Photo by Greg Reedy
The 2009-10 Lady Elker basketball coaching staff. From left, varsity assistant coach Larry Horning, head coach Glenn Schauer, varsity assistant coach/junior varsity coach Josh Shirey.

By Greg Reedy
Sports Editor

New Ridgway girls basketball varsity head coach Glenn Schauer is excited for the opportunity to be the leader of the Lady Elker basketball program and for the chance to work with two quality assistants.
"I'm fortunate because I got two good helpers," Schauer said. "Josh Shirey's got a lot of experience from playing. Larry's been coaching boys for a number of years. I have a little bit of experience with junior varsity. It's not about me, it's about the whole effort between the three of us."
Schauer spent last season as the junior varsity coach, finishing the season with an 11-11 record. He has two years of experience as a junior high girls coach. Shirey, a 2004 Ridgway Area High School graduate, will serve as a varsity assistant coach and the junior varsity coach. Schauer said Horning has prior experience coaching boys basketball at the junior high level.
He said building the program from elementary on through has been a major point of emphasis.
"It's been good. There hasn't been a strong program from fourth grade all the way up through. I think we're starting to develop that now," Schauer said. "We have two coaches for fourth, fifth and sixth grade and two coaches in junior high and three coaches here. Last year, we had two coaches for seventh through 12th grade. The program is going to pay off dividends now and really for the future."
Schauer said the Lady Elkers are showing potential to have a strong season.
"I can't wait. I'm excited because I know we got some talent and I know we're going to have a good season," Schauer said. "I'm excited. Josh is excited. Larry's excited."
Schauer is appreciative to the teamwork shown by coaches throughout the different levels of the Lady Elker basketball program.
"This is a job that not one person can do by themselves," Schauer said. "It was a great to know I was going to have some help. All the way through the program, you have all these different opinions and points of view which can only help."
Those different points of view have already been incorporated into helping Schauer at the varsity level.
"Josh having the experience of playing as a big man at forward in the boys program not all that long ago, it's fresh for him and he knows and he can teach things because I didn't have that experience," Schauer said. "Larry from coaching boys even though it was at a junior high level, you learn different drills and things like that from those guys. It's a mix of experience and we're at it as a team."   
There are 18 players listed on Schauer's opening day roster. The Lady Elkers open the season at home on Friday, December 11 as Ridgway hosts Elk County Catholic.