Corri Stanley has resigned her position as Central Catholic’s head girls basketball coach after six seasons at the helm, a run that included two co-championships in the Three Rivers Athletic Conference.
Stanley, a 2003 Central graduate and former Irish player, had served on the Irish coaching staff for 12 years. As head coach, her teams were 98-44 overall. Central ended the 2019-20 season 13-11 overall, and was second in the TRAC at 10-4.
The reason Stanley is stepping away is family.
Her and husband Eddie Stanley have a 10-month-old son, Colton, and they are expecting their second child in September. Corri Stanley will remain at Central Catholic as a social studies teacher, a position she has held for 13 years.
“The decision to step down has been heavy on my heart for quite some time now,” she said. “It has been an extremely tough and emotional decision. I have had the opportunity to lead an incredible program, and build something I truly believe in. That is not easy to step away from.
“When next season begins, I will have a newborn and a 16-month-old. My first priority will be caring for them and being the best mother I can be. In the end I know I am making the right decision for my family and for the program. I love coaching, but there is nothing that makes me happier than being a mom.”
Corri Stanley played at Central Catholic under highly-successful former head coach Steve Pfahler for three varsity seasons (2000 to 2003), a span that included three City League championships, a Division I state semifinal appearance her sophomore year, and a No. 1 final state ranking her senior year.
She later played basketball at Adrian College, where she earned her education degree, then returned to Central as a teacher.
“Central Catholic is grateful for the hard work, dedication, and success that coach Stanley has brought to the Lady Irish basketball program,” Central athletic director Greg Dempsey said. “She has built an outstanding program, and has been a great mentor to our student-athletes.
“She is Irish through and through, and we are very lucky to have her as a member of our family."
Corri Stanley began her coaching career leading the junior varsity team under Pfahler, became varsity assistant under Marty McGurk, then was elevated to the varsity post.
“When the time is right for my family, I hope to find my way back to coaching,” Corri Stanley said. “I am still passionate about the game, and my heart is still deeply invested in coaching.”
Stanley was named TRAC coach of the year in 2014-15 and District 7 Coaches Association Division II coach of the year in 2017-18.
“I have spent the past 12 seasons coaching the Lady Irish, and the members of the program mean the world to me,” Corri Stanley said. “If you know me well, you know how much the program means to me, and you know that I poured my heart into it.
“The place my players and the program have in my heart can never be replaced. I am lucky to be leaving with wonderful memories that I will never forget.”
First Published April 29, 2020, 6:52 p.m.
