Saint Martin’s University’s women’s basketball head coach Tim Healy has announced his retirement from the program after serving 22 years in the position.
About a month ago, Healy shared his intent on retiring from coaching at the end of this season with Saint Martin’s Athletic Director Bob Grisham and University President Roy Heynderickx. Said Healy, “I love coaching, I love the game. These past couple of years I have not lived up to my own expectations, so I think it’s time for someone else to help get Saint Martin’s back on the right track.”
Healy finished his career at Saint Martin’s University with the most wins of any coach in school history with over 250 wins. Healy came to Saint Martin’s in 1993 from Olympia High School, where he coached the boys’ basketball team. After serving two seasons as the assistant coach of the women’s team, Grisham promoted Healy to head coach before the 1995 season. Healy’s 22 years is longest tenure of any head coach at Saint Martin’s.
Under his leadership, the Saints reached the NCAA Tournament twice (2004-05, 2007-08) and made three Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament appearances (2010-11, 2013-14, 2014-15). His teams have also excelled in the classroom, being named five times GNAC Academic Team Champions and finishing in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-Academic Top 25 for four consecutive years (2007-10). Healy himself was named GNAC Coach of the Year in 2004-05.
“The most important thing about this job has been all the incredible young women I have had a chance to coach over the years. They have made me a better person, and I hold them all in the highest regard,” shared Healy.
In addition to his role as head coach, Healy has served as the chairman for the GNAC women’s basketball coaches committee, as well as on the NCAA West Region Rating Committee. He is also a long-standing member of the WBCA. Healy also taught in the classroom at Saint Martin’s, as an assistant professor in health and fitness at Saint Martin’s, where he was the department head, teaching kinesiology and exercise physiology.
Healy credited his long, successful career in coaching, a cumulative 37 years, to his wife, Cathy, and their two children, Ryan (wife, Megan, and daughters, Margaret and Eloise) and Tessa (Koeffler and husband, Jason). “A career spanning almost four decades doesn’t happen without the love and support of an amazing family,” Healy said. “I have been a very lucky man.”
At Saint Martin’s, Healy expressed gratefulness for the opportunity to work with so many wonderful assistant coaches and staff over the years. He especially thanked Athletic Director Grisham, whom he considers to be “a mentor, a leader and a friend.”
“Coach Healy has given so much to the program and the University,” said Grisham. “I appreciate his time, his talents, and above all, his commitment to Saint Martin’s and to the young people he has inspired throughout the years.”
“Being at Saint Martin’s has been a dream for me, a job I truly have given my heart and soul to, with few regrets. This is a unique and special place,” said Healy. “The camaraderie, loyalty and hard work shown by the people at Saint Martin’s have defined my experience, and I am impressed each and every day at the dedication shown here at this remarkable place.”
Grisham confirmed that a search for a new women’s basketball head coach will be announced shortly.
Photo Courtesy St. Martin’s Athletics
Tagged with: DII GNAC
