Gamble says she is resigning as coach of Lady Mustangs basketball
MARBLE FALLS — After five years as the Marble Falls High School girls coordinator and head basketball coach, Stephanie Gamble said she will resign next week.
"I don’t want to hold up the process by dragging it out," the Lady Mustangs skipper said April 5. "There is a time you have to make a decision and move on."
In a similar move, Bruce Etheridge also announced April 5 this was his last year as the Marble Falls High boys head basketballcoach.
Gamble, who has a 100-66 overall record at Marble Falls, said her decision had nothing to do with athletic director and head football coach Todd Dodge, who took over the program Feb. 1.
"He has been very supportive, he’s been great with me," she said. "For those who would think otherwise, that would not be true."
Though she doesn’t know where she will next work, Gamble, who has been in education for 21 years, said she is keeping her options open. She hasn’t ruled out working in administration or continuing to teach and coach.
"I’m looking at big schools, looking in the city for a chance," she said.
Gamble took over a girls basketball program fresh off a Class 4A state tournament berth in May 2007 that was returning four starters.
She guided the Lady Mustangs to a No. 1-ranking in the Class 4A poll of the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, the first in the program’s history in any conference, and the first untied district championship in 20 years.
Marble Falls reached the regional finals but lost to Schertz Steele and sophomore guard Meighan Simmons, who is now a starter at the University of Tennessee.
After the seniors on that team graduated, few believed Marble Falls was capable of making a return trip to the playoffs in 2008-2009. But Gamble saw traits in that team few others saw.
In the end, the Lady Mustangs were co-district champions and reached the regional semifinals where they lost to Corpus Christi Ray.
"It’s always good when you go above other people’s expectations," she said with a grin.
Marble Falls continued to qualify for the playoffs each year until 2011-2012. Most of the players from the 2010-2011 season returned after going 2-1 in the postseason with mostly underclassmen.
But junior forward Kiara Etheridge tore an anterior cruciate ligament. Without her, the Lady Mustangs struggled.
"I can’t complain about any of the groups I’ve had," Gamble said. "I have kids who are lifelong friends. That’s important to me."
As the girls coordinator, Marble Falls has qualified for the playoffs in girls soccer and softball and had a doubles team win a district championship.
But Gamble left her mark on the girls basketball program, the most successful in the last 10 years at Marble Falls High School.
Gamble installed a work ethic and fundamentals in the the players that simply frustrated opponents. Many times, the Lady Mustangs blocked out so well the ball would hit the floor because no one was allowed to get it.
"One of my strengths is to get more out of players than they think they have to give," she said. "You raise the bar – they meet it. Kids will meet your expectations. I’ve been very good at that every place I have been."
The Lady Mustangs are a family, she said. It’s one of the reasons some return during the season to watch the current group take their shot at adding to the program’s history.
She doesn’t think it’s her place to recommend who the next coach should be, she said.
"I want what’s best for my kids," she said, "to take care of my kids. I’ve tried to serve the community of Marble Falls well. Now it’s time to move on."