The women’s basketball team brings a season of change by moving to the Southland Conference, transitioning to Div. I and the hiring of new staff.
McIntye
Head coach Julie Goodenough, in her 20th year of coaching and only her second year at ACU, adds not one but two new members to the Wildcat family, assistant coaches Mattilyn McIntye and Kendra Hassell.
“Moving into the Southland Conference, we are definitely excited,” Goodenough said.
“This is a great opportunity and a nice chance to go against a few of the coaches of teams I’ve known for a while.”
Goodenough said she picked the best of the best. Coach McIntye comes in well-traveled, having spent two years playing guard professionally in Alexandria, Romania and Olivais, Portugal.
Adding to her experience, she was a member of the United States’ team at the 2013 Williams Jones Cup, which was hosted in Taiwan.
Coach McIntye also found success state-side. While attending Arkansas-Little Rock University, she helped lead her team to a Sun Belt Conference title (West Division).
While continuing her education at Texas A&M Commerce, she was named to the Second Team All-Lone Star Conference (North Division) twice.
As for here at ACU, Coach McIntye will specialize in recruiting, coordinating travel for the team and aiding the point guards.
Goodenough and Hassell have a history that spans 14 years. The two first met when Hassell played for Goodenough at Hardin Simmons in 1999.
This season marks the third time in which the duo will be coaching together. Hassel was Goodnough’s graduate assistant at Oklahoma State University and, later, her assistant coach and recruiter at Charleston State University.
Like coach McIntye, coach Hassell also joins the ‘Cats with a prestigious player background.
While attending Harding- Simmons University, she was named to the Kodak First Team All-American twice, an American Southwest Conference Female Athlete of the Year and received the 2003 NCAA Texas Woman of the Year award.
“When we added an additional position on our staff, it was a natural decision to call coach Hassell,” Goodenough said.
Goodenough said the team the is excited to see what this season will bring with the new staff.
