Family Comes First
SLIPPERY ROCK — Even through the achievements, it was what she couldn’t be there for that weighed on Amber Osborn’s mind.
She’s been the head coach of Slippery Rock’s girls basketball crew for the previous six seasons, steering the Rockets to region titles every year. On Thursday, Osborn stepped away from her post in order to be around more for her family.
Coaching has been an all-around effort for Osborn, who has five children, all under the age of 13. Her husband, Doug, assisted on her staff and her mother, Sally McFeely, has been helpful in taking over some duties, such as bringing the children to their various activities.
“Her kids have been in the gym with her and her husband and chauffeured all around,” Slippery Rock athletic director Dan Follett said. “I’ve seen firsthand what it’s taken to be there as a family ... Anyone that has coached and has a family, there just comes a point where you have to pick one or the other.”
Heading into this year’s schedule, Osborn figured she’d decide her future on a year-by-year basis. A month-and-a-half ago, her nine-year-old daughter, Bri, let her know that she didn’t see her mom in the bleachers at any of her games.
“I knew that I was missing (and) I knew that I was probably going to need to be done (coaching),” Osborn said. “That was kind of the solidifying feeling whenever you get told that from your kid. You don’t want them to ever feel like they come second to anything.”
In an attempt to make things easier on her family and maybe even have the chance to coach her children someday, Osborn applied for the same position at rival Grove City High School last year. The choice didn’t come without tears.
“I knew that, if I was going to continue to coach, that would probably be the best-case scenario of being able to still be involved with my children as they get to high school,” Osborn said.
The opportunity didn’t pan out with the Eagles, who Osborn played for from 1998-2002 before continuing her career at Slippery Rock University.
“I truly feel like things worked out the way that they should have,” Osborn said. “I was really glad I got to come back and coach those five seniors. I just feel like the time is right.”
Osborn notched 106 victories with the Rockets. Under her tutelage, the team won the District 10 championship in 2018.
“To be honest, I think she saved her best coaching year for this year,” Follett said. “To do what she did with this program ... was tremendous. It’s a run that we’ll look back on in the history of Slippery Rock for years and years to come.”
Behind a quintet of seasoned starters, the Rockets carved out a 14-10 record, appearing in the district title game for the sixth straight year and reaching the state playoffs.
On the way to road matchups, she found herself watching live streams of her 11-year-old son, Kyle, playing his basketball games. It wasn’t a practical way to continue. Not now, at least.
“I’m sure I will always be drawn back to coaching and still always have my feet in a gym somewhere,” Osborn said.
A former floor general as a point guard, Osborn developed her passion for the profession after graduating from the Rock, when she joined the SRU staff as a volunteer assistant. In having her hand in calling a lot of the team’s offense and was tasked with creating scouting reports, she was hooked.
“I just liked the challenge of trying to figure teams out,” Osborn said.
A year-and-a-half into volunteering, as she was growing more and more familiar with mentoring players, her father, Steve McFeely, was diagnosed with leukemia. She pushed coaching to the side to be a partial caregiver, helping him through his five-year bout with cancer.
“With my dad, that was kind of like family first,” Osborn said. “All the coaching stuff needed to go on hold for a little bit. I’m just back to that right now. I have other responsibilities.
“I hope to always be coaching, because I just feel like it’s in my blood.”
She had known for some time that she’d be stepping away at season’s end, but didn’t want to take any spotlight from her senior players by letting everyone know. After Wednesday night’s loss to Moon, Osborn called the parents of returning Rockets players to inform them of her decision before writing a message to her team.
She hopes the timing of her resignation gives the school the time it needs to find an adequate replacement. Follett said it wouldn’t be long until the opening is posted and advertised. He’d hope to find a new coach sooner rather than later.
“I’m interested to see what candidates are interested in it, internally and externally, and to see where we can go and how we can continue to develop this program further,” Follett said.
For an administration and community that encouraged her and has seen her children — including Maddie, 12; Jude, 8; and Willa, 5 — grow up in the gym, Osborn is grateful.
“Slippery Rock couldn’t have been more receptive of just having me on their staff,” Osborn said. “Their support has continued even with me telling them that I was going to resign. Even though I don’t like to leave and I don’t want to quit coaching, I’m sure that it will open some other doors that allow me to spend time with my kids.
“It does just allow me to be a mom and I think that’s what they need right now.”
