Joe Key Still Leading the Lady Cardinals

WHEELING, WV, January 19, 2008 — Despite media news to the contrary, Joe Key is still at the helm of the Lady Cardinals. Head coach of Wheeling Jesuit University’s women’s team for the past 14 years, Key explains that the media news of his departure was prompted by his turning over some sideline coaching duties to his assistant coach Katie Hine last Thursday when the Cardinals took on Concord at their home court.

“Katie’s coaching duties expanded last week to include on-court responsibilities,” said Key. “My day job changed recently so there are times that I’ll miss practice and maybe a game and because we need consistency, I asked Katie to take on these duties since she’ll be at every practice and every game.”

The change doesn’t affect the team much at all, according to Key. “That’s the biggest reason we’re doing it. It’s for the good of our players. Even if I can’t make a practice, the team has consistent leadership.”

Key is still doing the recruiting and other administrative duties and Hine is happy to step up to the challenge and work a little harder to ensure a successful season.

Coach Key is in his 21st year at Wheeling Jesuit overall and he is no stranger success having won over 232 games making him the most successful coach in the history of the program. Key led the Lady Cardinals to the 2005 WVIAC tournament championship and to two straight NCAA appearances, including a trip to the final four of the NCAA East Region in 2006.

Key added a couple more milestones to his coaching resume during the 2005-06 season, with a record setting 27 victories and the WVIAC Coach of the Year award. In 20 years of coaching, his teams have experienced only one losing season.

As a WJU assistant coach for seven years, Key was a member of the 1993-1994 team that won championships in both the WVIAC regular season and conference tournament and earned a trip to the NAIA national tournament.

— WJU —