Lehigh University Athletics
It's a family affair
1/20/2004 7:00:00 AM | Softball
How can a successful Division I coach balance his or her program with a marriage and raising three children? After all, some might argue, those two elements are full-time jobs in and of themselves. However, there are those that do manage to do these things well, and some work right here at Lehigh. Two such coaches are married to each other: Sue and Fran Troyan. There’s no denying the success that either has had in the coaching realm. Sue experienced success first as a softball coach at Lehigh, and then on the basketball court. Her softball teams captured three Patriot League championships, and she was named the league’s Coach of the Year in 1994. Since her transition to the hardwood in 1995, Troyan has led the team to its only NCAA appearance in the program’s history, she has coached the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year twice, and she has won more games than any other head coach in Lehigh women’s basketball history. Fran Troyan has been no stranger to success, either. In 2001, he led the program to the NCAA Tournament where Lehigh became the first Patriot League school to pick up an NCAA victory. Troyan has coached three Academic All-Americans and the 2003 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year. And victories? Under Troyan’s guidance Lehigh has won seven of the last eight Patriot League regular season titles. Married in 1990, the Troyans now have three children: Katie (9), David (6), and Matthew (4). School and after-school activities are prevalent now, and, as the children grow older, they will become even more so. Swimming lessons, flute lessons, and the like will increase in frequency as the trio grows up. So, how do they do it? What’s their secret? A sheet of paper. A calendar, actually, with after-school activities, babysitting schedules, team practice, game, and travel schedules, recruiting schedules, backup plans, and more. Needless to say, the calendar is pretty full, and it’s ever-changing. “The only way we can make this work is by being very detail-oriented and organized,” Fran explains. “That is something that Sue has always been good at, and I’ve been forced to become pretty good at it as well.” In addition to the planning and organization on the front end, a strong support network is critical as well. “We’ve been able to find success because of the support we provide each other,” Sue says. “We are very fortunate to be able to do the jobs we love, while raising three children.” “We have also enjoyed incredible support from an administrative standpoint,” Fran adds. “Joe [Sterrett, Director of Athletics] and Karen Adams (Senior Associate Athletics Director) have made this a truly family-friendly environment.” And the children? They’ve grown up in this environment, and are unfazed by the dizzying pace of this lifestyle. In fact, they love it. “The kids have really taken to our teams as they’ve gotten older,” Sue relays. “They enjoy being around the girls quite a bit, and having 30 older sisters makes for a big, extended family.” Fran agrees. “It’s been very meaningful for them to travel with our teams,” he says. “And they’re quite supportive of us and our lifestyle. They take a keen interest in what’s going on, but in the end, they don’t care if we win or lose. We’re still just Mommy and Daddy.” This time of year is especially busy in the Troyan household. The women’s basketball team is into its grueling Patriot League schedule, and the softball team begins practice in the coming weeks. The balancing act gets tricky this time of year, but it’s nothing the Troyan family can’t handle, with some help from others. “We get through the busy times with planning, support from the department, and from alums,” Fran points out. Departmental support comes from many, including Danielle Wakely, wife of lacrosse coach Chris Wakely. Danielle, at home with two children of her own, often spends time with the Troyan children. “Danielle has been an incredible stablilizing focus in our lives,” Fran explains. The summers must be laid back though, right? Not true, Sue says. “Fran spends most of June out on the road [recruiting], and then I’m gone for much of July.” But the Troyans do manage to squeeze in a family vacation in early August, right before school begins for everyone once again, and the rapid-fire pace resumes. Successful programs. Check. Quality family life. Check. It’s right there on the schedule. Slowing down? That’s not on the calendar anytime soon. -Story by Jeff Tourial, Media Relations Director
