By JASON STACY
Missourian staff

MU women's basketball coach Cindy Stein is on top of the world.

She led MU to its first Sweet 16 ever, saw her two best players, forwards Amanda Lassiter and Marlena Williams, drafted by the WNBA and is putting the final touches on a contract extension.

However, MU's indisputable achievements under Stein have come at a price. Since Stein took over at MU, 44.8 percent of all those who have put on the Black and Gold in women's basketball, 13 players in all, have left before completing their eligibility at MU.

By any measure, the turnover under Stein has been unusually high. Former men's basketball coach Norm Stewart, who had a reputation for running off players, only had 10 players leave his team in his final six seasons. Current MU men's basketball coach, Quin Snyder, has lost just four players in his two seasons.

Marjorie Whipple, Angelleka Harris, Daisy Olivo, Sarah Frazier, Vo-Laria Brooks, Kendra Jones, Ali Johnston, Melissa Statham, Denise Cardenas, Jennifer Simpson, Aimee Michelson, Wendy Okeson and Christa Millham have all left the Tigers prior to completing eligibility.

In addition, all four coaches, who had worked for Stein prior to this season, left the team.

Former players and parents tell stories of a pattern of broken promises and strained relationships that have formed the backdrop to MU's rise to prominence.

"It concerns me greatly," said Lenny Simpson, father of former Tigers forward Jennifer Simpson, who left MU in mid-December 2000. She will play at Tennessee Tech next season. "I praise the university for what they gave my daughter. I'm thankful for the opportunity they gave her, but when there is a (contract) extension sitting there waiting to be signed when there could be others that would have to go through what my daughter did, something is wrong."

Simpson contends that Stein played mind games with his daughter and that she left MU because of Stein. Several players said Simpson was often singled out and berated at practice.

A group of parents has discussed confronting MU athletic director Mike Alden about their displeasure.

"Hopefully it can raise concern and help other players," said Michelson, who quit the team midway through last season.

Stein says she's just doing her job.

"I was hired here to win," Stein said. "Black and white -- we have to win. I wouldn't bench players or mistreat players that can help this team. Why would I do that to my career?"

Many parents, though, wonder about the price of success.

"As long as they continue to be successful, nothing will happen," said John Helm, father of former star player Julie Helm, who also had a contentious relationship with Stein.

When former MU athletic director Joe Castiglione, now at Oklahoma, hired Stein on April 28, 1998, he said she would not only build the Tigers into a contender, but would help players mature on and off the court.

Alden, who replaced Castiglione, said Stein had done that.

"I look for a person that will take academics and athletics to a higher level, to create better sports for the program, to create opportunity for the program and to become great in the Big 12 (Conference)," he said.

"She's just had the most successful season in MU women's basketball history. I think to say that she's done all that is an understatement."

Many former players disagree with her methods, however.

"It's the way she approaches people," former MU guard Julie Helm said. "It's her approach to coaching. A lot of people just can't handle her approach. She approaches things differently and almost not professionally."

Former Tigers said Stein saves harsh treatment for players, who don't develop into stars or starters.

"She had certain ones, and that's it," former guard Sarah Frazier said. "She had five or six players, and no one else had a chance and she let you know that."

Stein says she would never try to get rid of a player.

"My first year was tough," Stein said. "Some wanted me to be there. Some didn't. Did I try to run them off? No way. I don't want to be that coach, but I will be honest with them."

Stein arrived from Emporia State after going 34-1 in her third season there. She also brought a new style of play and wanted a certain kind of player to fit her scheme. In looking for those players, she was often blunt in her assessment of others.

"A lot of coaches are the same way," John Helm said. "They take an attitude that if you can help me, you play and if you can't, I'll get rid of you and get someone else in."

With the defections of guards Millham and Okeson last month, talent continues to leave Columbia.

Stein received mixed reviews when she arrived on campus in 1998. She replaced legendary coach JoAnn Rutherford, who had won more than 400 games in 23 seasons. Stein brought a new fast-paced offense.

