FAMU fires women’s hoops coach

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – After a seven-year tenure as head coach of the Lady Rattler basketball team, Debra Clark is no longer going to be patrolling the sidelines for the Florida A&M University squad.
Administrators announced March 25 that Clark’s contract would not be renewed for the 2008-2009 season.
“Improvements need to be made,” said Bill Hayes, University athletic director, “and we’re looking for a new beginning for the women’s basketball team.”
Clark’s exit comes after a rollercoaster season that saw the Lady Rattlers jump out to a 9 -1 winning streak to begin the season, but drop 12 of their last 17 games. The team finished with a 14-17 record and landed eighth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
Hayes mentioned that the decision to let Clark go was a difficult one, but one that the University thought would benefit the program the most.
“Clark is a good person, but it’s been seven years and you have four losing seasons,” Hayes said.
Stephanie Haughton writes for The Famuan, which originally published this article.