Crawford steps down as volleyball coach, Rust named interim

(Nov. 7, 2001)--Katrinka Jo Crawford, head volleyball coach at UTSA for the past six years, has been reassigned to an assistant to the athletic director position in the UTSA Athletic Department it was announced by Athletic Director Lynn Hickey.

Crawford's position as head of the Roadrunner volleyball program will be filled temporarily by Rhonda Rust, who was named interim head coach for the remainder of the 2001 season. Rust has been an assistant at UTSA for the past three seasons.

Crawford, who helped lead UTSA to its first NCAA Tournament berth last season, has 434 career coaching victories to her credit, with 98 coming at UTSA over the past six years. Diagnosed with renal cancer in June of 1999, Crawford has remained the guiding force on the sideline for UTSA, before just recently needing extra time away from the court to battle her illness.

"Katrinka will step away from volleyball for the rest of this season and become an assistant to the director in charge of volleyball," Hickey said. "She will still play a very active part in the department operations. We feel it's in everyone's best interest right now that Rhonda Rust take full charge of the program for the remainder of the season. The team has four regular season matches remaining and we feel that they have a chance to return to the NCAA Tournament again this year."

UTSA is currently 9-14 overall, with a 8-8 record in Southland Conference (SLC) play.

"Because of everything going on for me away from the court, I thought it was best for the change to take place at this time," Crawford said. "The program is in good hands with Rhonda Rust and Laura Groff running things, and this will allow me time to get myself back together again. It's the biggest challenge I have ever been through, but I am a fighter. I treat it just like a competition, I am going to try and beat it the best I can."

Rust came to San Antonio as Crawford's assistant three seasons ago after a distinguished playing career at Texas-Arlington, where she was an all-conference performer before graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in exercise sport and health studies in 1999.

"The most important thing in all of this is Katrinka's well being," said Rust. "She has laid the ground work for UTSA volleyball to successful year in and year out, and it is our job to continue the legacy until she returns."

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