Is
There a Pharmacist in the House?
by Kelly L. Martinez
Eutectic: Of, relating to, or formed at the lowest possible
temperature of solidification for any mixture of specified constituents.
(Ed. Note: You’ll need
this definition later, so hang on to it.)
St.
Louis. Gateway to the West. Home to a gritty group of athletes
that, according to the college basketball dictionary, have no
business competing at the NAIA Division II level. Their team
represents a school that awards no athletic scholarships. This
is a school where you’d be more likely to find Doogie Howser’s
name than Michael Jordan’s on the alumni list. For this school,
contrary to many of its NCAA counterparts, recruiting is limited
to athletes that aspire to distribute legal drugs for a
living. A rag tag group of fellows that, despite the rigors and
demands of an academic program geared to challenge instead of
accommodate, find time to lace up the sneakers and bang boards
with what little spare time they have.
Such
is the situation faced at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy.
A basketball program that is in its childhood, the Eutectics (see
above) have enjoyed unexpected success … unexpected by opposing
teams.
Humble beginnings
StLCoP
began its men’s basketball program in 1993 and things got off
to a shaky start. After three seasons, the Eutectics had compiled
nine wins against 49 losses. While the Euts were struggling,
Evan Pedersen and the Saint Louis University team were
enjoying success at the NCAA Division I level just across town.
Pedersen was a standout for the Billikens in ’93 and ’94, and,
after graduating from SLU with a degree in marketing communications,
joined the StLCoP coaching staff as an assistant coach. He took
over the head coaching position in ‘96 and, immediately things
began to improve. First came a pair of 13-win seasons (including
a berth in the NAIA Division II Regional Tournament in 1998),
followed by a 17-win season in 1999 (and another trip to the regional
tourney).
Not
too shabby for a part-time coach, full-time working stiff.
B-Y-Who?
Pedersen,
who coincidentally works as a pharmaceutical rep for Aventis Pharmaceuticals,
was a prep basketball star in St. Louis who accepted a scholarship
to Northwestern University in 1988. Like many LDS athletes, he
was recruited by BYU, but not until late in the recruiting season.
Put off by then assistant coach Roger Reid’s you’re-a-Mormon-so-you-should-come-to-BYU
recruiting pitch, Pedersen decided to accept the offer from Northwestern
instead.
While
with the Wildcats, he started for two seasons before leaving on
a mission. He credits the influence of Northwestern teammate
Rob Ross, a transfer from Dixie College in St. George,
Utah, as a key influence in his decision to serve a mission.
“His example of serving a full-time mission weighed heavily in
my decision to serve,” Pedersen said.
From
1990-92, Elder Pedersen served in Spokane, Wash., with a handshake
agreement from Northwestern that his athletic scholarship would
still be there when he got back. The ‘Cats reneged on the agreement
and Pedersen chose to play at Saint Louis University in ’93 and
’94, where he played an integral role in the Billikens’ appearance
in the NCAA Tourney.
Part-time chief
Being
a part-time coach has its obstacles, Pedersen said. For instance,
it’s rare for the Euts (who play their home games in a gym called
the Pillbox) to have a full-roster practice. Often, the coaching
staff is called on to fill out the teams come scrimmage time.
Due to demanding academic requirements and work schedules, Pedersen
and several of the players, are unable to make every practice.
In fact, Pedersen missed a game this past season because his full-time
employer sent him to a national conference for pharmaceutical
reps.
“To
a lot of people,” he acknowledged, “I’m sure it looks like we’re
a disorganized program. But it’s a unique opportunity to coach
student-athletes that are playing for a pure love of sport. I
doubt there is another situation like this at this level anywhere
else.”
There
are only seven or eight players on the StLCoP roster. With so
few players, substituting is a continuous challenge. “With only
about three or four of those players that are actually collegiate-caliber
athletes, it hurts us when we have to start rotating a lot,” said
Pedersen.
Sound
familiar?
I
think that describes almost every Church basketball team with
which I’ve ever been associated.
Shuffling along
Following
the 2000 season, Pedersen rotated himself across town to join
the staff of Forest Park Community College, where he coached for
two seasons as an assistant before returning to StLCoP this past
season. “I left StLCoP with hopes of moving to a higher level
eventually,” he admitted. “But the hours required to excel, even
at the junior college level, were more than I was willing to give.
Who knows what the future holds. For now, coaching is a hobby
for me. But, I don’t rule out anything bigger in the future,”
he added.
After
struggling to 11-14 and 5-23 records during his absence, the Euts
posted a respectable 15-13 mark in Pedersen’s first season back.
Personal glimpses
Evan
met his wife Mary at an LDS New Year’s Eve dance in 1992.
Mary
is a convert to the Church and had formed a close relationship
with Elder and Sister Wayne Dalton of Garland, Utah, who
were missionaries that taught her the Gospel. Elder Dalton was
a sealer in the Logan Temple and told Mary that when she was ready
to get married, he would be honored to perform the ceremony.
She took him up on that offer and he officiated at the Pedersens’
sealing in the Logan Temple in August 1993.
The
Pedersens now reside in the St. Louis area and have two children:
Jeffrey Logan, 6, (named after two of Evan’s missionary companions
and the Logan Temple) and Jilane (named after Mary’s best friend,
Jilane Mee, that introduced her to the Church), 2.
Evan
serves as the Young Men’s president in their ward and Mary at
the multi-stake level as the community specialist.
Now
Things
have changed since 1996 at StLCoP. The Euts field five intercollegiate
teams: men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country,
and women’s volleyball. There is even a cheerleading squad and
dance team, though much of the StLCoP student body is too busy
to attend games.
As
far as basketball goes, the men’s team has compiled a 96-137 record
over 10 seasons. Evan has been the head coach for five of those
seasons and has compiled a 71-51 mark. It’s not something that
will make the front page of your local newspaper, but what is
being done at StLCoP, athletically, is impressive; impressive
because the term student-athlete is on display in its truest form.
Pay
attention athletic directors, there is a lot to be learned here.
Take that with food and plenty of water.
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