Many banners hang from the rafters above The Convo floor, listing names such as Trent and Snyder as well as championship years. But one important name is missing.
Caroline (Mast) Daugherty graduated as one of the biggest names in women’s program history. After graduation, she returned to her alma mater, River View, and coached her daughters, holding the position for 25 years.
“It was an awesome experience. My sister played with me on the team for two years, and my dad was the assistant coach,” said Kristin, Daugherty’s oldest daughter. “It was a big family affair. She did a great job making all the girls feel like a daughter. It was a great experience, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
During her tenure, Daugherty’s team won back-to-back state championships in 2007 and 2008 with Kristin and made it to the state final four with her second-oldest daughter Kari.
Kristin said that, while her mother was coaching, Daugherty did not impress that she was a superstar at Ohio. Kristin’s dad Bill made sure of that. She recalled a few visits to The Convo and seeing her mom’s picture on the wall, but the main thing Kristin took away was seeing her mother as a role model.
Had it not been for the location of Ohio University, Daugherty would not have set those Ohio records at all.
“I signed a letter of intent to go to Michigan and never sent the letter,” Daugherty said. “I went up and visited and really liked the school, but it was so far from my home and I wanted to stay closer to home.”
Daugherty, a native of Warsaw, Ohio, visited Athens and fell in love with the campus, solidifying her decision.
She is the all-time leader in points scored (2,449) and rebounds (1,223) in Ohio women’s basketball program history.
“I had a great opportunity. Records are wonderful, but I walked in and played right away as a freshman,” Daugherty said. “I’m sure, if somebody had the same opportunities I did, it won’t take that long to break the records.”
Daugherty said she came into the program at the right time. It was not a big-time program and she had some really good players. She highlighted the efforts of point guard Marti Heckman, who is the program’s leader in assists.
“The point guard when I played, Marti Heckman, was outstanding. She probably got me more than half my points,” she said. “Records are great, but there are a lot of factors that played into them."
In Daugherty’s senior season, the Bobcats were Mid-American Conference champions with an overall record of 26-3 and conference record of 16-2. That season has been something of an anomaly for the program as it is one of only two seasons with at least 20 wins.
“Marti and I were both seniors; we knew this was our last go around,” Daugherty said. “They brought in some really good freshmen. We had one purpose in mind. It was one of those magical years.”
The magic continued all the way to the NCAA tournament’s first-round game against Illinois, which Ohio hosted. The Bobcats ended up losing by one point.
Now, Daugherty splits her time between her three younger children: her eighth-grade son Kyle; her youngest daughter Andi; and her daughter Kari, who plays basketball at Ashland University.
nr225008@ohiou.edu
