In Her New Job, Jeremiah Will Recommend Her Replacement

Maryalyce Jeremiah, Cal State Fullerton women’s basketball coach since 1985, was named associate athletic director/senior woman administrator Friday, bringing to an end her 23-year coaching career.

Jeremiah, 49, has held the administrative position on an interim basis since August. She moves into the post on a full-time basis July 1, replacing Steve DiTolla, whose contract expires June 30. One of her first responsibilities will be to recommend her replacement.

Athletic Director Bill Shumard said a national search began Friday morning.

Jeremiah’s duties include the supervision of 12 men’s and women’s sports, academic compliance among student-athletes, the department’s substance abuse education program and the training room.

Jeremiah also will work to ensure that the Titans conform to Title IX, federal regulations that mandate equity in publicly funded men’s and women’s programs. Fullerton came under scrutiny recently after it dropped its women’s volleyball program, an action that prompted a sex discrimination suit. The case was settled out of court and the volleyball program was reinstated.

“I feel since 1970 when Title IX first came out I’ve had a great sensitivity for gender equity,” Jeremiah said. “I feel that we (the Fullerton administration) are on board with this and I’m very excited about it. That’s one of the most exhilarating parts of the whole thing.”

Jeremiah has a 112-93 record at Fullerton, and was 375-235 in her career. She came to Fullerton in 1985 from Indiana, where she coached for five years. Before that, she coached at the University of Dayton and Cedarville (Ohio) College.

Under Jeremiah, the Titans advanced to the NCAA tournament twice--in the 1988-89 and 1990-91 seasons. She was coach of the year in the Big West Conference both seasons, as well as in 1987-88.

Jeremiah said among the things of which she is most proud is the graduation rate within her program. According to longtime assistant women’s basketball coach June Kearney, nearly every woman who played four years at Fullerton earned her degree. The only exceptions, Kearney said, are some of the current seniors and 1991 All-American Gina Miller, all of whom are expected to graduate by next year.

Leaving coaching isn’t easy, Jeremiah said. But she described the change to full-time administration as a win-win situation.

“It’s all such a huge challenge,” Jeremiah said. “It’s like how I felt first taking the basketball job here. . . . I’m very excited.”

Shumard said Jeremiah has displayed great leadership and administrative potential the past year. She was recently elected to the university’s academic senate, and next fall will enroll in the university’s master’s of business administration program.

“Her vision has extended beyond coaching,” Shumard said. “She doesn’t run from challenges.”

Jeremiah, a die-hard optimist, said she believes in the future of the athletic department, but realizes there are many with doubts.

“Perhaps the biggest challenge is to get new enthusiasm on the part of our people (in the department),” she said.

“Even in my coaching I’ve said the times I’ve felt most effective is when we had the least chance.”

Shumard said an announcement about the job opening was faxed to the NCAA offices in Mission, Kan., Friday morning. Screening will begin immediately, he said, and interviews are scheduled to begin the third week of June.

Kearney said she wasn’t interested in replacing Jeremiah, but has agreed, at the request of Shumard and Jeremiah, to stay on as an assistant.

Mark Trakh, Brea-Olinda High School’s successful girls’ basketball coach, said he plans to apply for the job. Trakh was interested in the UC Irvine women’s job last year but wasn’t granted a formal interview. He was a finalist for a similar position at Cal State Los Angeles last fall.

“I’m going to pursue it,” Trakh said. “I’m going to try real hard. It’s a great situation. Maryalyce Jeremiah has done a great job. You’d be going into a situation that’s very well developed.”

Not that it has been easy, Jeremiah said.

“The challenge of this job at Cal State Fullerton has been one of the most rewarding and one of the most frustrating things (in her career),” she said. “But I have never once thought ‘I want to leave, I want to get out of here.’

“I don’t feel sad, just nostalgic. Maybe because it just feels right.”