Riverland Community College is about to go through its first winter without a women’s basketball team since the program started in 1972-1973.

The Blue Devils had the second half of the season suspended in the 2004-2005 season due to injuries and ineligible players, but the program is without a coach and will not play any games this season. RCC had some returning players from last year ready to go, but after long-time RCC head coach Suzy Hebrink retired last year, the Blue Devils weren’t able to secure a coach for this season.

RCC athletic director Dave Lillemon said the school plans on bringing the program back next year and the team is hoping to have a coach hired soon.

“It’s not uncommon [to miss a season]. It’s happened in our conference. Sometimes someone drops a sport or goes club for one year and comes back,” Lillemon said. “It’s a tough situation and we hope that whoever we hire can get back out there and show that this program is important not only to our college, but to our community.”

Lillemon said anyone interested in applying for the coaching job can e-mail him at david@riverland.edu or call him at 507-433-0543.

“We are in the process of accepting applicants and we will be interviewing soon to get a women’s coach in place so they can start recruiting for next year,” he said.

Lillemon said having athletics is crucial for RCC and he estimated the school brings in around 100 athletes each year. Most of those athletes are recruited and sometimes they will bring a friend of a family member along with them, which boosts enrollment numbers.

“It’s really vital for our success,” Lillemon said.