Some were not ready for the change.

Sophomore Monique Fletcher left before the 1998-1999 season, Stein's first. Fifteen players suited up that season, but only eight lasted until their senior seasons. Of the four freshmen who came to MU that season, Rutherford's last recruiting class, only guard Natalie Bright is still with the team. Of the other three, only guard Ali Johnston at Weber State is still playing college basketball.

"College should be about the total person, but all (Stein) is about is winning," Johnston's mother, Linda, said. "There was a feeling of cleaning house when she came in. If you weren't one of her people, you weren't around."Kesha Bonds played her senior year for Stein. MU's second all-time rebound leader with 1,021, Bonds prospered.

"I was happy here," Bonds said. "Others weren't, and it didn't work out and they left. That's all I will say about that."

This year, Tracy Franklin and Natalie Bright were the two players remaining from Rutherford's recruiting class. The rest of the team was formed through Stein's two recruiting classes. Even with her own recruits though, the attrition continued. Stein has lost 37.5 percent of her recruits in two seasons at MU.

Of Stein's 1999-2000 class, two freshmen and two tranfers quit. Three of the four who stayed, Lassiter, Williams and sophomore guard Kerensa Barr started this season. Forward Wannette Smith was the first post player off the bench. The players who left were those who didn't get significant minutes.

According to Hastings College (Nebraska) women's basketball coach Dr. Ken Rhodus, it's important to treat all players equally.

"As a coach you have to care of the kids at the bottom of the bench, because ultimately they can be the difference between winning and losing," Rhodus said.

From this year's class, all four freshman recruits are still at MU, but both junior college transfers have left.

With the departures of Okeson and Millham, the Tigers now have only seven players returning from this season's Sweet 16 team.Had Stein not lost any players, MU would have had all 15 scholarships filled before the 2000-2001 recruiting class. That would have meant she couldn't recruit any players, including freshman standout Evan Unrau.

Along with filling roster spots this off-season, Stein was also forced to replace her entire coaching staff.

Assistant Brett Schneider left before the 2000-2001 season, and Lee Ann Riley, Dave Wilbers and Stephanie Thurman exited after this season.

"I owe everything to Stein," said Schneider, now recruiting coordinator at West Texas A&M under his father Bob. "I'm a 24-, 25-year-old man, and I'm coaching college basketball. She was great to me."

Riley is now the head coach at Stephen F. Austin University, and Thurman has accepted the head coaching position at Kickapoo High School. Wilbers has yet to take a position.

Riley and Thurman both said that the opportunities created by MU's success led to their departure. Surprisingly, Wilbers and Thurman did not have positions at other schools when they quit.

"When you have two good coaches that work hard, that go and leave without jobs, something isn't right," Julie Helm said.

Helm sat down with Alden before she left and told him about her concerns. Simpson and Olivo also spoke with Alden and Olivo had a formal hearing to discuss her complaints.

Associate athletic director Sarah Reesman said the athletic department is required by the NCAA to hold various hearings to discuss student-athlete concerns, but refused to comment about specific cases.Alden initially denied meeting with disgruntled players. However, when confronted with Helm's and Olivo's statements, Alden reversed himself.

"Well, my meetings with players are confidential," Alden said.

David Olivo, Daisy's father, says the athletic department chooses to remain ignorant about the team as long as it wins.

"The less they (athletic directors) know about the truth, the less they have to do," Olivo said.

Both Simpson and Helm now wish they had said more. Both were trying to leave Columbia and their troubles behind them.

At the Final Four this season, Stein met with Schneider and reminisced. She said she hoped he felt a part of the rebuilding and the success.

"I wished that every player that came through here could feel a part of this," she said.

Although Stein wants all players to feel a part of the team, many couldn't wait to be apart from the team.

"It's a wonder she even plays basketball anymore," Lenny Simpson said of his daughter. "But she loves it again. I've never seen her more happy. You can see the love, the gleam in her eye again."