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New women's basketball coach Jodi Beth Kest resigns to take care of a family matter.
By STEVE LEE, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 10, 2002
SAINT LEO -- How's this for a quick turnaround?
Monday morning Saint Leo athletic director Fran Reidy accepted the resignation of women's basketball coach Jodi Beth Kest, who held the job for a week. Reidy had a verbal acceptance from Kerri Reaves by Tuesday afternoon.
"It's not a total disaster," said Reidy, adding that Reaves plans to be on campus Monday to sign paperwork and meet the players.
Reaves, a Providence assistant for six seasons, played at Marquette.
Reaves, 29, was among four finalists to replace Dave Wilson, who coached the Lions for three seasons before resigning in March. Kest was hired April 30, but left campus Monday for a "family matter," according to Reidy.
Reidy does not consider Reaves the school's second choice -- "more like 1A," he said.
Reidy said he was impressed with Reaves' "tenacity and her background as a player. She's probably able to show them as well as tell them."
Kest coached Gannon in Erie, Pa. before accepting the Saint Leo position. At Gannon, she turned around a program with nine consecutive losing seasons by guiding that Division II school to three straight 20-win seasons.
"Obviously, family issues are important to us," Reidy said, adding that Kest "didn't elaborate and I wasn't going to pry.
"She said it was a family matter she needed to attend to and it wasn't going to be resolved (any time soon).
Reidy, who said he had no telephone number for Kest, believed Kest had left the state and is in Cleveland.
"Let's move on," Reidy said.