After five years of dedicated service to the Troubadour Basketball program, the last two as head varsity coach, Heather Volek Brownholtz has submitted her resignation to St. Francis Athletics and gave a grateful goodbye to the school's administration and her returning varsity players. On a recent zoom meeting with her team, Brownholtz conveyed that her family business has experienced significant growth over the past few months and the increased time demands on her schedule led to the difficult decision to pass the reins of the program to someone who could commit the proper time and energy she feels the players deserve.
"I was blessed to lead and work with the most talented, brilliant, hardworking and dedicated student-athletes during my time at St. Francis" Brownholtz said in a letter to the SF Basketball community. "I am grateful to the parents who supported my vision and dedicated countless hours to the program; your support for the team and the staff make St. Francis a great place to coach."
Athletic Director Mark McGreevy reflected, "Five years ago as our head freshman coach, Heather quickly demonstrated that we had someone very special on staff. Her extraordinary commitment to the development of her students as basketball athletes and more importantly as women of character led to her taking the first chair on Coach Vic Pitton's varsity staff in 2017 and ultimately assuming leadership of the program upon his retirement. We're so blessed to have benefitted from her leadership of Troubie basketball and will truly miss her regular presence in the gym not only as a talented coach but as a genuine role-model and friend."
In her two years as head varsity coach, Brownholtz led the Troubadours to consecutive CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoff appearances while mentoring six first-team All-Delta League selections including Mia Flemming Mullins ('20) who earned CalHi All-State recognition and Delta League Player-of-the-Year honors following the 2019-20 season. Three Troubie hoopsters have accepted collegiate basketball opportunities under the tutelage of Coach Brownholtz including Nika Bagatelos ('19, Chapman), Lauren Pank ('19, Linfield) and Mullins (Pacific).
McGreevy announced that the search for a replacement will begin immediately.
