A former JMU lacrosse player, Shelly Klaes-Bawcombe returned to her alma mater as head coach in JULY 2006 after eight successful seasons at Hofstra.
"It is the opportunity of a lifetime for me to come back home to JMU and lead the program I loved playing for," Klaes-Bawcombe said after being named the Dukes' head coach.
A native of Glen Arm, MD., Klaes-Bawcombe came to JMU in 1993. Although she was looking at a number of schools, it was JMU that intrigued her the most.
"I was lucky to have a sister on the team, I really enjoyed the people, it's the perfect location, and it's a beautiful place," Klaes-Bawcombe said.
Beyond the family connections, friendly people and great setting that JMU offered her, there was one significant factor.
"The opportunity to play for a competitive program was important," Klaes-Bawcombe said.
"Today there are a ton of competitive programs, but it always hasn't been that way. Here at JMU it's always been competitive."
As an attacker, Klaes-Bawcombe twice earned All-American honors, including first team as a senior (2007) and second team as a junior (1996). She was honored as a two-time All-South Region and All-Colonial Athletic Association choice.
Klaes-Bawcombe was also co-captain of the 1997 squad that won the CAA tournament and was a member of two NCAA tournament teams in 1995 and 1997.
In her senior season Klaes-Bawcombe set school records for career assists (71), goals by a senior (48) season points (71) and tied the JMU season record for game-winning goals (4). That year she ranked 11th in points per game average (3.94) and 20th in assists per game average (1.28) in NCAA Division 1.
After ending her dominating career on the field, Klaes-Bawcombe took up coaching as an assistant for the Dukes in 1998 before moving north to Hofstra in 1999. She spent eight seasons at Hofstra, three seasons as an assistant and five as the head coach.
During her tenure at Hofstra, her teams were consistently ranked in the national top 20, and in 2001 Klaes-Bawcombe was part of the Pride's most successful season when Hofstra compiled at 16-3 overall record, won the America East championship and played in the NCAA tournament. In 2005 Klaes-Bawcombe helped Hofstra to a No.7 ranking in the country, a program best.
She was on vacation in Europe when the opportunity of a lifetime came to her electronically.
"I was over in Europe watching the soccer World Cup when I was first contacted by e-mail," she said.
A meeting was set up soon afterward, and on her first visit to JMU she was offered the position. Not only did she graduate from Madison; her sister, husband, and brother-in-law also attended JMU. Even with the job of her dreams in her grasp the choice wasn't an easy one.
"I had to make sure with my husband that it was the right decision for us," Klaes-Bawcombe said.
After some well spent time debating the offer, Klaes-Bawcombe accepted the job, and as she put it, "the rest is history."
Klaes-Bawcombe inherited a program familiar with success, and in her first season as the Dukes' head coach she continued its winning ways, guiding the team to a 13-5 record and runner-up finish in the 2006 CAA tournament.
Kales-Bawcombe's players appreciate the passion that she brings to the game. "She's brought back a lot of the old work ethic that she once played with, "senior attacker Natahsa Fuchs said. "Because this is her alma matter it is apparent to the team."
A 2-3 start to the 2008 season isn't where the Dukes would like to be, but it hasn't affected the way coach Klaes-Bawcombe approaches the game.
"As I see it there are two philosophies," she said. "We can play easier teams, and win early to gain confidence or we can play the best to become the best."
The Dukes play Saturday at home against Richmond at 1 p.m.
No comments:
Post a Comment