Crawley wants to get BC in the running

New BC women's basketball coach Sylvia Crawley is familiar with the ACC's style of play. (Bill Greene/Globe Staff)

Sylvia Crawley always knew she wanted to coach women's basketball in the Atlantic Coast Conference. She even left a little wiggle room in her contract at Ohio University, just in case someone wanted to give her the chance.

Boston College called, and Crawley needed little persuasion; she was introduced yesterday as the program's new coach, replacing Cathy Inglese, who resigned this month after 15 seasons.

Crawley is familiar with the ACC. She was a team captain when North Carolina captured a national title in 1994 under coach Sylvia Hatchell, who is still with the Tar Heels.

"For me, I was extremely happy at Ohio," said Crawley. "It was a very hard decision for me, but how often do you have an opportunity to go back to the conference that you played in?"

Crawley said she considers the ACC the best conference in the NCAA, even though Tennessee, a Southeastern Conference school, is the reigning NCAA champion.

Crawley plans on introducing a more up-tempo style to a team that was 21-12 last season and relied on heavy production from post players Carolyn Swords and Stefanie Murphy.

Crawley said she is committed to the current players and wants to increase the team's offensive production. BC averaged 63.9 points a game last season, while the top teams in the conference averaged more than 70.

When Crawley met with the team for the first time yesterday, she made an impression on a young group that includes mostly returners. The team named Brittanny Johnson and Corey Rusin captains for next season.

"She came in and it was like she already knew us," Johnson said. "She knew our names. I think that kind of shocked everybody. You meet someone for the first time, you don't expect them to know your name or know a lot about you, but she came prepared. She really has a vision for us."

Crawley's background and success were important to the returning Eagles, who said they were surprised when they heard Inglese was leaving.

"It was a shock at first," Johnson said. "It was definitely sad for all of us. She's someone that we loved and respected.

"Sometimes things happen that we can't control, and that was a situation we couldn't control. Now it's all over. We have a new coach and we're so excited about her."

BC athletic director Gene DeFilippo involved the current players in his decision process, while also making calls for recommendations. Over and over again, DeFilippo said, Crawley's name came up.

Crawley joined the Ohio in 2006, returning to her home state to lead the Bobcats to 18-12 and 20-13 records in back-to-back seasons. Both win totals were season highs dating back to 1994-95.

Ohio men's basketball coach Tim O'Shea, a 1984 BC graduate and a former Eagles coach, also made a call on Crawley's behalf, saying she would be ideal for the program, DeFilippo said.

"I just think she brings things to us that are great," DeFilippo said. "She is a wonderful role model for our student-athletes. She can recruit and coach, so she's the perfect fit at this time for us."

"[DeFilippo] promised us he would bring in the best possible coach for us," Rusin said, "a coach that would build this program up. After hearing all the experience she has and what she's been through, what she's accomplished, I don't think they could have picked a better candidate."

Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com