Yes, the luck of the Irish is returning for another season.
Cal Poly starting guard Rachel Clancy exercised her final year of collegiate eligibility and will wear green and gold during the 2010-11 women’s basketball season. She will defer the start to a master’s degree program at Trinity University in Ireland — her home country.
Six months ago, the 5-foot-9-inch shooting guard stood firm in her decision to leave the West Coast, but on- and off-court success stirred up doubt, leaving her thoughts teeter-tottering.
“I definitely was not coming back,” Clancy said. “I never thought I’d be in college for five years.”
Clancy started all 29 games for the Mustangs in the 2009-10 season, sinking 49 three-pointers and earning All-Big West honorable mention. She finished the season second on the team in scoring, rebounding and minutes played.
With her success, Clancy found herself torn: venture into the world of global health, or enjoy one more year in the spotlight as a Mustang?
Clancy decided she’s sticking around; her team couldn’t be happier.
Big West Player of the Year Kristina Santiago said she almost collapsed when she heard the news of Clancy’s decision to rejoin the team.
“I was in study hall, and my heart dropped,” Santiago said. “I mean, that’s my player right there. She’s a leader, a motivator and the most vocal girl out there. I always know where she is on the court.”
After two seasons with the Mustangs, Clancy’s on-court presence has proven to be an integral part of the team’s arsenal. She has averaged 11.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 30.8 minutes per game.
Head coach Faith Mimnaugh said what’s most impressive about her catch-and-shoot specialist, in terms of their coach-player relationship, is her knack to “stay on the ball.”
“Everything Rachel touches in life turns to gold. She pursues to be the best at whatever she does. If I had to give her a grade as a person and a basketball player, I’d give her an ‘A+,'” Mimnaugh said.
This is Clancy’s final year as an undergraduate, but she has one more year of eligibility playing basketball.
According to NCAA Women’s Basketball rules, players transferring between Division-1 athletic programs must sit out for one year. To save a year of collegiate eligibility, Clancy spent her first season at Cal Poly riding the bench as a redshirt — a player who practices and travels with the team but doesn’t play in regular or post-season games.
Clancy said one of the reasons she returned was her relationships with her teammates.
“I didn’t think I’d be sad,” she said, talking about her anticipated departure. “But I’ve made some really close friends.”
Ashley Cascio, a redshirt freshman guard, described Clancy as an amazing player and a key aspect in achieving the team’s goals. Cascio, however, is equally excited to hang with her friend outside the confines of Mott Gym.
“What Rach’s return means to me is I have another year to spend with one of my great friends and make more memories that I will always cherish — like going to California Pizza Kitchen and knowing exactly what we want every time. I will always have her friendship even when she leaves, but I’m glad that it’s not this year. I appreciate her decision because I know she is giving up a lot by staying another year,” she said.
Fellow guard Caroline Reeves said Clancy has the best work ethic she has ever seen and thanks higher powers for her return.
“It’s hard to explain how excited I am that Rachel is coming back,” Reeves said. “She missed the first day of (spring) workouts, and I thought that meant she had decided to return to Ireland. I was so sad that entire day, and at the end of the day, when I found out she was staying at Cal Poly, I couldn’t stop smiling. It’s such a blessing to have her for another year.”
Santiago added “inspirational” to Clancy’s list of attributes and dubbed Clancy as the team jokester.
“Rachel is so hilarious,” Santiago said. “She has that dry, sarcastic humor, ya’ know? When she first got here, I never really got to know her. But this year, she kind of came out of her shell. Now you can hear her in the background cracking jokes. We truly became a family because of her.”
Clancy’s comeback puts the ‘two’ back in the Mustang’s one-two punch. And according to her teammates, the ball seems to find her no matter what, which is why they call her a ball magnet.
The lucky charm helped lead her team to the Big West Semifinal game and scored 14 points and nabbed 12 boards — her second double-double in the year — in the 54-51 loss to UC Riverside.
Her on-court hustle has translated into off-court bustle, where she has gained respect from the dean of her college.
Dean Phillip Bailey, of the College of Science and Mathematics, said Clancy’s GPA ranks in the top-two percentile among all Cal Poly students. Bailey met Clancy on her official visit to Cal Poly four years ago and says he looks forward to after-game hugs from his favorite basketball player. He said they are friends and that the decision to stay was hers and only hers.
While admitting he would have been sad to see Clancy go, Bailey said that the choice will add wisdom to her already jovial character.
“Learning is a personal responsibility, and this next year will be filled with the commitment and camaraderie, which will give her a tremendous opportunity to grow as a person,” he said.
Before transferring to Cal Poly, Clancy attended Duquense University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Mimnaugh said she thought they had Clancy recruited when she visited Cal Poly her first time. But for personal reasons, Clancy favored the East Coast.
Clancy, then 18 and fresh on the college scene, said she chose Duquense over Cal Poly because it was closer to her family. But, after not feeling like she was making a difference on the court, and after Duquense’s head coach resigned, she contacted Cal Poly seeking a change of scenery.
“Everyone, I mean everyone, lived on campus — and if you’re not a Steeler, Penguin or Pirate, you pretty much don’t exist there,” she said, about her experience living and playing in Pittsburgh.
Clancy said living on the Central Coast, attending Cal Poly and playing basketball have made for a well-rounded college experience, which is what she expected.
“(In San Luis Obispo), when I go out wearing a Cal Poly T-shirt, people are so nice and are like, ‘Hey, you play for Poly?'” she said.
Spring practice is in full-swing and as the Mustangs are rolling off an upset in the semifinal round of the Big West tournament to UC Riverside, Clancy said she and her teammates have their sights set on bringing a title next year.
“Since the day after we lost, the focus has been getting to the NCAA Championship,” Clancy said.