EMORY, Va. --- Emory & Henry College
and Director of Athletics Myra Sims are
proud to announceAnne 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!"
--- This release is
courtesy of the Emory & Henry College sports information
department. ---
www.gowasps.com