Wahawk Athletics

   After graduation day, many people journey forward. One eastern Iowa man did that, pursuing a successful career in engineering. But he never forgot where he came from, and because of that, hundreds of students will never forget him.

   Rick Smith is someone you should know.

Click Here for the KWWL link to "Someone You Should Know"
Click Here for the direct link to the video.

By NICK PETAROS, Courier Sports Writer

WATERLOO --- Pass by pass, Waterloo West's new offensive scheme has become a formidable challenge for opposing defenses this season.
    But while the aerial assault has garnered plenty of attention, running back Collin Styron may be the team's silent assassin --- in more ways than one.
    "Collin is about as quiet of a guy as you're ever going to meet in the world," Waterloo West head coach Stan Wienke said.
    "He's just athletically very smart. He learned all the wide receiver stuff, and I'd put him at wide receiver in a heartbeat. Then he came back and learned the running back stuff. He's just very knowledgeable and athletically minded."
    Styron --- who rushed for 432 yards on 102 carries a year ago --- was set to begin this season at wideout before running back Mike Meyerhoff sprained his ankle. The first eight days of practice Wienke tried multiple players at the position, and Styron became the go-to guy.
    "Wherever coach wanted me, that's where I'd go to help out the team," Styron said. "I think we've got a lot of threats. Everyone on our offense is a potential threat for other teams, so they really can't stop all of us. If one person does well, the next week someone else will do well."
    Through two games, Styron has rushed for 252 yards on 33 carries with six touchdowns --- including four in the Wahawk's 43-30 win over Iowa City West last Friday.
    "I thought he was outstanding," Wienke said. "It's pretty obvious who the running back is since we've only got one, and to get 151 yards and four touchdowns, he just played really well."
    Two of Styron's four touchdowns came in the red zone from West's goal-line offense. From the spread set, he added scoring runs of 15 and 25 yards.
    Styron has been equally valuable for the Wahawks' passing attack, where his blocking hasn't gone unnoticed by Wienke.
    "Everybody sees his runs, but nobody would know how many great blocks Collin had in the backfield," the West coach said. "That's probably where he's more important. He's going to get better and better as a running back."
    Defensively, Styron saw significant time at linebacker Friday after playing less than a handful of possessions the previous week.
    Facing an Iowa City West attack with four to five spread receivers, Wienke had no reservations using his running back in pass coverage.
    "He's quick, he's aggressive, and he can run people down," he said. "He's just an athlete, and he's got some smarts about what's happening in the game."
    With West off to an impressive 2-0 start, Styron is just one of several valuable playmakers.
    Sophomore quarterback Jud Wienke has already accumulated 444 yards in two games with receiver Ryan Edwards garnering 197 yards on 18 receptions.
    Even with such success, Styron realizes there's plenty of work to be done for the Wahawks to complete a breakthrough season.
    "We haven't been perfect, but we've run the plays pretty well," Styron said. "We're still going at it and trying to get better every week."

Contact Nick Petaros at (319) 291-1428 or nick.petaros@wcfcourier.com

Aug. 4, 2008

IRVINE, Calif. -- Molly Goodenbour has been named head women’s basketball coach at UC Irvine, announced by Athletic Director Mike Izzi.

“Molly is a proven winner with championship experience,” Izzi said. “She is a successful head coach and I look forward to her developing the UC Irvine program into a Big West Conference and national contender.”

Last season, Goodenbour was named California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Coach of the Year after guiding the Wildcats to a 28-6 record, tying the Chico State single-season record for victories. Her 2007-08 team ended the year ranked 17th in the final USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches Poll, won the CCAA regular-season and tournament titles, as well as advancing to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Women’s West Regional.

“I am extremely excited to become a part of Anteater Athletics,” Goodenbour said. “We will assemble an excellent staff and get started immediately on the challenge of building and improving the women's basketball program at UC Irvine. I want to thank Mike Izzi, Paula Smith and the search committee for giving me this opportunity and I look forward to beginning this new venture.”

Prior to her stint at Chico State, Goodenbour was the head assistant at the University of San Francisco from 2005-06 and head coach at Santa Rosa Junior College for three seasons (2003-2005).

While at Santa Rosa, her teams compiled a record of 69-21 and won two conference titles. Goodenbour was named Bay Valley Conference Coach of the Year in 2005 as her team advanced to the state quarterfinals. She spent one season as Santa Rosa's associate head coach before taking over the helm in 2003.

Goodenbour began her coaching career at USF during the 1994-95 season when she helped the Dons to a NCAA tournament berth. Professionally, Goodenbour began her playing career with the Swedish Basketball Federation then returned to play for the Richmond Rage (1996-97) and Portland Power (1997-98) of the American Basketball League before playing for the Sacramento Monarchs in the WNBA’s inaugural season in 1999.

Goodenbour played at Stanford from 1989-93 and was a member of the Cardinal’s NCAA Championship teams in 1990 and 1992. While at Stanford, the shooting guard made three Final Four appearances and was named the Final Four MVP in 1992 after setting an NCAA Tournament record for most postseason three-pointers made (18).

During her four-year collegiate career, the Cardinal posted a 114-16 record, including a 62-1 mark at Maples Pavilion. Goodenbour recorded 1,040 points in her career and remains in the Stanford career record book, ranking eighth in three-pointers made (178), seventh in assists (441), and 10th in free throw percentage (.793). As a senior, Goodenbour made 74 threes, the seventh-best, single-season mark in program history, and recorded nine three-pointers at Tennessee in 1993, the best single-game mark for the Cardinal. She was also a member of the U.S. National team which won a gold medal at the 1993 World Championship Qualifying Tournament in Brazil.

Goodenbour graduated from Waterloo West High School in Waterloo, Iowa, where she still holds the state records for career points with 1,270 and career steals with 354.