duke women's basketball coaching staff duke women's basketball coaching staff

Were only as strong as that weakest person. So, if I am the weak link, its up to (a teammate) to talk me through it, get me right and make sure I know what Im supposed to be doing.. But they can't say that either," Lawson said. They have formed a team identity by playing consistently on the defensive end of the floor. Then once we got through the summer and the start of the fall and seeing how were moving and what were capable of doing and building on the (non-basketball) principles. Let's take a look. "This included discussion with all parties involved, including game officials, game administrators, table crew and both schools. Her performance, familiarity with Boston and well-regarded status among the team's players are part of why former Celtic-turned-broadcast-analyst Brian Scalabrine thinks that Lawson may be the right woman for the job. Weve got three coaches that are talented enough to run their own programs -- two of them already have and have great experience recruiting the type of young woman we want at Duke.. I am ecstatic., Three assistants combine for 46 years experience, Duke Women's Basketball Coach Kara Lawson Introductory Press Conference. It didnt take long for assistant coach Karen Lange who had just joined the staff in April and works closely with the guards to realize the Blue Devils could be an aggressive man-to-man squad. She's a non-traditional star on a non-traditional team, said Lawson after Dukes Feb. 7 win at Notre Dame. Here Are 6 Practices to Start Today, We All Have Thoughts That Spiral Out of Control. Women's Basketball - Duke University The official Women's Basketball page for the Duke University The official Women's Basketball page for the Duke University The official. I think the challenge is our kids understanding what their coverages are in their particular areas and then being able to move on the fly should someone throw something random at us, Jackson explained. 2022-23 Women's Basketball Coaching Staff. Duke's staff looks a lot different than it did just a month ago, when the Blue Devils bowed out of the Final Four and Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski's career came to an end. They each bring their own elite skills to the table, both basketball and non-basketball. In taking over for the Tigers, Mulkey became the eighth head coach in LSU women's basketball history. I don't know how, but [the video] hit a lot of people where they were. Hes also really, really good at building relationships and really, really good in terms of Xs and Os.. By the Numbers. The first half of Duke women's basketball's Sunday loss at Florida State was played with a men's ball, according to a closing statement made by head coach Kara Lawson in her postgame. Winston is also a very well-rounded coach. Duke came in and held FGCU to five threes on 20 attempts, and 25 percent shooting from behind the arc. The senior leads the squad with nearly six rebounds per game and picks up one steal per game to go along with a 10.9 points per game average. Lawson says this means making sure you have the energy to tackle what you need to do. Sleep well. One year after the COVID-19 pandemic cut head coach Kara Lawsons first season short, a new era of Duke womens basketball looked to be on the horizon. We didnt practice it well and it didnt translate well, so that was a big point of emphasis for our entire staff in the offseason.. She held regular 1-on-1 meetings with players, getting to know them and giving them a chance to learn about her journey. The independent news organization of Duke University. I think our leadership vocally has improved drastically having been here last year and just hearing the difference in practice, Jackson said. Heide, Emma With one former Duke basketball team captain moving to his first head coaching job, another is moving into a larger role on coach Mike Krzyzewski's staff. 2023 Duke Athletics. In Dukes recent 77-62 victory over N.C. State, Taylor made numerous defensive plays, including a chase-down block on Wolfpack forward Mimi Collins and multiple deflections in the final two minutes of the first half, to swing the momentum onto the Blue Devils side. She aims to do this for the brilliant young minds she coaches at Duke. The whole program has to be invested in it and we were, and we made great strides (from last season) and we continue to make great strides.. Last year, we were the 10th-place team in the league playing on Wednesday [in the ACC tournament], said Lawson Monday. . Kara Lawson huddles with her team during a December 2022 win at N.C. State before Duke cracked the AP Top 25. The official 2020-21 Women's Basketball Roster for the Wisconsin Badgers Badgers. Humanity Forward. Cunningham and Jackson both are coming to Duke from other ACC schools and have been coaching for the past two decades. Lawson said that, throughout the first half, Duke players were "complaining about the ball." Shaffer, Jiselle I think they're representing this school and Duke basketball in an incredible way right now.. Odds are Duke will stay comparatively young again next season, with so many guys expected to leave and five top-20 prospects committed in the Class of 2023, but "this is our foundational year . 1:51. It certainly seems that the two have a good relationship and Stevens thinks highly of Lawson. (1:15) Facebook She played 13 WNBA seasons and averaged 9.