Elmendorf Steps in for Steinhoff

Kyle Elmendorf knows he has a tough act to follow.

As the new girls basketball coach at Orchard Farm, Elmendorf is taking over for Robin Steinhoff, who recently retired after 27 seasons at the helm.

Steinhoff compiled more than 370 victories while at Orchard Farm, including a 12-12 mark last year, and the graduation of her twin children marked the end of her coaching tenure there.

She has influenced many young lives throughout the years, including those of returning players who now must adjust to having a different coaching personality.

"She pushed us to be the best we could be every day," said Tiffany Doggett, who enters her fourth year as a varsity player. "It was pretty hard (seeing Steinhoff go). It seems like I've known her since the beginning of time. It was really sad, especially when we dedicated that (final regular-season game) to her."

The Eagles will surely miss Steinhoff's presence on the bench, but Elmendorf doesn't expect much difficulty convincing the players to play for him. With three weeks worth of practice already in the books, the Eagles have already taken a liking to their new coach.

"We love coach Elmendorf," Doggett said. "He's always telling us about the little things we can pick up on and knows what we need to work on. He doesn't ever yell at us. He talks to us and helps make us understand what we're doing right or wrong."

Elmendorf, who has coached in the boys program for the past six years, intends to convey the same positive message Steinhoff did but is also eager to make his own mark on the program. A 2000 Duchesne graduate, Elmendorf comes from a family with a strong background in athletics and coaching.

"What a great job she did with the program," Elmendorf said of Steinhoff. "It's one of those things where my job has been easier because of what she built. The team is fundamentally sound and does little things well. It's made my job easier following someone like her. Those are tough footsteps to follow, but I'll do what I do as a coach, do what works for me and figure out what works best for this year's team."

Doggett, Jessica Moffitt and Shannon White are the team's three returning seniors. Doggett averaged 6.9 points per game a year ago, while Moffitt averaged five points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds.

"I think for our seniors the biggest thing is to set the tempo and be leaders as far as showing other girls what to do and how to approach the game," Elmendorf said.

The team has a strong trio of juniors in Meghan Boschert, Emily Echele and Casey Ward, all of whom logged significant playing time last year.

Sophomores Casey Mann, Carley Swisher, Brooke Semke and freshman Allison Little round out the roster.

"Our daily goal is to get better and be better today than we were yesterday," Elmendorf said. "Our long-term goals are to compete for conference and district championships, and we firmly believe we have the athletes to get it done. It's a matter of us putting in the work and coming together as a team."

The Eagles, competing for the final time as members of the Eastern Missouri Conference, will move to a revamped Gateway Athletic Conference next season.