Former WSU coach succeeds Hannaford at Fairborn

FAIRBORN GIRLS HOOP

New coach: Bridgett Williams

At WSU: 2001-10.

Record: 109-155.

Former coach: Steve Hannaford.

At FHS: 2007-13.

Record: 104-31.

Former Wright State University women’s basketball coach Bridgett Williams “never really left the game,” she said. But she’s taking on a new role as the Fairborn High School girls varsity coach.

Williams was announced as the Skyhawks coach on Thursday. She succeeds Steve Hannaford, whose six-season run was the best in program history.

Williams was the Raiders coach from 2001-10. She has since started the Bridgett Williams All-Stars, an AAU program comprised of area sixth and seventh graders. She also provides individual instruction.

“Getting back into it at this level is really exciting,” she said. “I’ve coached on every level except high school. I’m excited to take it on.”

Hannaford, a 1974 Fairborn Baker graduate and golf standout for those Flyers teams, said it was his call to leave the program and devote more time to his family. He’ll remain as Fairborn’s boys and girls golf coach.

“I do want to coach again at the right time,” he said. “I’m going to see how bad I’ll miss it. I miss it already.”

In the last four seasons Fairborn was 18-4, 21-2, 19-3 and 22-3. The Skyhawks won three of the last four Greater Western Ohio Conference South Division titles, own three straight Division I sectional titles and landed a regular-season defeat of Fairmont in 2012.

Jaymee Veney (2011 grad, St. Francis), Brooklyn Pumroy (’12, Marquette) and Alexis Gassion (’13, Indiana) all excelled for Fairborn and landed NCAA D-I scholarships.

“I’ve been coaching for a long time,” Williams said. “One of the hot beds for girls basketball is definitely Ohio. In a pretty small (Dayton) area, we have a lot of D-I talent. I know these players are very good. It’s going to be as challenging as the collegiate level was.”

Williams compiled a 109-155 record at WSU. She was the Horizon League co-coach of the year in 2007-08. Her contract was not renewed after nine seasons. Prior to WSU Williams was the head coach at Chicago State.

Ironically, former WSU men’s head coach Jim Brown also rebounded as the head coach at another area high school, Northmont. His contract was not renewed this past spring after 16 seasons.

Fairmont coach Tim Cogan also previously resigned to become Carroll’s boys varsity coach. He was succeeded by former Firebirds player Lacy Romine. Fairmont is the defending D-I state champion.