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while playing for the Monarchs, Sun and Mystics. . Something special is brewing in Durham in 2023 and its fun to watch. Journalism Above the Noise. Understandably, there was skepticism on whether the Blue Devils could perform at a high level during the conference slate, especially with the depth of the league this season. We may have played some teams in the nonconference that challenged us defensively in many ways and stretched us. But she has to be on the floor defensively for us to be really good.. Duke women's basketball coach Joanne P. McCallie reveals that she is stepping away from the program due to uncertainty as she entered the final year of her contract. NC State women's basketball has become accustomed to success in the last few seasons. She got an opportunity to serve as the coach of the Duke women's basketball team. "I think they're going to hire Kara Lawson," Scalabrine said. Its all the small details she takes care of that go unnoticed by the average fan. Your body can handle the mile better now. The official Women's Basketball Coach List for the Purdue University Boilermakers. Lawson added that since Sunday's game, the ACC has instituted a rule change where players have to confirm the correct ball during the captain's meeting prior to tip. Marisa Moseley. PACK IT UP:NC State women's basketball's quest for 4th straight ACC Tournament title ends vs. Notre Dame. Cunningham departs Dukes program on the heels of a once-promising season that saw the Blue Devils ranked as high as No. She still does that for us, but luckily, I dont think she has to do that as much. So that concept applies to everything., Lawson says that she and her coaching staff challenge their players. While she was still playing, Lawson started a broadcast career and became the first woman to serve as a broadcast analyst for an NBA game. One of those options could be Kara Lawson. 2 seed. Nolan Smith, the 2011 ACC. But I can't say if we'd have played with a women's ball in the first half and the second half that we would have won. Before that, he was coordinator of player development for the NBA's Washington Wizards for three years. And Duke coach Kara Lawson earned her first win over UNC a day later. Assistant Coach. And Young said opportunities to talk with Duke's former men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski were always incredibly valuable. It was seeing all of that and then going to Coach (Lawson) saying this is what we can do.". The Irish (24-4) will play in Friday's second quarterfinal at 2 p.m. Duke (24-5) is the No. Agugua-Hamilton recently accepted the head coaching job at Virginia, leaving Cunningham to take over the job at Missouri State. Assistant coach Winston Gandy then went to the scorers table to inspect the ball where he realized that the ball was, in fact, a men's ball, according to Lawson. The former Georgia associate head coach specializes on working with guards, and as a former point guard herself and teammate of assistant coach Tia Jackson, she brought familiarity and a veteran presence to the staff. Bollin, Imani Three of the most important decisions a head coach makes are in hiring assistant coaches, said Lawson. So, he understands the type of kids we want to recruit -- kids that have big dreams; kids that want to impact the world in a lot of ways and hes got a great feel for that. Stevens made the decision to target Lawson as a member of his staff and was able to lure her out of the Wizards booth to begin her coaching career. She held an incredible streak of 14 consecutive 20-point games, the second-longest ever in NCAA Men's or . ACC presents a bigger challenge I think for us over the long haul defensively, Lawson said. The Duke Womens Basketball Head Coach and star athlete, who has covered the sports spectrum from playing for the U.S. National Team to coaching for the Boston Celtics to broadcasting for ESPN, recently gave her players a pep talk about handling the hard things in life. Consistency is where we need to improve: be more consistent defensively, be more consistent offensively, be more consistent on the glass, said Lawson at ACC Tipoff Oct. 11. The Chronicle also reached out Thursday night to a Florida State team spokesperson, who directed all media to the ACC's statement Friday morning. An instrumental part in helping the Duke women's basketball team boast one of the nation's top defenses throughout the season, Taylor leads the squad in total steals (58) and steals per game (2.0 . Stacey Lindsay, By Feb. 23, 2023. facebook ", . Lawsons staff will include Beth Cunningham, Winston Gandy and Tia Jackson. "I wanted to appeal and protest the game. Who is the player of the year in every women's college basketball conference? A self-proclaimed crazy dreamer of a person, Lawson offers a needed dose of positivity and motivation. I don't think you can watch our team and not like how they play and not get behind them, because they play so gosh darn hard, said Lawson after a victory against Virginia Tech Jan. 26. . Gandy, Karen She can drop down low and guard a big or pop out to defend a guard or an athletic four. In short, the game had steep implications for both the conference and NCAA tournament seedings, which Lawson mentioned. Ratcheting up a rivalry that had lost some luster as Notre Dame overtook the ACC with Louisville not far behind, followed