Basketball's Greenlaw to retire at end of 2014-15 season

WOLFVILLE, N.S. - Acadia University and the Department of Athletics announce today, Feb. 4, the retirement of Women's Basketball head coach Bev Greenlaw at the end of the 2014-15 season.

During his seven-year tenure, Acadia became a true CIS Women's Basketball contender and created a unique connection with the Annapolis Valley basketball community, initiating highly regarded girls' basketball camps, the Junior Axewomen program, and satellite camps and clinics throughout southwestern Nova Scotia.

Under Greenlaw's leadership, the Axewomen regularly made CIS Top 10 appearances and, in 2011-12, captured the first AUS championship in the program's history and the first Acadia regional title since 1950-51. Greenlaw was also selected AUS Coach of the Year.

In five years, Acadia produced three CIS women's basketball All-Canadians -- Alise Brown, Emma Duinker, and Lindsay Harris -- each of whom was also a CIS Academic All-Canadian.  Emma and sister Abbey Duinker are currently enjoying solid careers as professional basketball players in Europe. Alise Brown is a lawyer, while Lindsay Harris is excelling in a Masters in Nutrition program at Ryerson.  

The revitalized Axewomen program has had a significant impact on young girls from the community and their families, and the program enjoys an impeccable reputation throughout the Annapolis Valley, with a fan base that is distinct within the CIS, outdrawing many other CIS schools from larger metropolitan areas.

"I really just want to say thank you," Greenlaw noted. "I am grateful to Brian Heaney for recruiting me to Acadia, and to Kevin Dickie for his steadfast support. President Ray Ivany and VP Finance and Administration Darrell Youden have been amazing leaders for us in Athletics.

"Thank you, as well, to each member of our tightly-knit Acadia Athletics staff and fellow coaches. I am going to miss every one of you. And I want to express my deep appreciation to all the people -- leadership, staff, faculty, students and everyone at Acadia -- who dedicate themselves and their lives to making Acadia University such a distinctly personal, people-oriented community."

Greenlaw added, "I am immensely fortunate in having Sylvia Hamilton as my life partner, and we are graced by our daughter Shani. We are looking forward to being able to enjoy one another's company far more often than coaching ever allowed."

Greenlaw concluded his thank-you message by praising all his players and coaching staff through the last seven years. "I have been blessed with amazing Assistant Coaches, past and present. We have been fortunate to spend our time among such wonderful young women," he said. "A special thank you to our current team members: you have shown fortitude, resilience and an unyielding willingness to continue to pay your dues and do the necessary work to improve. I will miss being with you as you continue your climb up the AUS ranks."

‎Acadia's Director of Athletics, Kevin Dickie, praised Greenlaw's tireless efforts with the basketball program over seven seasons. "I had the chance to work with Bev both when I coached at Acadia and now as the Athletic Director. Bev is a good friend and I'm happy for he and Sylvia as they begin the next chapter of their lives. Bev has given everything possible to Acadia, and turned a varsity team, into a strong community program. Highlights for me include the tremendous Jr. Axewomen Basketball Program that Bev helped found and has turned so many young girls on to basketball. And, obviously, our 2012 AUS Championship."

Dickie points out that the future is bright for the Axewomen basketball program. "It's an exciting time for our program moving forward. The foundation is here at Acadia to recruit the best CIS prospects regionally and nationally, and to take the next step in being a perennial AUS contender."

A national search for a new head coach will begin immediately, and a celebration of Greenlaw's accomplishments will take place at the Axewomen's final basketball home game of the regular season on Friday, February 20th versus the UPEI Panthers.