Marple Newtown’s Ellie DiBona shoots in a game against Upper Darby last season. (Pete Bannan – MediaNews Group)
By Matt Smith
When Debbie Black returned to her hometown in Bucks County, coaching high school basketball was the last thing on her mind. But then she heard from a friend that Marple Newtown had an open spot on the bench. Shortly thereafter, then-head coach Ryan Wolski asked if she would be interested in an assistant’s position.
“And I said, ‘Sure, but here’s my deal: I have never coached high school,’” Black said after Monday’s game against Lower Moreland.
Oh, that wasn’t a dealbreaker.
Black, who starred at Archbishop Wood and Saint Joseph’s, was a 15-year pro in various leagues including the WNBA until retirement in 2005. She was named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year at 35 years old. Years later, she became head coach at Eastern Illinois from 2013-17 and spent time on staffs at Vanderbilt, Ohio State and Chattanooga.
Black became the head coach at Marple after Wolski stepped down. She has enjoyed opportunity to develop players at this level.
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