Bloomsburg field hockey has been consistent over the past more than a decade, but with that success came a share of disappointment. However, their most significant losses didn’t show on the scoreboard; rather they hit closer to home and may be more gut wrenching than any game lost.
After the retirement of coach Jan Hutchinson, some may have doubted that the Huskies would be able to bounce back, but yet another shock came by way of IUP’s athletic homepage where they found out that former assistant coach Gary Agard who was left head coaching duties would be leaving to be the head coach of IUP’s field hockey in 2010.
“We didn’t get to hear it from him personally, it spread throughout the team that he was their new head coach,” said senior forward Ashley Miller. “A bunch of us got together and read about it to see if it was true and it was immediate shock and disbelief.”
Agard has been the Huskies’ assistant coach for the past eight years and has helped them accumulate a 175-16 record along with a Division II National Championship every year but 2005. He helped focus on conditioning, practice planning, and game strategy while coaching under Hutchinson. Though he regrets how it leaked to the players, it was a decision that he had to make. “It was all of a sudden, and the job just became open,” Agard said. “I wanted to make sure it was official before I told the players so it was unfortunate that it got to IUP’s website first. It was very melancholy, us being a successful program. It was very bitter sweet for me to leave, but it’s also an opportunity for me to explore.”
Coach Agard hopes to bring his own philosophies to IUP. After coaching under Hutchinson, he felt like she had already established everything and it was time for a change, he said. This is a chance for him to form a program his own way. He says that players have to understand that it was a business decision and nothing personal, as cliche as that sounds, but players couldn’t help but sense some type of animosity when it actually happened to them.
“He was like a dad to us, he was the male figure we looked up to and we shared a lot of time with so it was kind of personal,” said Miller. “But we do understand that he needs to do what is best for him and we wish him the best, but he will be missed.”
Agard is set to take over at IUP sometime in April, but until then he is helping with conditioning the players here at Bloomsburg. Though people may doubt that the team will be as fortunate as they have been in the past, the players disagree.
“The coaches were a great influence on us but we want to win, we are dedicated to do whatever it takes to make it work,” said Miller. “If anything, it’s more motivation for us. Other teams may be underestimating us but we are going to be just as strong if not stronger.”
The winning way will always be a part of Bloomsburg field hockey and Agard believes strongly that the team won’t miss a beat, regardless of who is head coach. One can’t help but think that there’s a new rivalry in the PSAC between Bloomsburg and IUP.
“They understand what success, tradition and excellence is. That’s instilled in them from the freshman to the seniors,” said Agard. “This year it’s going to be a very emotional game for both sides when we play each other. I know they are ready for that game and it’s already marked down on their calendar. I wish them the best but I’m there to win and my intent is to be successful.”
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