There's no question that basketball is a high priority to Tammy Anderson and her family.

Share

E-mail this story Print this story Save this story

Sponsor

Daryn Slover

Leavitt coach Tammy Anderson talks with her team during the 2011 Western B championship game against York.

But when it came to returning to coach another year, it takes a backseat to other obligations.

Anderson announced her resignation this past weekend as the Leavitt girls' basketball coach. She had coached the Hornets for nine seasons and won the state championship in 2011.

"It's something I've been contemplating all year, mostly because of my son," said Anderson, whose son Austin is a sophomore at Leavitt. "I didn't get much chance to watch him play. I only saw like three games. I want him to realize how important he is to me as well. I've spent so many years coaching the girls and following the girls. It's just about being a mom."

During the last decade, she's coached her daughters, Courtney and Kristen. Both will be playing Division I basketball next year. Courtney is at the University of Maine while Kristen, a senior at Leavitt, will play at the University of New Hampshire. Being able to watch both of them was a factor in her decision as well.

"I talked it over with my kids and my husband," said Anderson. "Austin told me to go ahead and coach. He knows that's what I love to do. I knew he was going to tell me that anyway. Every year we have a family meeting to talk about what it does to our family. This year, I just thought I can't go back and repeat the years."

Leavitt finished 13-5 in the regular season this year and finished fourth overall in Western B. The Hornets lost to Greely in the quarterfinals. She announced her resignation just days later.

"I don't want to look back and wish I'd taken this time," said Anderson. "I can always go back and coach if that's something I want to do."

Anderson took over a Leavitt program that was struggling at the Class A level. The Hornets had gone 15-70 the previous five years. There was a group of players that had been together since the developmental levels. They were about to enter the program and Anderson wanted the opportunity to continue with that group while helping build the program.

"My goal was to try to bring some excitement to the program and make it someplace where the kids, including my two girls, could be proud to play in," said Anderson.

When that group she had coached as youngsters were seniors, Leavitt won the Class B title over Nokomis in 2011. The Hornets reached the semifinals last year, losing a thrilling overtime game to Lake Region. Leavitt has been to five straight tourneys after a lengthy drought.

"We really had a lot of people committed to coaching at the youth levels," said Anderson. "We had the kids that did what they needed to do to be at that level."

Leavitt graduates just three seniors from this year's team, Kristen Anderson, Mariah Treadwell and Jenna Cote. Because of injuries this year, many of the younger Hornets saw playing time. So Leavitt will have some experience returning next season.

"I feel good about the junior class," said Anderson. "It has a lot of experience now. They're great kids. We had lower numbers in the freshmen and sophomore classes, but they're good players. The seventh and eighth grade teams are very strong. I also got to see the third and fourth graders play, and they're doing a good job. So I feel like I'm leaving the program in a better position than where it was when we came in. That's all you can ask for."

kmills@sunjournal.com