She is, for now, the most successful coach in Oregon basketball history. And while her exit from the University will be clouded by controversy, Jody Runge’s tenure at Oregon was filled with nothing but success on the court.
It ended Monday after eight years of service when Runge resigned as head coach of the women’s basketball team.
“The events of the last six weeks have led me to the conclusion that it is in the best interests of the program to resign at this time,” Runge said in a released statement.
Runge was hired in 1993 following the firing of 17-year veteran Elwin Heiny. She took over a 9-18 program that hadn’t had a winning season in three years.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to coach at a prestigious institution like Oregon,” Runge told the Emerald on April 9, 1993, when she was hired. “I want to put Oregon back on the map.”
The former Missouri assistant had immediate success, guiding the hungry Ducks to a 20-9 record and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1987.
Runge would find much more success on the court over the next seven years. Her Oregon teams won no fewer than 17 games and qualified for the NCAA Tournament each year.
Off the court, however, tensions began to rise between Runge and the Athletic Department. As early as 1995, Runge and then-Athletic Director Rich Brooks battled over an extension of her one-year, $42,000 contract. This started a rift between Runge and the Athletic Department that lasted until her resignation Monday.
Following the Ducks’ third straight NCAA Tournament appearance under Runge, more trouble arose. Runge revoked the scholarship of sophomore Kristin Niemann after the 1995-96 season, causing Niemann to leave the team and go into psychological counseling.
Later in the year, guard Elsa Oliveira accused assistant coach Kelly Kebe of slapping her in the face. At the beginning of the 1996-97 season, two Australian players, Renae Fegent and Natasha O’Brien, were suspended for their involvement with a semi-professional Australian league. Runge was unaware that their involvement infringed on NCAA rules.
That season, following road losses to the Washington schools, Runge and star guard Arianne Boyer, then a junior, clashed when Runge asked players to write down on paper why they lost. Boyer blamed her coach, which led Runge to suspend Boyer and call a meeting with Athletic Director Bill Moos and Boyer’s parents.
Boyer, who finished her career fifth on the all-time scoring list, spoke out against Runge this year, saying she “is not a good coach.”
While the Ducks continued their success on the court in the late ’90s, tensions mounted between Runge, the Athletic Department, Oregon players and even her own coaching staff. Assistant coach Stephanie Osburn-Norman, a favorite of Duck players, did not return to the team following the 1998-99 season after Runge did not renew her contract.
The next season, Oregon won its first outright Pac-10 Conference title and advanced to its seventh straight NCAA Tournament. Runge was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year, her second such honor.
Up until this season, the controversy surrounding Runge and her program was for the most part ignored. Then eight undisclosed players went to Moos to address grievances against Runge, which ultimately appeared to have led to her resignation.
“While the accomplishments of our women’s basketball program are impressive,” Moos said. “I had some concerns that did not pertain to the win-loss record.”