Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Basketball Coach Kathy Fedorjaka Announces Resignation
1/13/2012 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 13, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell women's basketball coach Kathy Fedorjaka announced her resignation Friday night, effective immediately. Assistant coach Bill Broderick will assume additional responsibilities to lead the program on an interim basis, and a national search will take place at season's end to identify the program's next head coach.
Fedorjaka was in her 15th season as head coach at Bucknell, making her the longest-tenured head coach in program history. She guided the Bison to three 20-win seasons and Patriot League championships in 2002 and 2008. She departs with a record of 209-211 at Bucknell.
"Over my last 15 years as head coach of the Bison women's basketball team, I have come to love this university community and to care deeply about the student-athletes past and present that it has been my privilege to coach," said Fedorjaka. "There comes a moment in every coach's career when the difficult decision becomes whether it is time to step aside, and the time has come for me to move in a different direction. I do so with a very positive outlook towards the future and some extremely positive memories of this university and our women's basketball program. Our teams have had some extraordinary successes across these years and I am grateful for the opportunity to have led this program to new heights and to have gotten to know so many wonderful Bucknellians, most especially the women and staff who have been part of this program.
"As I begin to turn my attention to what opportunities I will pursue next, I do so with gratitude for being part of the Bucknell community and with confidence in the future of the Bison women's basketball program. As the rest of this season unfolds, I will be rooting for today's team and this great staff, and am grateful to these student-athletes in particular for understanding my decision at this time. I will be forever grateful to having been able to coach these student-athletes and all the student-athletes I have gotten to know at Bucknell."
Fedorjaka also served as an assistant coach at Bucknell from 1990-93 before making her head coaching debut at Connecticut College in 1993-94. After a three-year stint as head coach at Bloomsburg from 1994-97, Fedorjaka returned to Bucknell prior to the start of the 1997-98 season. In 2000-01, she led the Bison to its first 20-win season (20-8), and a year later the team finished 21-10, captured the Patriot League title and made its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
The Bison returned to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Patriot League title in 2008, but the team has struggled over the last three seasons, culminating with a 2-15 record to date in 2011-12.
"I am very thankful to Kathy Fedorjaka for her 18 years of loyal service to Bison Athletics," said John Hardt, director of athletics and recreation. "Kathy was extremely passionate about coaching, and she was able to elevate the program to competitive heights never before seen in the Bison women's basketball program. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors. Despite the team's record this season, I am confident that the program can quickly rise back to that championship level."
Bill Broderick is in his second year as an assistant coach at Bucknell. Prior to Bucknell, he served as an assistant coach at Elon (2008-10), Pittsburgh (1998-2002), Arizona (1995-98), Frostburg State (1994-95) and Potomac State (1992-94), in addition to a head coaching stint in the high school ranks in Northern Virginia.
Bucknell next hosts Lafayette in a Patriot League game Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Sojka Pavilion.
