Post Classifieds
Curran looks to continue program's tradition
By Chris Dierken
On March 6, 2013
Marie Curran stands in the middle of the gym, pushing her players to run the bases as
hard as they can.
At one point, she calls her team over to first base and explains the use of angles in base
running. She demonstrates which angles they should use depending on the situation,
and then her players put the teaching into practice.
From the outside, this may seem like a little league softball practice, but for the Buffalo
State softball team, this is just another typical off-season workout.
"A lot of people just refer to me as 'the aggressive coach,'" Curran said after running
her team through a tough practice last Saturday morning. "We attack defensively; we're
going to do some crazy stuff to catch people off guard.
"Offensively, we will be the most aggressive team here. I'm okay with getting people
thrown out, and we will get people thrown out, but we're going to score a lot more
because of it."
Curran, who took over as interim coach last season after the death of Sandy Hollander,
is looking to build on the tradition the legendary coach cultivated at Buffalo State.
Hollander was the Bengals' head softball coach for 24 years. She passed away on April 2,
2012, leaving behind a program that she built to consistently compete with the best in
the country.
Curran coached the team the rest of the year, and on July 16, 2012, officially took over
as head coach. Now, coming into her first full season as coach, Curran hopes to continue
the success that Hollander had at Buffalo State.
"Sandy left way too early in life but left a tradition, left a legacy, left a program that
many people would have loved to have taken over," Curran said.
Those around the program have the utmost confidence in Curran's ability to continue
the winning culture surrounding the team.
Buffalo State athletics director Jerry Boyes thinks that the way the team handled last
year's tragedy under the guidance of Curran bodes well for the future.
"She made that transition so well," he said. "She did such a good job working with the
kids through that life adversity, and working with the girls through softball, teaching
them how to handle life adversity."
Now, with the help of a full off-season to instill her philosophy, Curran and the Bengals
are ready to get on the field and let their play speak for itself.
For a program that consistently makes the SUNYAC playoffs, the goals become bigger
than just making it to the postseason. This year, the team's goal is to win the SUNYAC
and make it to the NCAA tournament.
Curran not only thinks that goal is appropriate for the team, but she thinks it is realistic,
as well.
"If our girls weren't saying they wanted to be the conference champions, I would be
questioning what they were doing here," she said. "To me, I would love to see this
senior class make it to the NCAAs.
"Do I think we can do it? When they focus, yes. They can play with the best of them
when they're focused."
It is this confidence that motivates the players to pursue the conference title.
Senior Brieanna Brink thinks that seeing Curran's determination is what gives her and
the team the faith that they can go out and win every day.
"She has this fight in her," Brink said. "She believes in us and wants us to win and do the
best we can, and I think that since she believes, we all believe."
For now, the team is resolved to continuing its off-season training in the gym. The
players are chomping at the bit to start playing outside, but they know the work they
are putting in now will pay dividends during the season.
Curran continues to push her players, and they are responding.
Every member of the team is carrying out her philosophy, and senior Breanna Fenski
believes that is a product of the example Curran sets.
"Every single person has bought into coach's style," she said. "...Everybody is just really
excited to work for coach, and that's really important."
Chris Dierken can be reached by email at dierken.record@live.com and on Twitter
@cdierken.
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