In 2021, Eastern Kentucky named Greg Todd as the Women’s basketball coach. Todd has spent his entire coaching career in Kentucky and is from Madison County, where EKU is located. Todd graduated from EKU in 1983. When Coach Todd was hired he said “I am so excited to come home and get the women’s basketball program to the top of the ASUN Conference as quickly as possible.” Greg Todd and the EKU WBB team deserve support, but the community is failing to do so.
As we near the back half of the 2024 ASUN season, Coach Todd has the program climbing. The problem is, that only a handful of people are watching. This women’s team has everything that typically draws fans in Richmond, yet the community seems to ignore them.
Local Coaching Legend
Greg Todd has improved EKU’s NET ranking by 35 spots in his first three years. As of this article, he holds a 51-37 record as a Colonel. Before coming to EKU, he coached both high school and college ball in Kentucky. He was at Berea Community High School, Lexington Catholic, Transylvania University, and Morehead State. At every stop, Coach Todd had the programs on the rise.
Transfer Portal Wins
Coach Todd has been impressive in the transfer portal in his time at EKU. Each year he has bolstered the roster with transfers from Marquette, Florida, and Ohio State among other schools. Danielle Rainey (Florida) is currently playing professionally overseas. Antwainette Walker (Marquette) joined EKU and was the ASUN Newcomer of the Year, First Team All-Asun, and Kentucky Women’s Basketball Player of the Year in 2023.
Pre-season Hype
Coming into the 2024 Season, the EKU Women’s team had high expectations that should have caught the attention of the community.
- Third in the Asun Preseason Poll
- Antwainette Walker was ASUN Preseason Player of the Year
- Walker and Alice Recanati were Preseason First Team All-Conference selections
Early Season Success
EKU fans are historically fickle. “If you win then we will show up.” Well, in non-conference play the lady Colonels went 11-3, only losing to 4th ranked Utah, University of Tennessee, and Chattanooga. The men’s team went 4-9 and had 4,000 fans, while the ladies were drawing closer to 200 if you don’t include family members.
Local Kids
Coach Todd has landed players from all over the country but has also landed recruits and transfers from Kentucky. Everyone loves local kids! He kept Brie Crittendon from Union, KY, landed Saniyah Shelton from Bowling Green, and brought in Ivy Turner (Northern Kentucky University) from Danville, KY.
Building Fast
Greg Todd and his staff have created a culture and system to allow these ladies to succeed and use their strengths. In just two seasons, Antwainette Walker has scored 1,000 points in her time at EKU. Guard Alice Recanati, who has another year of eligibility, has set the EKU all-time assists record that has stood since 1992. Recanati is also 1 of 13 active players in the nation to have 1,000 points, 500 assists, and 400 rebounds! Why wouldn’t you want to support these ladies?
Calling All “Fans”
Greg Todd and the EKU WBB team deserve support, but the community is failing. It is time for Richmond and all of Madison County to show up and support the EKU Women’s Basketball team. Tickets are $5. The band is electric. The girls play amazing basketball. The coach is one of us! There are only three home games left, Saturday, February 24, Thursday, February 29, and Saturday, March 2. Show up and cheer on EKU Women’s basketball!
Calling All Students
While the administration has supported the ladies, the students do not even show up. The student section should be full and raucous for the final three games.
Vince hosts the Sports Stove Podcast and dedicates a show every Monday to cover EKU Sports. Tune in via YouTube and hear interviews with EKU student-athletes and coaches. Follow Vince on Twitter for more sports opinions, and check out Belly Up Sports for more sports news. All photos were taken by members of the EKU staff and were used with permission.