by NC State's three-year ACC Tournament title-winning run, the Tar Heels and Blue Devils brought the battle back to the blues with a postseason slugfest. After playing professionally, she began as an assistant coach at Virginia Commonwealth in 2001 before becoming head coach two years later and staying in that role until 2012. Seen, Supported, and most importantly not alone on your journey to The Open Field. The Blue Devils shot no free throws while UNC made 5 of 9 from the line in the first half. I think all the credit goes to them for as hard as theyre willing to play for us for 40 minutes every game and what were asking them to do and theyve actually bought in, Lange said. It is undeniable that the offense will need to improve for the Blue Devils to do some damage in March. I think she'll do a great, great job for us.". Share and discuss 'We can get there': Inside Duke womens basketballs swift rise to ACC contention on social media. No, she walked into practice and she commanded practice right from the jump. With the three-headed monster of Taylor, Brown and Balogun leading the charge, the Blue Devils have given opposing offenses fits all season and its never in the same way. After a season in the WNBA, she entered coaching. And why did Lawson leave the Celtics? Terms of Service All rights reserved, The All 22 - An Inside Look at Duke Football, No. Long-time GM Danny Ainge retired and coach Brad Stevens is replacinghim in the front office. Duke passed that test with flying colors. And you can figure out who the people I'm talking about [are] that failed the sport and our players and both teams," Lawson said, speaking passionately. In Duke's recent 77-62 victory over N.C. State, Taylor made numerous defensive plays, including a chase-down block on Wolfpack forward Mimi Collins and multiple deflections in the final two. Its you. Balogun was Duke's top scorer with 11 points. 2 Seed Duke to Open 2023 Ally ACC Tournament Against No. You can have individually-talented people, but you must have a group that fits together. 39,788 peoplelike this 44,674 people follow this http://dukekaraera.com/ On Tuesday night, head coach Jon Scheyer 's first Duke basketball team held on to beat the visiting NC State Wolfpack (22-9, 12-8 ACC), 71-67. All of these characteristics that you would want in a coach, you want your staff to possess as many of those as possible and be experts in a number of them. Its not, We like this defensive set or this type of press, so well install that. You need to take a close look at the personnel involved. The bells rang out across Duke's campus at 5 p.m., chiming as if in celebration of Blue Devil senior Celeste Taylor. "We have concluded through our investigation that it was a men's ball," Lawson later added." MORE:Eight best Celtics coaching candidates to replace Brad Stevens. Thats our next challenge because they have slipped a little bit in league play.. Mulkey, who became the fastest coach in Division I history to reach 600 wins (needing only . But unless you continue to play, we lose that unique mentorship. There's something different about a coach from a great boss or even a teacher, she says. The 16th-ranked Blue Devils lost to the Seminoles . Associate Head Coach. Since Lawson and her team started posting the videos of her team talks, the response has been positiveand huge. Taylor is a highly skilled elite athlete with an incredibly high basketball IQ. The Blue Devils ranked 11th in the ACC and 156th in the country in field goal percentage defense. pic.twitter.com/uOqYb7tnFQ. Associate Head Coach. The way to do that is to compete hard with one another.. I think that her experience will be helpful for me in a lot of ways., I couldnt be more excited about the opportunity to work with Kara at Duke, said Cunningham. I think we achieved that. Sasha Richie is a Trinity senior and a sports managing editor of The Chronicle's 118th volume. LEXINGTON Kentucky women's basketball coach Kyra Elzy is adding a Hall of Famer to her coaching staff. Lawson and current assistant Jay Larranaga would representthe best options if Stevens wants some continuity and chemistry at the head coach spot. Most people would think its because shes 6-6 and she gives you great size, Lange said. Its not always exactly right, but they give us tremendous effort, so I think the credit really goes to them for doing that and being willing to do that because its very hard.. Gandy arrives from the Rice coaching staff, where he spent the last three seasons. Its all the other movement defensively that were asking her to do at 6-6 and its super impressive that she can do it consistently well.. But for the first time since retiring at the end of last season, the former FSU head coach will be back at . The star for this team has unquestionably been Taylor, who leads the team in scoring but provides so much value outside of shooting that helps Duke win. "I'm not perfect, but I admit when I'm making a mistake, and the mistake was made here and it's a big one.". 