(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Henk Seppen)
 The Hawks and Head Coach Henson separate
Nederlands
 DORDRECHT (Neth.) -
RTV Rijnmond reported on Monday, July 20 that Mampaey The Hawks has separated with its Head Coach Eugene Henson.
The separation came a week after the regular season was interrupted for the international World Port Tournament, which opened on Saturday, July 18.
Henson, who was in his first season as Head Coach of The Hawks, will be succeeded by Paul Roodenburg.
On Sunday, July 12, the last game led by Henson, The Hawks lost 2-0 to HCAW.
That loss came after the team won big 14-4 the day before to register its first home victory of the season.
Last season, The Hawks relegated from the Dutch big league, losing the best-of-five Promotion/Relegation Play-Off vs. DSS, 3-2.
However, when ADO Lakers withdraw its team from the highest division early this year, The Hawks took its place and returned to the big league in February.
In the following weeks, several former players of ADO Lakers transfered to The Hawks (after they originally had left the club after last season), but from the beginning it was apparant that the team would have a difficult season.
This season, Eugene Henson was to return in his second season as Head Coach of ADO Lakers.
After the withdrawal of that team, Henson also moved to The Hawks to become the Assistant Coach of Belgian Rik Ruts, who was named as Head Coach in October of last year.
However, early March, Ruts got a promotion in his regular job and was unable to combine that with coaching, as he would have to travel frequently abroad.
And so, Henson succeeded him as Head Coach.
Gregory Grampon became the new Assistant Coach.
He was to be Henson's Assistant at ADO Lakers, but after the withdrawal of that team, Grampon went to The Hawks, where he initially was to be an Assistant Coach of its Rookie League-team.
While The Hawks had to adjust to its new situation, the team from Dordrecht experienced a fine exhibition season.
With a 9-3 record and one tie, it finished in second place.
In the regular season, things were more difficult.
Eugene Henson is a former big league and national team-player himself and during his career, he showed that he is surely no quitter and always wants the best from himself and his team.
That sometimes also resulted in discussions with the umpires.
Also, during this difficult season in Dordrecht, Henson always remained positive.
However, when the season was interrupted for international play, The Hawks was in last place with a 5-31 record.
On Saturday, July 11, despite winning 14-4 vs. HCAW, the team was officially eliminated for the Play-Offs, because of the result of another game.
On July 20, the two sides decided to separate.
Paul Roodenburg was named Henson's successor.
Roodenburg was not active this season and never coached at the big league-level.
In 2007 and 2008, he was the Technical Manager of the big league-team of Sparta-Feyenoord, the team with whom he played himself in the highest league in the seventies.
Roodenburg also played in the big league for Feyenoord.
Roodenburg, who is the father of player Tim Roodenburg, will be assisted by Gregory Grampon, who initially had stepped down on June 14 for personal reasons.
,,We want to go into the upcoming games on a quiet way'', Roodenburg stated.
,,During the season, the team started to play better, also against the top-teams, but unfortunately towards the end of the games, it mostly went the wrong way.''
(July 27)
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