New coaches in the SEC beware: the time allowed to come on board and turn a losing program around just got shortened, as the University of Alabama fired women’s basketball head coach Stephany Smith on Tuesday, Mar. 11, 2008. Smith, who arrived in Tuscaloosa just three short years ago after an impressive stint at Middle Tennessee State University, went 27-61 overall, but went 4-41 in SEC play during her three seasons at the helm of the Tide. Smith was informed of the decision by University of Alabama Director of Athletics Mal Moore in a meeting on Tuesday. Moore stated: “Stephany Smith took our head coaching job at The University of Alabama three years ago and inherited a program that was going through some difficult circumstances. I appreciate her efforts, as well as those of her staff. However, I feel it is best that the program move forward under new leadership in order to compete consistently at the very highest level.”

Smith had compiled a 153-88 record during her eight years at MTSU, and had led the Lady Raiders to eight straight winning seasons, including two regular season conference titles and three conference tournament crowns (one in the OVC, and two after MTSU joined the SunBelt Conference). She also led the Lady Raiders to three NCAA Tournament appearances before being tapped by AD Moore as the new Alabama coach, replacing Rick Moody, who retired, leaving a once-stellar team somewhat in disarray. In Smith’s inaugural season, the Tide went 9-19 overall, and posted a 3-12 record in the SEC. In the 2006-2207 season, her second, Alabama went 10-20; they posted a 10-5 record against non-conference teams, but went 0-15 against SEC foes, which included two Final Four teams and a third Elite Eight team. This season, Smith’s team went 8-22 overall (7-8 in non-conference, 1-14 against the SEC), but their primary 8-player rotation consisted of 4 freshmen, 3 sophomores and 1 junior. This firing is particularly galling, considering that it takes a coach at least four to five years to recruit in the type of players who fit into the offense and defensive schemes they want to run. Smith had begun to get those top-notch players with the addition of such players as Varisia Raffington, Katie Hancock and Tierney Jenkins. Hancock and Jenkins had been particularly impressive during their game against Georgia in the SEC Tournament and Jenkins was just named to the SEC All Freshman Team last week. Hancock had commented after the game how much fun she and the team had in that game, and Smith had been impressive in the loss, coaching and encouraging her players up until the final buzzer. They gave Georgia, a Top 25 team, all they could handle.

It makes me wonder if Alabama AD Mal Moore was there to witness the efforts of Smith and her team. It didn’t go unnoticed by the rest of the crowd however. Moore may not find a plethora of coaches rushing to his office for an interview. If the half-life of a coach at the Capstone is down to 1.5 years and the new buzz-phrase is “win and win quickly”, only a fool-hardy few will be beating down his door, and the lure will certainly be the vaunted opportunity to coach in the SEC and not necessarily to be the newest Tide coaching casualty.

My advice to whoever the next Alabama coach is: Don’t buy. Rent.