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BY JIM HUNSLEY
Times Sports Writer | Thursday, August 26, 2004 | (No comments posted.)
Renee Turpa has dreamed about working in a college basketball program.
The wait is over. Turpa, the former Portage girls basketball coach, was recently named VU's director of women's basketball operations.
"It's funny. (VU women's coach Keith Freeman) and I have been talking the last couple of years," said Turpa, who was 207-142 in 17 years with the Indians. "I thought I might be too expensive to be an assistant coach, and I still wanted to teach (at Portage)."
She'll now be working part-time with the Crusaders. Her job responsibilities include coordinating basketball camps plus assisting with on-campus recruiting, community projects, travel plans and film exchange.
She officially assumed the role in late July after fulfilling her responsibilities as the vice-president of the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.
The position came open when Candace White completed her two-year coaching stint with VU. Caroline McCombs was promoted from assistant coach to associate head coach and former operations director Erika Roudeboush took the assistant coaching vacancy.
"I think she knows almost every coach in the state," Freeman said of Turpa. "She has done as much for girls basketball as any coach I can think of in the state. For us to have an opportunity to get her to help us out is great."
Turpa, who stepped down from Portage last spring, is excited with this new challenge.
"I still liked basketball, but I just got tired. It was a 11-month-a-year job," Turpa said. "Now I've got more of a summer break.
"For this to happen so late in my career is rejuvenating."
Jim Hunsley can be reached at jhunsley@nwitimes.com or (219) 462-5151, ext. 356.
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