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UHS names Davidson girls hoops coach
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
The search for Ursuline High’s new girls basketball coach ended on the Irish bench.
Courtney Davidson, who has been a varsity assistant and junior-varsity coach at Ursuline for the past three seasons, will replace Sean Durkin as varsity head coach.
Durkin, the Ursuline athletic director, stepped down in April after 13 seasons.
“It’s always been a part of my dream to be a coach,” Davidson said on Thursday. “I’ve always had strong bonds with my coaches.”
Durkin said the search committee had plenty of candidates to consider.
“We had a good pool of applicants,” Durkin said. “Courtney did a great job in the interview process and the feeling is that the kids really respond to her.
“Obviously, she was a great athlete, but probably her greatest intangible asset was her mind,” Durkin said. “She was an extremely smart player and that often [translates] into being a good coach. She still has that great mind.”
In 2004, Davidson was the Irish point guard who powered Ursuline to the Division III state title.
After four seasons at Michigan State, Davidson returned to the Mahoning Valley and joined Durkin’s staff while working on a master’s degree in school counseling at Youngstown State University. When she completes her degree in three weeks, she’ll be looking for work, “preferably in the area.”
Durkin went 231-94 in 13 seasons as Ursuline’s head coach, including a state runner-up finish in 2006.
He led the Irish to the Div. III regional final this season, falling to Elyria Catholic, 50-41.
Four of the team’s five starters return, including Division I prospects Courtney Powell and Aurielle Irizarry.
“It’s very exciting to get to work with this group,” Davidson said. “This senior class was my first freshman class and they only lost one game.
“Three were starters on JV as freshmen,” Davidson said, “so there’s already a bond with this group of girls.”
Davidson said stressing fundamentals is most important no matter what the talent level of her players.
“Everybody starts by learning from scratch,” Davidson said. “I remember being with my father in the driveway learning fundamentals. The more you practice, the better you get,”
In 2004, Davidson was named tournament MVP after Ursuline defeated Oak Hill, 66-52, at Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center. In that game she scored 21 points and made eight assists.