball court at Emory & Henry and was the first woman in ODAC history to be a four-year all-conference selection. She finished her career as the program's leading scorer with 1,262 points, a mark that currently is third on the all-time scoring list. She was also a member of the 1988 ODAC Championship Team that went 18-7 with a 13-4 record against conference foes.

Crutchfield graduated cum laude from Emory & Henry in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, and completed graduate work in mathematics at East Tennessee State University while teaching at Patrick Henry. She earned her Master of Arts Degree in Counselor Education from Virginia Tech in 2004.

"I am thankful that we've been able to get this done so quickly because it will make the transition more seamless for the current student-athletes and in terms of recruiting," Sims added. "I am excited to have the opportunity to work with Anne!"

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