Blodgett Named Assistant Woman's Basketball Coach
September 1, 1999 | Women's Basketball
Cindy Blodgett, one of the premier women's basketball players ever to compete in America East and one of the top-scoring guards in NCAA Division 1 history, has been named a full-time assistant coach for the Boston University women's basketball team. Terrier first-year head coach Margaret McKeon made the announcement today. Blodgett's appointment completes McKeon's staff that also includes Gabrielle Butler and Jerry McLaughlin.
I am very excited that Cindy is joining our staff," said McKeon, who assumed the duties as the Terriers' head coach on May 10th. "She is an outstanding person, she has a great work ethic, and she brings to our program all the qualities we are looking for in an individual." "All along I have been intent on coaching," said Blodgett, a native of Clinton, Maine, who plans to continue her playing career in the WNBA next summer. This past season, she played for the Sacramento Monarchs. Unfortunately, she suffered an ankle sprain early in the season but she came back to play in the playoffs. "I knew I would always want to stay involved in basketball, and I thought coaching would be the way to stay in it.
"Actually, I thought I would start coaching once my playing career was over," she continued. "Then, this opportunity came up at Boston University. I knew a new staff was coming here, and I was interested in being involved with a program that was rebuilding. "I am excited to be on this young staff," Blodgett went on. "I have never been on this side of it, and I want to learn as much as I can."
McKeon is looking forward to her new assistant not just learning but also teaching. Cindy has accomplished a lot as a player, and I want her to take her experiences, and show our players how to win. She has shown those qualities in every aspect of the game." As a player at Lawrence High School, she helped lead the team to four state championships while becoming the most prolific scorer in Maine high school history (both girls and boys) with 2,596 points.
"She was one of the top recruited players in the country and had the opportunity to go to one of several major programs, but she selected the University of Maine," pointed out McKeon. During the next four years, she led the Black Bears to dominance in America East as they won four conference tournaments and four straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament. En route, she set 18 University of Maine records including career scoring with 3005 points in 118 games for an average of 25.5 ppg. The point total currently ranks as the fifth-highest career total in NCAA Division 1. In addition, she set the school career records for assists with 487 and steals with 334. Her sophomore year, she scored 889 points (27.8 ppg), which stands as the NCAA Division 1 record for most points by a sophomore. She led the nation in scoring that season as well as her junior year (27.0), making her the second woman in NCAA Division 1 history to lead the nation in scoring two consecutive seasons. Her senior year, she was second in the nation in scoring with an average of 27.1 ppg. Overall, she scored in double figures in 115-of-118 career games, including a streak of 76 in a row.
Her individual honors fill a full page. However, the most notable are Third Team AP All-American as a senior, making her the first player ever from America East to be named to the All-America team; four-time conference tournament MVP; four-time First Team All-Conference; and two-time America East Conference Player of the Year.
She was also an outstanding student, as she graduated with a 3.25 GPA in elementary education with a concentration in history. Her senior year, she was voted GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-American.
"I was very impressed when I learned that Cindy was going to the University of Maine," said McKeon, who was an assistant coach at George Washington University at the time. "Rather than go out of state, she decided to go to Maine and help build a tradition there. "That's what our goal is at Boston University," continued the coach. "We want to make a mark here and build a winning tradition. We want to win, and we want to be a force to reckon with in America East. We don't want anyone to take us lightly. "We need to change the mental attitude here," the coach went on. "We want our players to know they can win.
"Cindy has brought that attitude to wherever she has played," said the coach. "And, we want her to help bring that attitude here.
"We are also trying to make a statement not just with the quality of players we are recruiting but also with the coaches on our staff. We have done it with Gabrielle and Jerry, and now we have done it with Cindy."
While a member of the Terrier staff, Blodgett will work with McKeon in coaching the guards. She will also assist in scouting, working camps, and promoting the Terrier program.
