CALIFORNIA, Pa.-After eight extremely successful seasons that included five PSAC West championships, four PSAC championships, three East Regional championships, two Final Four appearances, and a national championship, head coach Darcie Vincent will be leaving the California (Pa.) Vulcan bench.

Vincent will be moving on to Appalachian State to be the seventh head coach in the 36-year history of the program and will replace Adrienne Shuler who just finished her sixth season at the helm.

Vincent will leave California with an 82-14 record against PSAC West opponents during the regular season. At home, Vincent finished her tenure with a 116-8 (93.3%) record, and an overall record of 212-47 (81.9%).

Vincent began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at Duquesne, then spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Slippery Rock before taking over the head coaching reigns for The Rock in 1996.

She took on a PSAC last-place finisher, and in just four years, led The Rock to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight tournament. After struggling the first season, Vincent's squad earned three-straight PSAC post-season bids and capped her tenure at The Rock with a 23-7 overall record in 2000.

When Vincent arrived at Cal U in July of 2000, she had aspirations of coaching her Vulcan team to a National Championship. Four years later she accomplished that goal in 2004. The 35-year-old Vincent achieved an accomplishment that many other coaches spend a lifetime pursuing--winning a national title by compiling a 35-1 record, the best in school history. The 2003-2004 season will forever be remembered in Vulcan history. She was named the 2004 PSAC West and WBCA Regional Coach of the Year.

“As sorry as I am to see my memorable eight-year ride at Cal U end, my heart has been pounding since I decided to join the Appalachian family. It was a hard decision to make to leave a place that gave me such a great opportunity as a young coach, but I am ready to hit the ground running,” said Vincent about her new position.

Appalachian State athletic director Charlie Cobb announced Friday that Vincent would be tabbed the new Women’s Basketball head coach.

California athletic director Dr. Thomas G. Pucci said, “As much as we hate to see Darcie leave, it is bittersweet. She is a great coach and a great person to have on our staff. She truly deserves this chance at the Div. I level. I know that she has had opportunities in the past to advance her career and at this point she felt that it was the right time and the right place. “

Darcie will be no stranger to the rigors of Div. I basketball. She grew up in Fairmont, W.Va., but began her collegiate career at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa. While becoming arguably the best player in Lady Dukes history, she earned her B.A. in Business Marketing in 1992 and her Masters in Business Administration in 1994.

Vincent was a three time All-Atlantic 10 Conference player and a District Kodak All-American. Vincent is still a prominent name in the Duquesne record books as she is third in career scoring (1,538), assists (555), career steals (323), free throw percentage (.803) and career three point field goals (151). She was the first female ever inducted into the Duquesne Athletic Hall of Fame.

“With her leaving there will be a large void to fill, but we feel that in time we will find someone who can continue the winning ways of Vulcan basketball,” said Pucci. “We as an athletic department wish her the best of luck and will be continuing to keep an eye on her as she makes an impact at the next level.”

(Source California-Pa.)