CALIFORNIA, Pa. — As coach and player, head coach and associate head coach, the tandem of Darcie Vincent and Heather Kearney has been all about winning.

Now each will try winning without the other.

Kearney, a Harrisville native, Slippery Rock High graduate and all-time women's basketball scoring leader at Slippery Rock University, was named head women's basketball coach at California (Pa.)University.

She replaces longtime mentor Vincent, who recently accepted the head coaching reins at Appalachian State, a Division I school in Boone, N.C.

"Darcie offered me the associate head coach position down there right away,"Kearney said. "It would have been the same setup we had that worked so well at Cal.

"I would have coached offense, she would have coached defense. I work with the post players, she had the guards. We've meshed well together that way."

They've meshed well together, period.

When Vincent coached at SRU, Kearney scored a program-best 1,760 points and collected 949 rebounds, second on The Rock's all-time list.

When her playing days at SRUended, Kearney became a graduate assistant on Vincent's staff and helped guide The Rock to an NCAADivision IIElite Eight appearance in 1999-2000.

Vincent then accepted the California head coaching position and Kearney became an assistant on her staff there. Four years later, Kearney received the title of associate head coach with the Vulcans.

During their eight years at California, Vincent and Kearney led the Vulcans to:

n A 212-47 record

• Eight PSACchampionship games

• Seven consecutive Division IItournament appearances

• Six PSACWest titles

• Four PSACcrowns

• Three Elite Eight appearances

• Two Final Fours

• The 2004 national championship.

The Vulcans finished 27-7 and reached the Elite Eight this season.

"Darcie wasn't looking to go anywhere else,"Kearney said. "Appalachian State pursued her. When we got back from the Elite Eight, there were two messages from the school on her machine.

"They saw on our Web site that Darcie is into camping and mountain biking, and that part of North Carolina is prime territory for that. She went down there and fell in love with everything about the place."

Less than an hour after Vincent informed Cal she was leaving, university president Angelo Armenti Jr., offered Kearney the head coaching position.

"Everything was happening so quickly. It was crazy,"Kearney said. "I don't make sporadic decisions. Mr. Armenti gave me some time to think about it.

"Once I sorted things out, this is where I wanted to be. This is a challenge I'm ready for."

California did not pursue or interview other candidates before offering Kearney the job.

"Heather has been a vital cog to that program," saidCal athletic director Tom Pucci said. "It only seemed right to give her the opportunity to run it."

California returns its top six players from last season, including four who averaged in double figures in points. The Vulcans averaged 77 points per game last year despite returning only one double-digit scorer from the previous season.

Assistant coach Jess Strom will be elevated to Kearney's former position of associate head coach. A third coach will be added to the staff.

Vincent will be trying to turn around an Appalachian State program coming off an 8-22 season and eighth-place finish in the 10-team Southern Conference.

"It's always a blow when you lose a head coach,"Pucci said. "But it was only a matter of time before Darcie moved up. We knew that. We're just thankful that Heather's staying with us."

"It was tempting to accept the challenge of rebuilding another program with Darcie,"Kearney admitted. "But this is a challenge right here. All I have to do is get to the Elite Eight or I'm a failure.

"Hey, I'm OKwith all that. I've never run from a challenge in my life and I'm not going to start now."