Women's Basketball Coach Carolyn Peck to Finish Season
Monday, February 12, 2007 | Women's Basketball
University of Florida women's basketball coach Carolyn Peck will be relieved of her duties as head coach, effective once the 2006-07 season concludes for the team, athletics director Jeremy Foley announced Monday.
“After appraising our women's basketball program over the past few seasons and seeing where we are today, it is evident that a change of coaching personnel is needed,” Foley said. “This was a very difficult decision that came after much thought and evaluation. Coach Peck is a talented person with great qualities. She tried very hard to make it work here at Florida, but for whatever reasons, the program hasn't flourished.
“We knew that a change would happen at the conclusion of the season. We felt that we needed to be honest with all involved and let them know now of our plans. A successful, thriving women's basketball program can be achieved at the University of Florida and we will now begin a national search for the next head coach.”
"The administration has made the decision to make a change. The program has not reached the level where we had envisioned it being five years ago. For me, the game is not just about the wins and losses, it's about the development of the players and I have seen some great improvements from the young women I have coached," Peck said. "Jeremy Foley is an excellent athletic director and I want to thank him for the opportunity to work with him and the University of Florida. He is a major reason why the Gators are one of the most successful programs in the country. I do not have a bit of anger about his decision. I love the Gators and I always will."
In her fifth year at UF, Peck's record with the Gators with three regular-season games and the Southeastern Conference Tournament remaining stands at 69-74 overall, including a 22-45 record in SEC games. Under Peck, Florida earned NCAA Tournament bids in 2004 and 2006 and the WNIT in 2005. This season, Florida is 6-20 overall and 0-11 in the SEC.
Prior to taking the helm of the Florida program on April 3, 2002, Peck served as Head Coach and General Manager of the WNBA's Orlando Miracle since April 1, 1999. Peck was actually named Head Coach and General Manager of the Miracle on July 6, 1998, the summer before she guided Purdue University to the 1999 NCAA championship with a 62-45 win over Duke on March 28. Four days later, she officially assumed the reigns of the inaugural WNBA franchise and led the Miracle to a 44-52 record in three seasons, including a trip to the 2000 playoffs.
Peck also served as an assistant coach at Purdue for one year (1997), at Kentucky for one year (1996) and at Tennessee for two seasons (1994 and 1995).
A native of Jefferson City, Tenn., Peck played her college ball at Vanderbilt from 1985-88. She was a two-time prep All-American at Jefferson County High School and was named Tennessee's Miss Basketball in 1984.
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