At the end of the 2015-2016 school year, long time member of the Athletic Department Ronny Fisher decided that after over a decade of coaching the men’s and women’s basketball teams here at Presbyterian College, he would be accepting a head coaching position at Campbell University. Even though his decision was a shock to everyone, Athletic Director Brian Reese quickly began his search to find someone to continue Coach Fisher’s great work in the Women’s Basketball program. After over a month of interviews with different coaching candidates, Coach Todd Steelman was chosen to lead the Blue Hose during the 2016-2017 campaign. In a recent interview with the BlueStocking, Coach Steelman provided some insight into his decision to join the Blue Hose family and let us know what he is most excited about.

BS: “What are you most excited about for this season?”

TS: “There’s so many things. I think I am most excited to really succeed and to have a group that can really go for it— it is a really special opportunity.”

BS: “What was the hardest part about accepting the job here?”

TS: “The hardest part was leaving friends and family in Maine—they were really friends who had become family [Coach Steelman is married to Tracy Steelman and is father to Matthew, Hannah, and Jonathan]. It was a great situation there, but it was obviously outweighed greatly by the positives of coming here.”

BS: “What is your favorite thing about PC?”

TS: “I think the intimate environment, as cliché as that sounds. Everybody knows everybody and it is an easy thing to get everyone on board. Big time sports with a small school feel.”

BS: “What is your marketing strategy to get more people to come to games?”

TS: “I think our presence is important. We will be active on campus and in the community. We will be at things and be involved beyond what is going on inside of Templeton. Also, the product that we put on the floor…we will be fun to watch and it will be an enjoyable brand of basketball.”

BS: If you were not coaching, what would your career be?”

TS: “I would be doing one of two things. I would either be doing sports broadcasting or I would be in Nashville trying to bang it out as a singer somewhere.” Fun fact: Coach Todd Steelman once sang the national anthem at UNC @ Chapel Hill!

This season, for the first time in program history, the Women’s Basketball Team has a schedule comprised of only Division I teams and will be participating in a Thanksgiving tournament in Puerto Rico. The Blue Hose open their season against the University of Indiana on November 11th in Bloomington, Indiana. Be sure to tune in and help cheer them on to a victory!