Students want women's basketball Coach Tracy Roller to stay at Ball State University, according to Student Government Association senators who voted in support of renewing her contract.
SGA pushed legislation through Wednesday recommending Roller's contract be extended because of her winning record and passion for Ball State. Student Senate unanimously approved the proposal.
Roller coached the women's basketball team for the past six years and led it to win three Mid-America Conference West division championships among other recognitions. Her contract with Ball State will expire at the end of the month unless it is renewed.
Senate voted to skip to the final reading of the legislation so it could be voted on at the meeting because of the issue's time sensitivity.
"We have to show our support for her by Friday because at the close of the athletic office Friday is when Coach Roller's contract has to be signed," Sen. Matt Lacy said.
President Betsy Mills supported the legislation and said many students have asked what SGA could do to help Roller get her contract renewed. Students want Roller to remain as coach and have shown it by attending games, voting for her in a Daily News poll and protesting the delay in extending her contract, Mills said.
While passing the legislation will not secure a contract extension, showing student support should influence administrators, she said.
"I feel we do have an administration who listens to the student voice and this legislation will help and by the end of the week Coach Roller will have an outstanding contract to sign," Mills said.
Kelsey Corbin, co-captain for the women's basketball team, spoke on behalf of the legislation. Roller is enthusiastic and a great coach to work with, Corbin said, and the team wants Roller to return next year as much as she wants to return.
"She absolutely does, and she is doing her best," Corbin said. "For us, it's never been a question and it's not something we are
wondering. This is where she wants to be and she has demonstrated that."
Besides Roller's and the team's desire for her to stay, Corbin agreed with Mills that student support is important and that it shows the university how much Roller is wanted. She isn't just important to the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the basketball team but to Ball State and the community as a whole, Corbin said.
"Tracy wants to be here and her team wants her to be here just as badly, and I'm extremely confident the administration is going to be able to get it done, but the support of the student body is going to help," Corbin said.
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