Barnes Arico Discusses Leaving St. John’s For Michigan

The Detroit News

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120823/SPORTS0201/208230365/Family-helps-women-s-basketball-coach-Kim-Barnes-Arico-find-footing-Michigan?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports

The decision for Kim Barnes Arico was a tough one. With a husband and three children, there would be a lot more to think about while moving from New Jersey to Michigan.

Yet, Barnes Arico, 41, took a chance for her new job. With the help of her family, the women’s basketball head coach is ready to jump into her new role at Michigan this fall after 10 seasons at St John’s.

Barnes Arico — who replaced Kevin Borseth after his resignation and return to Wisconsin-Green Bay — said the family atmosphere of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan has made the move much easier.

“The University of Michigan has the best of everything and their philosophy is to be leaders and best at everything, Barnes Arico said. For me, that was really an exciting thing to be a part of. The community of Ann Arbor has been embracing me and my family as well, and it’s just a terrific place to raise a family.”

After receiving a call from Michigan with an offer for the new coaching position, Barnes Arico accepted, and looked at this opportunity as starting a new chapter in her life. Her main concern: her family.

With three young children still in school in New Jersey , Barnes Arico and her husband of 14 years, Larry, had to carefully plan their roles in the transition. Barnes Arico believes most women are leaving this profession because it has become so demanding, but the support she has received — especially from her husband — is what keeps her going.

“I think when we got married, we kind of jumped in to this whole coaching thing together, Barnes Arico said. When I was able to have this opportunity to come here, he said, ‘I’ll do anything to make it work for you.’ And that meant obviously leaving his job and his career and coming and starting fresh in a new place.”

The couple decided Arico, a former Division III college football coach and most recently a high school athletic director, would spend the first few months at home in order to provide more stability for their kids.

Although there have been several job offers in Ann Arbor and surrounding communities, Barnes Arico said her husband will hold off on coaching or a job in administration until next spring or summer.

“He is a wonderful husband but just an absolutely terrific father, Barnes Arico said. (Coaching) has been something that I’ve been able to achieve because I have such great support. And it definitely starts with him.”

Along with the daunting task of having to familiarize herself with another state and university, leaving St. John’s after building a successful women’s basketball program also was a challenge. Barnes Arico said the special bonds created over the years and the dedication of the players and staff made her departure difficult.

“They really created something very special there and when that happens, especially when you’ve got that whole group of kids returning, that’s a tough situation to leave, said Barnes Arico, whose accomplishments at St. John’s include five 20-win seasons and four NCAA Tournament appearances, including the Sweet Sixteen last season. It wasn’t like I was looking for something bigger or better, because I thought (St. John’s) was a great fit.

“I would only leave for something really, really incredibly special. When Michigan called, that’s what I truly thought was a special opportunity.”

Barnes Arico Discusses Leaving St. John’s For Michigan

The Detroit News

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120823/SPORTS0201/208230365/Family-helps-women-s-basketball-coach-Kim-Barnes-Arico-find-footing-Michigan?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports

The decision for Kim Barnes Arico was a tough one. With a husband and three children, there would be a lot more to think about while moving from New Jersey to Michigan.

Yet, Barnes Arico, 41, took a chance for her new job. With the help of her family, the women’s basketball head coach is ready to jump into her new role at Michigan this fall after 10 seasons at St John’s.

Barnes Arico — who replaced Kevin Borseth after his resignation and return to Wisconsin-Green Bay — said the family atmosphere of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan has made the move much easier.

“The University of Michigan has the best of everything and their philosophy is to be leaders and best at everything, Barnes Arico said. For me, that was really an exciting thing to be a part of. The community of Ann Arbor has been embracing me and my family as well, and it’s just a terrific place to raise a family.”

After receiving a call from Michigan with an offer for the new coaching position, Barnes Arico accepted, and looked at this opportunity as starting a new chapter in her life. Her main concern: her family.

With three young children still in school in New Jersey, Barnes Arico and her husband of 14 years, Larry, had to carefully plan their roles in the transition. Barnes Arico believes most women are leaving this profession because it has become so demanding, but the support she has received — especially from her husband — is what keeps her going.

“I think when we got married, we kind of jumped in to this whole coaching thing together, Barnes Arico said. When I was able to have this opportunity to come here, he said, ‘I’ll do anything to make it work for you.’ And that meant obviously leaving his job and his career and coming and starting fresh in a new place.”

The couple decided Arico, a former Division III college football coach and most recently a high school athletic director, would spend the first few months at home in order to provide more stability for their kids.

Although there have been several job offers in Ann Arbor and surrounding communities, Barnes Arico said her husband will hold off on coaching or a job in administration until next spring or summer.

“He is a wonderful husband but just an absolutely terrific father, Barnes Arico said. (Coaching) has been something that I’ve been able to achieve because I have such great support. And it definitely starts with him.”

Along with the daunting task of having to familiarize herself with another state and university, leaving St. John’s after building a successful women’s basketball program also was a challenge. Barnes Arico said the special bonds created over the years and the dedication of the players and staff made her departure difficult.

“They really created something very special there and when that happens, especially when you’ve got that whole group of kids returning, that’s a tough situation to leave, said Barnes Arico, whose accomplishments at St. John’s include five 20-win seasons and four NCAA Tournament appearances, including the Sweet Sixteen last season. It wasn’t like I was looking for something bigger or better, because I thought (St. John’s) was a great fit.

“I would only leave for something really, really incredibly special. When Michigan called, that’s what I truly thought was a special opportunity.”