BOONE, N.C. — Heather Kearney never took the time to look back — until this year.

She was required to do so.

The 1995 Slippery Rock High graduate was a charter inductee into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in February. The 1999 Slippery Rock University graduate was inducted into the SRU Hall last month.

"Because I've stayed involved in basketball, I've never reflected on my career," Kearney said. "Writing my induction speech gave me a chance to do that.

"I enjoyed my time in Slippery Rock. I didn't win a championship there, but I learned what it takes to be a champion there," she added.

Kearney graduated from The Rock with a school-record 1,760 points to go with 949 career rebounds. She holds SRU's single-game women's record of 42 points and has the program's records for single game, season and career free throws made and attempted.

As a graduate assistant coach, Kearney helped lead The Rock to its first regional championship and berth in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.

She then followed coach Darcie Vincent to California (Pa.) University and was part of a coaching staff that earned eight consecutive trips to the Division II Tournament, won seven PSAC West titles and a national championship in 2004.

When Vincent took over as head coach at Division I Appalachian State in the Southern Conference, Kearney became Cal's head coach, leading the team to a 29-5 record, a PSAC West title and an Elite Eight appearance.

But after one year, she was gone.

"I never thought I'd leave there," Kearney said. "We built a great program there, had tremendous support and I've always been a Division II girl.

"It's all about the right fit for me. Appalachian State looked that way to me," she added. "Darcie and I work well together. I'm the offensive coach, she does the defensive work. Our coaching strengths mesh well together."

So Kearney reunited with Vincent, this time as associate head coach with the Mountaineers.

The team finished 23-12 last season, tied for second in the conference and won the program's first postseason championship at the 16-team Women's Basketball Invitational.

All five starters and nine letterwinners return.

"The WBI gave us another two weeks to work with our young team in a playoff atmosphere." Kearney said. "It was invaluable experience."

Tennessee-Chattanooga has won the Southern Conference 11 times in the past 12 years. Kearney said only the league champion receives an NCAA Tournament bid.

"Our ultimate goal is to become that team," she said.

Other than that, Kearney's next goal is to become a Division I head coach.

But, again, it's all about fit.

"I coach for the challenge of it," she said. "I can see myself staying here for a number of years, but if the right opportunity as a head coach presents itself, I'll take it."

In the meantime, the Harrisville native is enjoying the mountainous region of Boone.

"Mountain biking is a passion of mine, so is hiking — it's heaven for that kind of stuff here," Kearney said.