Out of step Rhythm lose McElhiney as coach
Ashley McElhiney, the female coach of the ABA's Nashville Rhythm, will not return for a second season.
Associated Press
- NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Ashley McElhiney, the female coach of the ABA's Nashville Rhythm, will not return for a second season.
McElhiney's decision came the same week that owners announced the team was passing on a playoff berth. The franchise was put up for sale last month.
"I don't know what the future is for the Rhythm," McElhiney told The Tennessean on Wednesday. "For me, I think it's best that I move on and explore other opportunities."
McElhiney, the first woman to coach a men's pro team, led the Rhythm to a 21-10 record. They qualified for the eighth seed and a chance to host a first-round game.
The team owners declined the berth, saying they felt the team wasn't "ready for the playoffs."
"It's frustrating," McElhiney said. "That's what you play and practice for.
"We put together a record of 21-10 with not necessarily an all-star team. Then we finished our regular season strong. Why do you even play the season? Why can't we just finish?"
Odd twists have dogged the Rhythm in their first season, most notably when co-owner Sally Anthony fired McElhiney during a courtside confrontation in January. The other owners eventually overruled her and reinstated the coach.