When the Maine women’s head coaching job opened up earlier this offseason, we at D3hoops.com figured we had at least two good finalists in the state’s Division III ranks already: Stefanie Pemper at Bowdoin and Gary Fifield at Southern Maine.

When Pemper didn’t get the job, we had to figure it was because she didn’t want it.

That’s true, according to Kevin Thomas’ column in today’s Portland Press Herald.

One telling quote: “Sure, there is a kick to (coaching Division I-type athletes). But that is not the be-all and end-all, to work with a higher caliber of athlete. As long as I can recruit athletes here who are going to buy in and be passionate about basketball and about what we’re doing . . .”

She gets it. Anyone who can’t understand why a successful coach would want to stay in Division III doesn’t.