6 N.C. State LOST IN THE FOREST: Shorthanded Duke men's basketball falls on the road to Wake Forest in return to . Full Schedule wbball Sat, Jan 28 Final James Madison 64 at Georgia State 72 wbball Thu, Feb 2 Final James Madison 72 at South Alabama 54 wbball Sat, Feb 4 Final James Madison 61 at Georgia Southern 72 wbball Thu, Feb 9 Final James Madison 65 vs Louisiana 59 wbball Sat, Feb 11 Final James Madison 70 vs Arkansas State 57 wbball Thu, Feb 16 Final I think you win when you can and so that's what our goal was all along., Our team plays hard and they play together, Lawson said after Dukes Jan. 26 win against Virginia Tech. The Blue Devils and the Seminoles both entered Sunday's game in the top 25 nationally (No. You want a group that is balanced and that will play off one another well. Season Statistics; Season Statistics (PDF) Big Ten Statistics (PDF . When you have teammates that want to win just as badly as you do, it makes things a lot easier, said Taylor after the game. We don't always make our goals but that's what were shooting for, said Lawson. Slow offense has cost the team in multiple games, including its most recent loss to North Carolina. The conference and Florida State is saying that it wasn't.". On the court leaders stepped up in a way they didnt last year, bringing the rest of the team along. By Steve Wiseman. Looking to Find More Joy in a World Filled With Pain? That's what will ultimately matter during the hiring process. "so we're excited to have her on board. Gail Ann Goestenkors (born February 26, 1963) [1] is an American basketball coach who is currently an assistant coach for the Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team. Entering her third season at Duke with Monday's season opener against NC A&T (11 a.m. Despite her desire for an appeal, Lawson acknowledged and respected the outcome of the game as played. Lawson uses the example of being out of shape: If jogging a mile leaves you winded and tired, you may think I cant wait to get to two weeks, then it'll be easier. A coach is someone that inspires, that encourages, that motivates [] and that challenges you. The Duke Blue Devils will try to extend their three-game winning streak when they face the Virginia Tech Hokies on Saturday night. I guess this gave her a lift., We all are searching for positivity, encouragement, and inspirationespecially right now, says Lawson. Oliver, Emma / Bridgewater Raynham Regional HS. Duke is still holding opponents under 51 points per game and has allowed only one ACC squad to score more than 58 points in a game. She was previously a news anchor and reporter who covered veterans' issues and breaking news. It is just a perfect fit and I am looking forward to the challenge.. View Full Bio. View Full Bio. The way I approached it was trying to find individually-talented coaches, similar to building a team. Upon arriving at Duke, Lawson knew her most pressing work required people skills to match her deep basketball knowledge. "You have to feed them," Gamecocks coach and former Virginia Final Four guard Dawn Staley said earlier this season about the . A noticeable pickup in good chatter during practice followed by consistent play during the games this season has the Blue Devils sporting a 17-2 record (through Jan. 25) and holding opponents to just 50.9 points per game and 34.7 percent shooting both marks atop the league charts and in the top 10 nationally. The players must trust the coaching staffs belief they can execute the plan. If that was the recipe for success, the Blue Devils cooked it to perfection. However, that number has decreased to 0.66, now good for the 99th percentile. They're superwomen. View Full Bio. And he continued to speak well of his then-assistant. Irish move past Wolfpack as Miles still sidelined, Minnesota coach Whalen resigns at alma mater, White out as Pitt hoops coach after 42-99 mark, Sheldon gives Buckeyes lift vs. Michigan in return, LSU-Georgia game delayed by weather, leaky roof, NC State star Johnson to miss ACC tournament, 8 ejected after UK-Florida scuffle at SEC tourney, All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball. Duke announced its nonconference schedule for the 2022-23 season via release. There is no additional information to display. Women's Power Rankings: Pac-12 teams, Maryland show their teeth. Tenacious defense and the full-court press has given opposing offenses nightmares, and Lawson has set out a clear philosophy that her team has embraced. To say the defense has improved is an understatement. Earlier in the fourth, Reigan Richardson's jumper off a Tar Heel turnover gave Duke the fourth tie of the period and then Elizabeth Balogun made a pair of free throws to give the Blue Devils a 42-40 lead with 1:58 remaining. I am beyond enthusiastic about coming back to Duke. "This would never happen in a men's game, this would never happen. I did think athletically, especially on the perimeter, we could be a pretty good, aggressive man-to-man team.. Moving You and Humanity Forward. According to Her Hoop Stats, Taylor records a defensive win share of 3.7, meaning that Taylor has produced roughly that many wins for the Blue Devils solely based on her defensive performances. There are a thousand different presses you could run. But any fear Arizona fans had of Barnes leaving was extinguished Friday when it was reported by the Raleigh News & Observer that Duke is hiring Boston Celtics assistant coach Kara Lawson as the. Women's Basketball The ACC Defensive Player of the Year has more than double the amount of steals of any other player on her team, and her sheer commitment to defense is what has impressed Lawson from the start. A key member of the Blue Devils coaching staff is headed elsewhere. TAYLOR'S VERSION: Taylor, Balogun lead Duke women's basketball to upset win at