Colleen Lamoreaux-Tate is introduced as Ferris State's new women's basketball coach
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. (WZZM)- Colleen Lamoreaux-Tate says she sometimes wondered if this day would come. "My husband was always saying, 'Just be patient, just be patient.' I'm thinking, what, are we waiting for 30 years now?"
The wait is over for the ultra-successful basketball coach. Lamoreaux-Tate was introduced Tuesday as the sixth women's head basketball coach at Ferris State University. "I'm absolutely thrilled to have this position," Lamoreaux-Tate said at an afternoon news conference. "You don't even know... 26 years and it just never was right... and it's right now."
Lamoreaux-Tate went 167-19 in seven seasons at Grand Rapids Catholic Central including a 2010 state championship. Previously, she led East Grand Rapids to a 185-45 record over ten seasons with nine district championships.
Her success at the high school level and her connections figure to serve her well in recruiting.
"I'm ready to embrace Big Rapids. I'm ready to change things. We're going to bring some (West) Michigan kids in here. I'm sick and tired of them thinking the furthest they're going to go is Grand Valley. We are really going to bring them up here to Big Rapids. And I really want to prove to the alumni and make them proud. They've already started a great program, they had a great year last year, 17-2. I am going to work so hard to keep that going. And I'm telling you, my goal is, and I usually hit my goal, I want Nationals. And I will do whatever it takes to get there."
By Tom Clyde