Crimp’s In Crunch Time As Women Seek Crown

North Idaho College women’s basketball coach Greg Crimp was doing an interview with a sportswriter when he asked if he could call the reporter back.

“The University of San Francisco coach is on the other line,” Crimp said.

Just more than a minute later, Crimp returned the call after learning that the USF coach, who attended the Region 18 Tournament, is interested in NIC sophomore starters Shawna Rainer and Jana Nearing.

Crimp had forgotten how hectic the week before the NJCAA Tournament could be. Not only has he been fielding recruiting calls but he’s also been making several recruiting calls himself.

He’ll have to replace seven players, including his starting lineup.

Then there’s also his full-time job. Crimp owns a successful sporting goods business, and there’s plenty of work to more than occupy a 40-hour schedule.

But this time of the year the business takes a back seat to basketball.

If his schedule wasn’t busy enough, Crimp also was finalizing details for the trip to nationals, which begin Tuesday in Tyler, Texas.

You won’t catch Crimp complaining, though. He’s tickled to be returning to the Big Dance in his second stint at NIC.

It’s the first trip to nationals for NIC since 1988-89, which was Crimp’s last season as head coach during a 10-year term.

It’s the fifth trip to nationals for Crimp. It took five years for Crimp to get his first team to nationals; it’s taken three years to get back in his second time around coaching.

Which task was easier?

“It’s really like comparing apples and oranges,” Crimp was saying. “The game has changed so much since our first trip to nationals. And the conference is tougher. But I guess it’s been more difficult this time.”

The 1988-89 team was special in many ways. It set the record for most wins in school history (31). It’s the most talented team Crimp has coached.

Where does this year’s team stack up? Its most revealing quality is its depth.

“That’s the secret to this club,” said former NIC men’s coach Rolly Williams, Crimp’s father-inlaw, who’s watched about eight games this season. “The team is 10 deep, and Greg doesn’t lose much when he goes to the bench.”

Williams had some deep benches in his 35 years as head coach, and he appreciates the sometimes-ticklish task of finding playing time for all players.

“Sometimes it’s more of a curse than a luxury,” Williams said of a deep bench. “My feeling was you don’t want good people sitting on the bench. It’s a delicate balance, but Greg’s done a good job.”

In fact, Williams gave Crimp rave reviews for getting the 27-4 Cardinals to nationals.

“I’m a great fan of Greg, and I would be even if I wasn’t related to him,” Williams said. “I don’t think you can ask for the program to be in better hands. It goes beyond basketball with him. He cares about his players’ lives.”

While Williams respects Crimp’s technical knowledge of the game, it’s Crimp’s ability to relate to his players that Williams admires most.

“The player comes first with him,” Williams said. “That’s the thing you notice initially in all of the things I’ve seen him do. His players respect him. By and large you can be sure his players are going to play hard for him.”

Crimp has several reminders of his national-qualifying teams in his office at work.

There’s a team picture of the ‘88-89 team and one from the year before. Nearby is a poster from the first national tourney, 1983-84, in Senatobia, Miss.

“I’m not a history buff, but those things mean a lot,” Crimp said.

He’d like more than a team photo or poster as a way to remember this year’s trip to nationals.

If recent history means anything, NIC would appear to have its best opportunity for placing at nationals.

Utah Valley placed fourth last year, Ricks College was fifth the year before and the Rexburg, Idaho, school took third in ‘93.

In four losses at nationals, NIC’s worst defeat has been by seven points.

“We’ve given a pretty good account of ourselves,” Crimp said. “We’ve competed in every game. Every game back there is winnable.”

It may be a vacation of sorts for Crimp - at least from the phone and his business - but that’s not how he and his team are approaching nationals.

“We’re certainly not going as tourists,” Crimp said.

Which is enough said as far as he’s concerned.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 photos (1 color)

MEMO: These sidebars appeared with the story: NIC AT NATIONALS 1984 - Went 0-1 1986 - Went 0-1 1988 - Went 1-1 1989 - Went 1-1

Region 18 at nationals 1996 - Utah Valley, placed 4th 1995 - Ricks, placed 5th 1994 - Ricks, lost first round 1993 - Ricks, placed 3rd 1992 - S. Idaho, placed 18th 1991 - Utah Valley, tied for 9th 1990 - S. Idaho, lost in consolation quarterfinals

WOMEN’S ROSTERS North Idaho College Name Ht. Yr. Hometown Audrey Rehder 5-5 Fr. Cottonwood, ID Tammy Goyne 5-2 Fr. Boronia, Australia Julie Grohs 5-10 So. Salmon, ID Mandy Jacques 5-6 So. Sumner, WA Jaime Richards 5-7 So. Polson, MT Angie Dickson 5-5 So. Federal Way, WA Teresa Viebrock 5-7 So. Rathdrum, ID Carrie Albers 5-7 Fr. Nezperce, ID Jana Nearing 5-10 So. Bonners Ferry, ID Jorah Roylance 5-9 Fr. Charlo, MT Shanna Robison 5-10 Fr. St. Ignatius, MT Shawna Rainer 6-0 So. Spokane, WA Jennifer Clark 6-1 Fr. Spokane, WA Ann Shepard 6-2 So. Post Falls, ID Barrie Jensen 5-11 Fr. Boise, ID Erin Dowhy 6-4 Fr. Edmonton, Alberta Jenny Smethers 6-2 Fr. Boise, ID Coach: Greg Crimp. Assistant: Kristi Johnson

Hiwassee College Name Ht. Yr. Hometown Valeria Linley 5-6 So. Emerson, GA Florida Wynn 5-6 Fr. Chattanooga, TN Amber Davis 5-9 Fr. Antioch, TN Heather Lenoir 5-7 So. Sweetwater, TN Tammy Cox 5-11 Fr. Galax, AL Quatrina Foster 5-6 Fr. Gaffney, SC Roslane McGill 5-6 So. Newton, NC Katrise Thompson 6-3 So. Alcoa, TN Paula Nesbitt 6-1 Fr. Lessburg, FL Leah Jones 5-7 So. Decatur, TN Leniqua Stewart 6-2 So. Houma, LA Cyndi Ainsworth 5-10 So. Spring City, TN Mandy Ramfjord 6-2 So. Elberton, GA Coach: Dean Walsh. Assistant: John Jordan