Photo courtesy of the East Carolina athletic department
Myrtle Beach High graduate Ashley Clarke led East Carolina with 11.3 points and 5.3 assists per game last season.
The East Carolina women's basketball team made official the hiring of its new coach, former Francis Marion coach Heather Macy, on Thursday.
And the new coach got the team's most important player's endorsement.
"Personally, I think it's the right move for us," said the team's leading scoring this past season, Ashley Clarke, a Myrtle Beach High graduate. "... but it's going to be difficult because of [a] new offense, defense and a whole different style of play."
Macy replaces Sharon Baldwin-Tener, who led the Pirates to a 23-11 record and WNIT appearance this past season before leaving to take the job at Georgia State. Clarke said she was surprised at first of Baldwin-Tener's decision to leave, but also knew it made sense for the coach.
"Well, I was a bit shocked because we had a very good year with her but, [but] I understand that she wanted to go back home due to family matters so I was a bit upset at first, and I wish her and her coaching staff the best of luck," Clarke said. "I doubt it will be a tough transition for the team because we all have good chemistry on the court ... I think we just have to get familiar with her style of play.
"But doubt it [will] be that hard since we're all smart and we will figure it out," quipped Clarke, who led Conference USA in assists per game last season.
Clarke said the team met briefly with Macy, but hadn't gotten into many specifics. She said the coach will be around campus in the summer, allowing time for the players to get a better grip on what to expect.
"She told us [she wants to play] a fast tempo of course, a Princeton offense," Clarke said. "We will force the ball on the sideline and keep it on the sideline ... she really didn't go into depth with the defense.
"She was ecstatic to coach us and she seems like she is all about business on and off the court."
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