This is the first of Coach Roberts’ jobs at which she might be fired prematurely.
A media officer at Pacific said — in the midst of one of the Tigers’ bad years — that it was a possibility. I said: No way, much too early. He agreed, but Division I athletic departments have done worse, he said.
That was in 2008, during Roberts’ second season at Pacific. Looking back, that year was key, because Amy VanHollebeke arrived.
The junior guard was the first of two Chico Wildcats to follow Roberts to Pacific. The Wildcats reached the round of 4 in the Division II tournament in ’06. That led to Roberts’ first D1 job in Stockton, ahead of transfers from Chico: captains VanHollebeke and Amber Simmons.
I think that swayed recruits. Two years later, Pacific had the freshman core for their 2013 Big West championship team.
VanHollebeke joined Roberts’ Pacific staff, first as operations director, then as assistant coach. I saw Amy with her family at a Utah visit to Cal — the only time I saw one of the Pacific Tigers at a Utah game.
Except for Kendall Rodriguez, Utah’s operations director, who captained 2013 Pacific championship team.
I really ought to talk to them.