The Saline Reporter
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Breneman resigns
Announcement made at banquet brings 13-year Saline tenure to close
By Jerry Hinnen, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 15, 2007
After 13 years at the helm of the Hornets, Terry Breneman has resigned as head coach of the Saline boys' basketball team.
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Breneman announced his resignation at the conclusion of Tuesday night's postseason team banquet.
"This was my 25th year as a head coach, first at Wyandotte and then Saline, and I'd like to announce that I'm taking a break," Breneman told the audience. "I'd like to thank everyone who made my time at Saline so enjoyable. I'd like to thank (this year's) players and all the players I've had at Saline … I'm very proud of everything we've accomplished here."
Afterward, Breneman said the decision was made partly to be more "available" for his two sons (including Saline senior Steven, who will attend Michigan State this fall), but also out of his conviction that the "climate" around the Hornet program would be better served by a new coach.
"I think someone else needs to step in and give it a fresh outlook," he said.
Breneman also asserted that his resignation was in no way a response to his team's struggles and 5-16 record this season.
"That didn't negatively affect my decision at all," he said. "I was 99 percent sure heading into the season that I would (resign) at the end, but that didn't affect the way I coached or prepared the team for next year. What's difficult is giving up a team with this much experience and this much potential. They could be very good next season."
Saline athletic director Rob White hopes to find the coach that will lead the Hornets through that season "as quickly as possible." The application process could begin as soon as this week, with a committee to screen applicants scheduled to be formed in the very near future.
"The goal would be May 1," he said. "It would be good for the players and the program to have a replacement in place in time for the end of the school year and summer hoops."
Whoever that coach proves to be, White said, will not have it easy matching the standards set by Breneman.
"Terry's dedication has bee a huge asset to this program. His record and experience speak for themselves," White said. "He's made a difference in the lives of many of our students. Whoever we hire to fill his shoes is going to have a difficult task."
For Breneman, next season will be a "year to reflect" on whether to continue his coaching career or not, although at this point he doubts he'll be ready to retire.
"I still have a passion for coaching, and I do believe I'll coach again," he said.
What he'll miss the most from his time at Saline, he said, was the quality of the athletes he had the privilege of coaching during his 13-year run.
"The big thing is the players," he said. "We've always had great kids here at Saline. I think our teams were overachievers. That's what we strive for, and I hope we've done that."
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