ORIGINALLY WRITTEN DON RATZLAFF
Chanda Rigby, whose enthusiasm and energy helped turn around the Tabor College women’s basketball program in one season as head coach, has resigned to accept a similar position at Holmes College, a junior college based in Holmes County, Miss.
Her husband, Ed Rigby, was an assistant football coach for Tabor this school year and had been teaching school in Valley Center. He is considering several coaching-related jobs in the Holmes County area.
“Ed and I both got a real good opportunity for this early in our career,” Chanda Rigby said. “We thought hopefully we’d get one of these calls five or 10 years down the road. But it came now, so we’re taking it.
“It’s a good opportunity for our family, and we hate to leave Hillsboro for sure. But we made the decision.”
She said the new job could be a stepping stone to Division I coaching or a good place to complete a career. The school has a higher pay scale and provides a house for its women’s head coach.
Rigby said another factor in their decision was that her mother, who has been ill this past year, will live only two hours away in Rigby’s home state of Louisiana.
Rigby inherited a women’s hoops program last summer that won only two games the previous season. The team finished Rigby’s inaugural campaign with an 8-10 record in the KCAC and were 13-15 overall.
Rigby said she told Don Brubacher, Tabor athletic director, of her decision to leave April 30, then shared the news with her team the following day.
“I think most of them were happy for me when they realized what an opportunity it is,” she said. “We had an honest conversation about it. A few were disappointed because we had just started trying to build a championship program here-and then I’m leaving.
“My main thing with them was, ‘You did it this year, you threw yourself in front of the train and got it going in the right direction.’
“Even thought hopefully I’ve provided a little leadership and encouragement, I actually never scored a point or got one rebound. They did it all.
“They’ve got to pull together and keep it going in the right direction, and I believe there are several who are determined to do that.”
Rigby will complete her duties at Tabor May 18.
“I wish the best for Tabor and I’m still busy recruiting for them,” she said.