No. Jackson, Winston Niele Ivey, Kara Lawson speak at ACC women's basketball media day. Koabel, Kennedy If we just focus on the present moment and just continue to get better each day, we can get there.. Nevertheless, these both ended up as victories, because what has made this team so successful is that even when the offense is struggling, the defense does not skip a beat. We want to try and force turnovers, said Lawson at preseason media day. Women's Champ Week predictions: Which teams will win the auto bids in all 32 conferences? When McGraw retired in April, Cunningham was not retained by new coach Niele Ivey, who also had been on McGraw's staff from 2007 to 2019. For UNC, Deja Kelly led the way with 11 points. Lawson has long been involved with professional basketball. Now with the Blue Devils in the thick of conference action the numbers have understandably dropped a touch, but Lawson and the Blue Devils are excited to meet the challenge of ACC play night in and night out. From the moment head coach Kara Lawson joined Duke, she has surrounded herself with high-quality assistants. Kara Lawson. Corosdale, Jordyn I've gotten so many messages of people just telling their story and how this has helped them, she says. She didn't coach in The Bubble, as she had already left for Duke, but her footprint was clearly on that squad. ACC women's basketball coaches Niele Ivey, Katie Meier, Felisha Legette-Jack and Kara Lawson talk about the upcoming season at media day. Before we could ask her to coach us, Lawson did just that. Lawson primarily played as a shooting guard.She won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in . The Blue Devils forced 19.6 turnovers per game in the 11 games, including 15 against UConn, while also holding the Huskies to 12 points below their season average at the time. The former WNBA star doesn't have a lot of coaching experience, but she has been involved with the Boston organization and seems to have a good relationship with Brad Stevens. Duke is allowing a mere 50.9 points per game, good for third in the country, and has only allowed 60-plus points in five games. Elzy has hired former Duke and Texas head coach Gail Goestenkors as one of . Per NCAA playing rules, there is no appeal or protest process. However, the situation in December was eerily similar to last year, as the Blue Devils entered ACC play with a 10-1 record, the sole blemish again to a very talented UConn team. 15 in the AP Poll before a sharp decline that caused them to miss the NCAA tournament. de Jesus, Ashlon Later that season on International Women's Day (March 8) in 2020, Stevens was asked his opinion of Lawson. The Blue Devils simply disrupt whatever offense is thrown at them. NC State lost 77-62. She spent the last eight years as an assistant at Notre Dame. Who is Kara Lawson? Full access to Maria's collection of inspiring weekly essays. The women's athletic department . Before the season, Lawsons message was clear. A defensive standout herself at Iowa she still ranks 13th in Hawkeye history in steals Jackson enjoyed finding the best fit for the Blue Devils. It's official, Duke's coaching staff has a new member. The goal is to get [opponents] taking a contested shot, and one of them. Drink water. This is something that people have said to me: That its cool to get coached again., #3: Life Wont Get Easierand Thats Okay, I don't want to be a hypocrite. The man likely tasked with replacing the winningest college basketball coach ever is a former Duke player who moved to the Blue Devils' bench just eight years ago and was promoted to associate . "She became more than just my shooting coach, she became a longtime friend and somebody I know I can talk to if I ever need advice, Smart said after Lawson was announced as Duke's next coach, per NBC Sports Boston. Scheyer bleeds Duke blue through and through, playing four years from 2006-2010, then joining the coaching staff as a special assistant in April 2013, ultimately being promoted to assistant. I wanted coaches that brought a lot to the table in terms of knowledge of the game, knowledge of recruiting, ability to build relationships and player development. "She is as sharp as they come," Stevens said, per KnoxNews.com. When you make a mistake, you own it, and you own it right away. Her first season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Blue Devils posted a 3-1 record in the four games they played before opting to cancel the rest of their season. Shes the Swiss Army Knife of Duke womens basketball she can do it all. Clemson and Louisville are the only two conference foes to shoot over 40 percent against the Blue Devils, but Duke used 11 and 20 points off turnovers, respectively, to pull out wins and remain at the top of the ACC standings. As a player, Cunningham, then known as Beth Morgan, helped lead Notre Dame to its first Women's Final Four in 1997. The next project was a fun one for associate head coach Tia Jackson, who is in her third year on Lawsons staff at Duke. UNC coach Courtney Banghart had no wins in the ACC Tournament before this season. Her previous stint at Duke was from 2005 to 2007, which included a 2006 national runner-up finish. While NC State just recently began racking up ACC Tournament championships, the program had consistently been knocking at the door for years prior to its three-peat, finishing the regular season in the top-four of the conference each year since 2017.