Tigers coach leaving

By Jeff Stoffey

When Missouri women’s basketball coach Cindy Stein decided to step down on Monday, it was not something she wanted to do. But it had to be done. And Stein knew that.

After three straight dismal seasons, it was time for a change. While other programs at Missouri have flourished in recent years, the women’s basketball program has been in a state of decline.

The Tigers are on a nine-game losing streak this season. Stein said at a press conference Tuesday that her decision was “in the best interest” of MU.

Critics may point out Stein did not bring in the recruits that were needed to be successful at MU. Losing some recruiting battles played a huge factor in recent seasons. Here are a few thoughts on Stein’s announcement.

• How close were the Tigers this season? The Tigers seemed to be a player away from doing some damage this season. MU has lost a number of games in the final two minutes.
• Recruiting battles. The most recent one that probably hurt Stein the most is when she lost current Texas A&M leading scorer Danielle Adams. After high school, Adams was going to attend Missouri, but academic reasons forced her to attend Jefferson College. When Adams finished her two years there, she decided to be a member of the Aggies. The uncertainty of Stein’s future may have hindered her efforts in some of the recruiting battles.
• Financial restraints. The funding for Stein’s program is near the bottom of the Big 12. When it comes to recruiting, this may have played a factor. But as Director of Athletics Mike Alden pointed out on Tuesday, funding for other programs at MU, such as softball, are rewarded when they win. The women’s basketball program has failed to do that.
• Big 12 conference. The difficulty of the Tigers schedule made it that much tougher for Stein to build a winner at Missouri. Week after week the Tigers have to face some of the best teams in the country.
• When will Missouri find a replacement? Alden pointed out that postseason play could delay the process. Some of the candidates may still have teams in the postseason. Alden did say the sooner the Tigers name a replacement, the better. The Tigers can’t afford to continue missing out on big-time recruits, especially in the state of Missouri. 

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