An Open Letter from Kim Domen, Girls Basketball Coach and Domen/Marcu Board Member

Being a former Cardinal graduate (1994) athlete, and coach, has been the most positive and exhilarating experience thus far.  Being able to come back to my alma mater and be a role model to all these little kids is something I don't think, back in the day, I would have done. However, since I have had kids, all you want as a parent is for your kids to succeed in whatever they choose to do in their lives.

When I became the head coach of the girls' basketball program, last year, the previous year, there wasn't a girls basketball program.  First time in Cardinal history that there wouldn't be a program.  This was very detrimental to the program and for those young girls.  For any of those seniors (1) who wanted to play and now couldn't be due to not enough participation.  This HIT home to me, as I played basketball for 4 years at Cardinal among other sports too.   Who can these girls look up to going forward?  Who is their role model, who is going to push them, who is going to give them the praise they deserve?

Going into my first year as head coach for the girls' program at Cardinal, the account had $75.00 to work with for new warmups and anything else I would have needed.  I reached out to Steve Marcu (Domen/Marcu Foundation) to see what they could do in helping our girls' team out.  WITHOUT hesitation I was able to purchase new sweet looking warmups and tear away pants for the girls' basketball to look and feel good and pack a powerful punch from coming back from not having a season a year a ago.  It was a one, two punch, having a program back and now looking the part of a new cultured team. They do say when you look good, you play good!

The girls basketball team sporting their new warmups, funded by The Domen/Marcu Foundation.

The Domen/Marcu Foundation has graciously paid for summer league last year for our girls' team to get some extra touches and scrimmage type experiences and see what the incoming freshman can do.  And to get the program back up and on track with participation within Cardinal school system.

It wouldn't matter what I needed, The Domen/Marcu Foundation has always been a part of graciously helping and supporting any Cardinal Athletics program that is needed.  But to me it was extra special due to a couple of things;  1):  I'm an Alumni giving back to these wonderful girls - 2): Having a foundation that believes in and supports any Coaches decisions on what is needed for their programs to succeed in their upcoming season, 3): The Foundation is always providing nonstop means to help our future Cardinal athletes in years to come.
To me, I am proud, humbled, and ecstatic, to be a part of Cardinal Coaching Staff of Athletics and beyond proud to be a part of a Foundation that is continuing to support any future Cardinal athlete and most importantly watching them succeed in any sport.   This is truly what I was meant to do, it's my passion, it's a love you have to have for every single athlete.  You see them grow within each year.  Without The Domen/Marcu Foundation, I don't believe that most of our Rec, Middle, or High School would be able to have what they have or do what they would have been able to do within each sport.

I am grateful for the opportunity on both ends, Coaching and the Foundation, only wish I could live forever to see the future of all Cardinal Athletes.

Thank you,

Kim Domen