Wilson takes over SRU women’s hoops
SLIPPERY ROCK — Not yet finished grieving, Chenara Wilson has accepted a challenging fresh start.
After serving five years as assistant women’s basketball coach at Slippery Rock University, Wilson was named the program’s interim head coach Tuesday. She coached under Mars resident and SRU women’s head coach Bobby McGraw, who died unexpectedly at age 50 earlier this month.
McGraw was SRU head coach for seven seasons, not counting a season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re still grieving. That process is only beginning,” Wilson said. “The students haven’t been on campus yet. When the team comes in, we get together, practices start ... That’s when it will be most difficult.”
SRU is coming off a 12-16 season, 7-15 in conference play. The Rock returns three starters and 11 players from last year. Slippery Rock High School graduate Hallie Raabe and Butler graduate Jordan Kauffman are among the returnees. Both are sophomores.
“I know this is challenging,” Wilson said of stepping in as head coach. “I’m not going to try to fill Coach McGraw’s shoes. They are too big to fill. I have to deal with my emotions, all of our emotions.
“We will work through those emotions and get these young women ready to play winning basketball and succeed in the classroom. That’s what Bobby would want us to do.”
While Wilson is hopeful of eventually being named the program’s permanent head coach, SRU athletic director Roberta Page said a national search for a head coach will begin at the conclusion of the 2022-23 basketball season.
“Any time you name a person coach on an interim basis, that person is getting an opportunity to prove herself,” Page said. “That is certainly true in Chenara’s case. We’re very confident she will lead these student-athletes toward what we want out of our athletic teams ... We want to win and we want to be successful in the classroom.”
SRU women’s basketball’s team grade point average was above 3.2 last season.
“I know Chenara will keep the program headed in the right direction,” Page said. “At the same time, there are no guarantees. Whenever our women’s basketball season ends, February, hopefully March, we will begin the searching process.”
Before coming to SRU, Wilson was head coach at Mercyhurst North East for three seasons (2012-15), leading that junior college program to a winning record each year. She has a degree in social work from Cleveland State University and earned a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from CSU as well.
Wilson played in 58 women’s basketball games for the Vikings over two years, averaging 5.7 points per game. She is an associate teacher and counselor with the Positive Education Program in Cleveland.
Page recognizes that the coming season will be emotionally challenging to everyone involved.
“We will have grief counselors available, whatever is needed,” she said. “We will get through this and Chenara will be a big part of that.”
