April 17, 2009
BROCK'S CRITELLI RETIRES FROM COACHING AFTER 27 YEARS
ST. CATHARINES, Ont. – Brock University director of athletics Dr. Lorne J. Adams has announced the retirement of women's basketball head coach Chris Critelli after 27 years with the program. She will take over as assistant athletic director on a full-time basis.
"Chris has provided outstanding leadership as a coach for more than 25 years," said Adams. "She has been a role model and mentor for the young women who have played for her. Her passion and commitment to women's basketball is unparalleled. Her optimism, positive outlook and upbeat approach were the hallmarks of her career. Brock basketball will miss her, as will the OUA and CIS community of coaches. However she will be an excellent assistant athletic director and I am looking forward to working with her in her new position on a full-time basis."
For the past 35 years Critelli has played a big part in the overall growth and development of women's basketball in Canada both as a player and a coach.
"It is the people that have made this journey a wonderful experience for me; the players, coaches, parents, and officials right across this country," explained Critelli. "I am indebted to all of you for your support and friendship. Thanks to the parents for trusting me with their daughters, and to my assistants over the years for being loyal and guiding me every step of the way."
"What I will miss the most is the players, as they have always kept me young and taught me something new everyday. It has been a privilege to coach so many fine student athletes. I coached and loved every minute of it because of my team. I want to ensure I leave coaching with that taste in my mouth. I will also miss the competition, as I believe that through competition we better ourselves in order to offer what we can of ourselves."
![\"\"](\"http://oua.ca.ismmedia.com/ISM2/critelli-08.jpg\")
"I have always loved change; maybe it is the challenges that come with change. I just know in my heart it is time for a change."
In 2005-06 Critelli set a new Brock single season OUA record with 19 conference wins, capturing first place in the OUA West Division. She also led the Badgers to 25 victories overall in 2005-06, a new single season high in her 25 seasons, five shy of the school record set in 1982-83 (30-3).
Critelli led her squad to the league playoffs 22 out of 25 seasons. She ends her coaching career as the all-time winningest coach in Brock women's basketball history with 393 career victories.
In 2000 she was inducted into the Ontario Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1998 Critelli was also inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame and in November of 1999 she was inducted into the St. Catharines Hall of Fame.
The native of St. Catharines made the Canadian national team at the age of 17 and was a member for seven years including the 1976 and 1980 Olympic teams. As a member of Team Canada she won three bronze medals in 1979 at the Pan-Am Games, the World Championships and FISU games.
From 1989-94 she was assistant coach with the Canadian national team.
Critelli also enjoyed a tremendous amount of success as a collegiate player at the University of Winnipeg (1974-75), Laurentian University (1976-78) and Old Dominion University (1978-80). She was a three-time all-Canadian and one-time academic all-American. She is the only individual to ever win both an NCAA and CIAU title, winning two CIAU titles at Laurentian and two NCAA titles with Old Dominion.
After her great college career she went on to play professionally with the Chicago Hustle from 1980-81. In 1980 she graduated from Old Dominion University with a bachelor of science and bachelor of education.
Source: Brock Badgers
"Chris has provided outstanding leadership as a coach for more than 25 years," said Adams. "She has been a role model and mentor for the young women who have played for her. Her passion and commitment to women's basketball is unparalleled. Her optimism, positive outlook and upbeat approach were the hallmarks of her career. Brock basketball will miss her, as will the OUA and CIS community of coaches. However she will be an excellent assistant athletic director and I am looking forward to working with her in her new position on a full-time basis."
For the past 35 years Critelli has played a big part in the overall growth and development of women's basketball in Canada both as a player and a coach.
"It is the people that have made this journey a wonderful experience for me; the players, coaches, parents, and officials right across this country," explained Critelli. "I am indebted to all of you for your support and friendship. Thanks to the parents for trusting me with their daughters, and to my assistants over the years for being loyal and guiding me every step of the way."
"What I will miss the most is the players, as they have always kept me young and taught me something new everyday. It has been a privilege to coach so many fine student athletes. I coached and loved every minute of it because of my team. I want to ensure I leave coaching with that taste in my mouth. I will also miss the competition, as I believe that through competition we better ourselves in order to offer what we can of ourselves."
"I have always loved change; maybe it is the challenges that come with change. I just know in my heart it is time for a change."
In 2005-06 Critelli set a new Brock single season OUA record with 19 conference wins, capturing first place in the OUA West Division. She also led the Badgers to 25 victories overall in 2005-06, a new single season high in her 25 seasons, five shy of the school record set in 1982-83 (30-3).
Critelli led her squad to the league playoffs 22 out of 25 seasons. She ends her coaching career as the all-time winningest coach in Brock women's basketball history with 393 career victories.
In 2000 she was inducted into the Ontario Basketball Hall of Fame. In 1998 Critelli was also inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame and in November of 1999 she was inducted into the St. Catharines Hall of Fame.
The native of St. Catharines made the Canadian national team at the age of 17 and was a member for seven years including the 1976 and 1980 Olympic teams. As a member of Team Canada she won three bronze medals in 1979 at the Pan-Am Games, the World Championships and FISU games.
From 1989-94 she was assistant coach with the Canadian national team.
Critelli also enjoyed a tremendous amount of success as a collegiate player at the University of Winnipeg (1974-75), Laurentian University (1976-78) and Old Dominion University (1978-80). She was a three-time all-Canadian and one-time academic all-American. She is the only individual to ever win both an NCAA and CIAU title, winning two CIAU titles at Laurentian and two NCAA titles with Old Dominion.
After her great college career she went on to play professionally with the Chicago Hustle from 1980-81. In 1980 she graduated from Old Dominion University with a bachelor of science and bachelor of education.
Source: Brock Badgers
