Colorado University Athletics
Scholz A Centerpiece Of Dominant '90s For Women's Hoops
November 06, 2015 | Women's Basketball
The ninth of 11 CU Athletic Hall of Fame profiles as this year's class was inducted on Thursday night at the Coors Events Center. This year's class will also be honored during the Colorado-Stanford football game on Saturday, Nov. 7. Click here to see the CU Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2015.
BOULDER ? The picturesque splendor of the Flatirons, blended with the red rooftops of the University of Colorado campus, are what attract many students to the University of Colorado.
But they played little to no part in Erin Scholz's decision to attend CU. Rather, it was all about the program, specifically the women's basketball program.
“One, Ceal Barry,” said Scholz, a member of the 2105 CU Athletics Hall of Fame class. “Two, I wanted to join a top program that had not yet won a national championship. Three, I had spent enough time around the CU coaches and came to enough women's basketball games that loyalty also played a part in my decision.”
Scholz committed to CU in 1993 and it was no coincidence that it was the beginning of a Buffs streak of four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. Scholz, a four-time letter winner (1993-1997), played in four NCAA tournaments, with the Buffs advancing to the Sweet 16 three times and the Elite Eight once (1995) in that span.
“Going to the NCAA tournament all four years was a very special experience that I didn't have perspective of as a 17-to-22-year old,” said Scholz, one of the most dominating post players in CU history. “Back then it always just felt like we should have done more. From my current perspective, I'm really proud to have been a part of such a strongly contending women's basketball team.”
Even though she may have felt like the team should have done more, Scholz made amazing personal strides as a Buff. She is one of only three Buffaloes with membership in the 1,000-point-1,000 rebound club. The 1,621 points she collected during her career ranked third on CU's all-time list at the time and is still seventh-best in program history.?????????
In 1996 Scholz was an All-Big Eight first team pick as a junior and one year later she earned second team All-Big 12 honors. As a two-time WBCA All-Region/Honorable Mention All- American, Scholz had the opportunity to be part of two regular season Big Eight championship teams (1994-'95) and three straight conference tournament titlists.
As Scholz's final season as a Buff came to a close, the Portland Power selected her in the 1997 American Basketball League draft in the fourth round, but she chose not to sign and instead focus on other aspects of her life.
But in September 2004, she decided to return to basketball and signed a contract with the Colorado Chill for the 2005 season. Barry's program did everything to prepare her for professional basketball. “Practice and playing intensity is what I was most equipped with from CU,” Scholz explained. “Also, the year-in and year-out opportunity to play against top players in the nation prepared me for what I would face in combine situations or in a professional league.”
Just like the elite athletes she faced in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight match-ups, the National Women's Basketball League furthered Scholz' opportunity to play with some of women's basketball best, such as Becky Hammon and Ruth Riley. While she was with the Chill, Scholz was part of two NWBL championships.
As her playing days came to a close, Scholz decided to take an assistant coaching position at Utah State from 2006-2010. From there, she accepted a head coaching position at Fresno Pacific (2010-13). In 2013, she left Fresno Pacific and accepted an assistant coaching position with Grand Canyon University (2013-15), where she played a major role in the program's transition from Division II to Division I.
During her seven-year hiatus from the sport, Scholz was able to strengthen her relationship with God, which has had a significant influence in her life since her playing days for the Buffs.
“In 2001 (four years after leaving CU), God revealed a missing puzzle piece for me in life and in faith,” explained Scholz. “My faith and understanding of what it meant to be in relationship with God as a follower of Christ grew dramatically.”
This past May, Scholz accepted a full-time ministry position as a worship leader, taking her back to Fresno.
Scholz's desire to go into full-time ministry began two years into her coaching career.
“The desire grew stronger every year but every time I prayed after each basketball season, I felt impressed to stay,” she said.
Scholz believes the opportunity to coach at two Christian universities was God's way of preparing her for the next chapter in her life as a leader of worship.
“My coaching career certainly translates to full-time ministry,” Scholz explained. “I'm still coaching a team, it's just different content. I'm coaching people in the word of God and coaching them in connecting with God and growing in their capacity to express vibrant praise to Him.”
Scholz' induction to the CU Athletic Hall of Fame is the proper recognition to the glory days of the Colorado women's basketball program and the humility she displayed during those four years.
“It is a humbling and prestigious honor and I'm grateful to be recognized for my efforts on the basketball court,” she said.
