Cindy DeRocher named new ACC Athletic Director
Cindy DeRocher and Larissa Liska talk about new athletic director position.
ALPENA, Mich. — Longtime Alpena Community College basketball coach and athletic director, Frank McCourt, announced his retirement. McCourt had been involved with ACC athletics since 1973, holding just about every coaching position. In 2017 he announced his retirement as head men’s basketball coach, but he continued to serve as athletic director until the end of June 2019.
“Frank McCourt has given decades of commendable leadership to student-athletes at Alpena Community College,” said ACC President Dr. Don MacMaster. “I encounter many of them now in their adult lives who speak about his influence with the utmost regard and respect. I personally want to thank Frank for his legacy of inspired commitment to ACC. He made a career here and the College and the community are better places for it.”
Cindy DeRocher, who previously served as ACC’s assistant athletic director and assistant women’s basketball coach, replaced McCourt as athletic director. In 2017 DeRocher returned to ACC to take the newly created director of student life and campus housing position with the College Park Apartments.
“We’re delighted to have Cindy DeRocher ready to transition into the Athletic Director position,” said MacMaster. “An ACC grad and stellar basketball player and coach, she brings passion, leadership, experience, and institutional knowledge to the position. Working with a solid team of coaches, we believe she’ll do a great job leading athletics at ACC.”
As an ACC student, DeRocher played women’s basketball for Coach Frank McCourt from 1980-82 and she credits him for guiding her into coaching. Then, DeRocher began her professional coaching career as the Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Tri-State University (now Trine University) in Angola, Indiana. In addition, she was also responsible for managing student life and campus housing activities at Tri-State.
In 1988, DeRocher assumed the Head Coach position at Tri-State and under her leadership, guided her team to four National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes finals appearances in nine years. In addition, DeRocher was instrumental in bringing NAIA Women’s National Championships to Tri-State University in 199, and 1997, and league championship titles in 1996, 1997 and 1999.
DeRocher was named NAIA National Coach of the Year in 199, and she was elected to the University’s Hall of Fame in 2003. She ended her stellar career in 2000 with a record of (238-130), a 64 percent winning percentage.
DeRocher was inducted into the Alpena Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
