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From St. Ambrose to the big stage for Bluder, Pingeton
Originally Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2009, 9:27 pm
Last Updated: Nov. 15, 2009, 11:28 pm
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Print this story | Email this storyLast Updated: Nov. 15, 2009, 11:28 pm
By Daniel Makarewicz, danmak@qconline.com
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IOWA CITY -- Their coaching careers began at NAIA women's basketball power St. Ambrose University. It took nearly 17 years for their paths to cross again. Iowa coach Lisa Bluder and Illinois State coach Robin (Becker) Pingeton shared the court Sunday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, marking the first time the former SAU leaders were on the same sidelines since 1992. Following a record-setting career under Bluder at SAU, Pingeton, who was 21 at the time, served as an assistant under her former coach at Drake for one season. A year later, Pingeton was the head coach at SAU. It was there Pingeton continued the tradition Bluder established during her six-year tenure. Just like her collegiate coach, Pingeton became a Division I head coach. "She had a huge impact on my career,"Pingeton said after coaching against Bluder for the first time Sunday. "She was a great coach and a great mentor and has been a great friend. It seems like so long ago. We had some great memories that we shared together through our experiences at St. Ambrose." In her playing career with the Queen Bees, Pingeton scored a school-record 2,502 points and competed in four NAIA national tournaments. A year after graduating from SAU in 1990, Bluder gave Pingeton her first coaching break. "She gave me an unbelievable opportunity at the age of 21 to be a Division I assistant coach,"Pingeton said. "She was always one that believed in me. To get in this profession at a young age, I give her all the credit for that." After earning a 75-67 win in the championship game of the KCRG-TV Hawkeye Challenge, Bluder praised her former player and colleague, saying she has "so much respect for Robin and what she's done." "When she was at St. Ambrose, she did a great job there," said Bluder, who was 165-36 at SAU. "I'm really proud of her. She's done a super job." In reality, both have done a tremendous job. Pingeton, who coached at SAU from 1992-2000, turned around a struggling ISU program that won 44 games the seven years prior to her tenure. Since she was hired in 2003, they've won 116 games and two Missouri Valley Conference Tournaments. "She's very professional and has done a great job turning around our program in the time she's been here," said Jenny (DeSmet) Putnam, who played for Pingeton at SAU and is now her assistant coach. "Playing under Robin was a great experience, and now coaching for her is even better." In 2000, Bluder took over an Iowa program that won 21 games the previous two seasons. She went 39-21 and earned two NCAA Tournament appearances in her first two seasons. Bluder has won 169 games with the Hawkeyes. The pair have been consistent winners at each coaching stop, but Putnam calls them "two great women in the game of basketball." "They're just great role models for this profession," said Putnam, a 1997 Alleman grad. "They've helped with the progress of where women's basketball is today." They've done it the right way. Sunday, they calmly coached from the sidelines and directed their teams with soothing approach. When it was necessary to talk to an official, Pingeton and Bluder were subtle and diplomatic. Their teams played with a sense of discipline and passion. It was not uncommon for their players to dive for loose balls or take a charge. And when the game was over, both coaches reflected on the unique expereince. "We both have families and are so busy with our teams, so there's not a lot of correspondence throughout the course of the season," Pingeton said. "But when we do see each other on the road, I try to remind her that I'm very thankful for the opportunities she gave me at a young age." Bluder gave those professional opportunities because she truly believed in Pingeton. "It's really fun to see your players go on,"Bluder said. "That they enjoyed the game that much while they played for you, that they want to be a part of it for their career, that's pretty special." 
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