Sometimes the harder we look for direction, the more difficult it is to find. And sometimes when we're not looking at all, life has a way of finding us.

 Catherine Andrews wasn't necessarily searching for direction. But it could've been there in front of her the whole time.

 And the way it's turned out thus far is better than she never imagined.

 Andrews, the former Lebanon Catholic stand-out, became Lebanon Valley College women's basketball coach Todd Goclowski's only assistant quite by accident. On Friday, the 23-4 Flying Dutchmen will make their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division Three tournament when they take on New York's 25-2 Medaille at Marymount College in Arlington, VA.

 "I've never been on a team that's been to a tournament," said Andrews. "Being part of it is something special. Getting to the (Commonwealth Conference) championship game two years in a row, I'm being spoiled. But getting to the tournament is mind-boggling. It's awesome."

 Andrews led Lebanon Catholic to four straight District Three championships in the early 2000s, then went on to start three years on West Chester University's Division Two club. After graduating in 2008 with a degree in communication studies, Andrews was working at local radio station WQIC when fate stepped in.

 To this day, Andrews isn't exactly sure how things went down. What she does know is that WQIC on-air personality Mike Ebersole was also the public-address announcer for Lebanon Valley College women's basketball team's home games and an acquaintance of Flying Dutchmen head coach Todd Goclowski.

 At one point, Andrews heard from her former coach at West Chester, Deirdre Kane, who informed her she would be getting a call from Goclowski. When her call came, Andrews answered.

 "It's funny how things turn out," said Andrews. "I didn't think coaching was something I wanted to pursue. I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason. I think the opportunity presented itself to me for a reason. Now, I'm running with it. But it's not something I was thinking of six months before it happened.

 "I guess it was being in the right place at the right time," she added. "I know I'm very fortunate. A lot of my friends who went to school are struggling to find jobs. It almost fell into my lap."

 Andrews' gig as Goclowski's assistant is a part-time one. She works full time as an administrative assistant at APR Supply Company, a Lebanon-based plumbing and heating supplier.

 "I'm his only support system," said Andrews of the Commonwealth Conference's coach of the year. "He takes the lead on most things, but I do run some drills. I'm really his support. Whatever he needs me to do, I do. He lets me do my thing and I learn from it.

 "I had no desire or plans on coaching," Andrews continued. "When the position was offered to me, I had to think about it. But now I love coming to practice. What I wanted to be was a sports broadcaster."

 There have been times when Andrews has learned as much as the women she's teaching.

 "Right now, being the age I'm at and the position I'm in, it's easy for me to relate to the women," said Andrews. "Not just basketball, but school also. Having played recently makes that part easier. But we've avoided becoming friends. I'm their coach. I'm not here to hang out with them and go out after practice.

 "Sometimes I'll be watching practice and think, 'Just do it,'" continued Andrews. "The teaching aspect of it is where I can improve. These girls have come from all different programs and you're not sure what they learned. But we're teaching the game the way we want it to be played."

 From the Lebanon biddy basketball program to Lebanon Catholic's hugely successful scholastic team to West Chester and now a part of what Goclowski has going on in Annville. Given the basketball environment in which she has matured, Andrews has the background to be a very good coach.

 "It started at the very beginning," said Andrews. "Mr. Clarence Knight and Mr. Jerry Lampkin taught me the basics in the Lebanon biddy program. And working with Mrs. (Patti Hower) and Mr. (Mike Mohl) at Lebanon Catholic, they were great coaches who sparked me and helped me become the person I am. And Coach Kane helped me with a lot of life lessons."

 While she isn't quite ready to commit to a career in coaching, Andrews is closer to it now than she's ever been.

 "I have more goals in coaching now than I did last year," said Andrews. "Last year I thought I'd give it a try. It's something I enjoy. Maybe someday down the road I'll become a head coach, but I'm not ready yet."