Debbie Black making a difference at Marple Newtown

When Debbie Black returned to her hometown in Bucks County, coaching high school basketball was the last thing on her mind. But then she heard from a friend that Marple Newtown had an open spot on the bench. Shortly thereafter, then-head coach Ryan Wolski asked if she would be interested in an assistant’s position.

“And I said, ‘Sure, but here’s my deal: I have never coached high school,’” Black said after Monday’s game against Lower Moreland.

Oh, that wasn’t a dealbreaker.

Black, who starred at Archbishop Wood and Saint Joseph’s, was a 15-year pro in various leagues including the WNBA until retirement in 2005. She was named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year at 35 years old. Years later, she became head coach at Eastern Illinois from 2013-17 and spent time on staffs at Vanderbilt, Ohio State and Chattanooga.

Black became the head coach at Marple after Wolski stepped down. She has enjoyed opportunity to develop players at this level.

“Helping these young girls is so much fun for me, and it’s so different than college,” Black said. “Basketball is basketball. I am doing what I love. I do clinics at a community rec center with my sister (Barbara) near where I grew up in Bucks County. I didn’t know I would be a head coach when I came back (to the area), but here I am and I really love it.”

The Tigers are building for the future. Right now they lack varsity depth. Ellie DiBona, Catherine Kirby and Rowan Hilden are the veteran seniors, paving the way for the underclassmen. Sophomore guard/forward Taylor Murrin (a second-year starter) and freshman point guard Olivia Gicking will be the leaders of the program in time.

Gicking is the daughter of Tigers athletic director and head football coach, Chris Gicking.

“I coached Olivia for two years in AAU, so I already knew what she could do. She is little, my size, but I couldn’t shoot as well as she does,” said Black, who earned the nickname “The Pest” during her playing days. “She has to understand she’s not big, that she can’t pass the ball over people. She is getting better. She’s played in all 16 games, every minute.”

The 55-50 loss to 10-4 Lower Moreland was a result of poor foul shooting and too many missed layups. A recurring theme for the Tigers. But it was a winnable game, the first of four this week for Black’s team. The Tigers (8-8 before Tuesday) are on pace to end the regular season with double-digit wins and qualify for the District 1 Class 5A tournament next month.

“The kids are great. They haven’t quit and they give it everything they have. You saw that tonight,” Black said. “I can’t ask for more. Their effort is amazing.”

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Marple Newtown's Ellie DiBona shoots in a game against Upper Darby last season. (Pete Bannan - MediaNews Group)