Chen removed as volleyball coach
In the sports world today, the coach becomes the natural scapegoat when the team struggles. Tampa Bay Buccaneers former coach Sam Wyche provides the most recent example. Although the team had improved every season that Wyche was in charge, he was recently fired.
A similar incident occurred last week in the Rice Athletic Department. Henry Chen, the volleyball team's head coach for the past three seasons was removed from his position.
The move comes after one of the best seasons Rice women's volleyball has ever had.
When asked why Chen was removed after so successful a season, Athletic Director Bobby May said, "There was some improvement, but we felt for the future that we needed to make this change and move Henry to another area."
When asked about the move, Chen said, "I disagree with the decision."
However, Chen had nothing but good things to say about the time he has spent at Rice.
"This was a great experience for me. I enjoyed being an assistant and being a head coach for the past three years.
"I have really enjoyed working with my assistant coaches Genny Wood, Kim Keim and Latisha Brown. I also enjoyed working under Debbie Sokol before then."
Under Chen, the Owls reached many milestones last season, rendering Chen's reassignment a questionable move.
The Owls made their first Division-I playoffs, playing in the National Invitational Volleyball Championships.
Also, for the first time since 1986, Rice collected 21 victories in a season. The team finished with a 21-17 record.
In addition, Rice broke a four- season winless streak in Southwest Conference play with a 4-6 record, which earned them third place in a conference that sent four teams to the NCAA Championships.
Chen also deserves credit in the area of recruiting. He helped to bring in two bright athletes: first team all-SWC and second-team all-American performer Sammy Waldron and second team all-SWC performer Tiffany Carrethers.
May announced that Chen will assume new responsibilities within the Athletic Department.
According to May, Chen will work in "special projects that will be assigned by Martha Hawthorne [the assistant athletic director].
"His job probably will relate to fundraising promotion and marketing to women's athletics for the balance of the year," May said.
Hawthorne expressed her sentiments on the move.
"I anticipate Henry's help in the areas of fundraising and promotion of women's athletics at Rice. We have a number of upcoming activities, including the Rice Golf Classic at Kingwood Country Club on April 15, and I look forward to working with Henry in those areas," she said.
Regarding Chen's replacement, May indicated that there were no immediate plans.
"We will begin that process as soon as possible," May said.
Chen has been coaching volleyball for 13 years. He was an assistant starting in 1991 and began his head coaching stint in 1993.
Before joining the Owls Athletic Department, Chen was the head coach of the San Gabriel Volleyball Club (1983-1986), head coach of the Santa Monica Volleyball Club (1987-89) and assistant coach for Northern Michigan University(1989-1991).
When asked about his plans for the future, Chen indicated that he still wanted to be a head coach.
"My goal is to move on. I am exploring positions to see what is available," he said. "I am not going to give up coaching."
The next coach should benefit from Chen's work. Only one senior will be graduating from the team this year. Everybody else is expected to return.
"The foundation is there. This team is going to be real competative next year," he said.
This item appeared in the Sports section of the January 26, 1996 issue.
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