Temple hires former Palmer High School basketball player

Aug. 27, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

Fred Chmiel is quickly climbing the basketball coaching

ladder.

Just a year after the 1999 Palmer High School graduate made the jump from the junior college to professional level, Chmiel has now found himself a home with one of the nation's more notable college basketball institutions. Earlier this month, Chmiel was named an assistant coach in the Temple University women's basketball program.

Part of the lure of this position, Chmiel said, was the opportunity to work with Owl head coach Dawn

Staley.

In her six seasons at Temple, Staley has established herself as one of the top coaches in the country. She's won Atlantic 10 coach-of-the-year honors multiple times, and already has reached 100 wins. She also has the unusual distinction of coaching at Temple during the winter and spring, and playing professionally in the WNBA during the summer.

That is how Staley got to know Chmeil. Last season, Staley played for the Charlotte Sting, where Chmeil was an assistant coach.

&#8220I'm lucky enough to be working with Dawn Staley,” Chmeil said. &#8220She has limitless potential within the women's game.”

After 10 seasons as a JUCO coach, Chmeil was hired by the Sting in the spring of 2005. After a season in Charlotte, he accepted a position as head coach of the San Jose Spiders in the National Women's Basketball League, a level of basketball that could be compared to the minor leagues in professional baseball.

Chmeil said he is fortunate to have had the chance to coach at the professional level, but is eager to return to the college ranks.

&#8220It was definitely a learning experience,” Chmiel said. &#8220I got to see a lot of things I wouldn't have seen. But I'm back to teaching, and I have a lot more time with the

players.”

Chmeil said Staley's assistants do not have designated roles on the Temple staff, but he will be working a lot with team defense and scouting.

&#8220Fred is a talented basketball mind who brings a wealth of knowledge from the collegiate and professional levels,” Staley said in a press release issued by the university. &#8220He will be an asset to our staff as our program continues to grow.”

Chmiel was a standout basketball player at PHS, and continued playing at Feather River Community College. At the Northern California school, Chmiel averaged 12.5 points, but was recognized more for his defensive play.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz

at sports@frontiersman.com.