President Coale
In addition to beginning her 12th season as head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners women’s basketball team, Sherri Coale has a new role to add to her to outstanding coaching resume. Coale is the President of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
“I am the President – in the first year of the Presidency – and, next year, I will also be the President. It’s a two year gig. It’s actually a five year gig; but, they don’t tell you that when they ask you to do it – a couple of years as vice president and then a year as past president. I’m in the middle of that.
“It’s been a very rewarding process so far. It’s a lot of work. It’s an opportunity to really make a difference in the growth of women’s basketball. I think we all have to be caretakers of the game; and, when it’s time for us to be involved in a leadership role, we need to step to the plate and take advantage of it. I’m enjoying it. I’m excited about. I’m working with a tremendous board of directors; a great group of people who are passionate about women’s basketball. That’s fun.”
Becoming WBCA President was not just an easy process for Coale.
“Yes, there’s a nomination process. I was on the executive board of directors; and, the path to the presidency has to come through the board of directors. I was nominated and voted on by the membership to be, first, vice president, and then you move directly to the presidency. Doug Bruno was the previous president; Geno Auriemma is the current vice president; so, I’m sandwiched in between to good old boys. (laughs)”
Coale has some very lofty goals she would like to see the WBCA accomplish in her tenure as President. Is there anything you would like to see or are working towards which you would like to be changed or added or improved for the WBCA and women’s basketball?
“Well, there are a lot of things that we have in the works right now. The most recent change the general public and fans will recognize is that our NCAA Tournament is going to the 16 sites. It’s going back from the four to the 16 in hopes of regenerating our early round attendance which has seen some drop off in the last few years. I think it’s a tremendous move. I think it’s a courageous move by the NCAA to say ‘Hey, what’s really right about the game?’ And, I think this is where we get, sometimes, people get caught, and I’ve seen headlines, saying ‘Women’s basketball going backward’ with a question mark. All sorts of slants that make this move a negative thing. This is a positive thing. The reason I think it’s so courageous is that the NCAA is looking at our game and saying ‘What is the right thing to do?’ – not perception-wise – ‘what should we do?’ or ‘what looks best?’ ‘What is right for our game?’ I think for that honest; candid perception of it we have to be thankful for that for those people on the committee who are saying ‘Let’s fix this thing now. Let’s not wait three or four years from and see how much attendance erodes. Let’s figure out how we can people at these games.’
“ESPN bought into it. They’re going to still televise at every site which is a huge commitment on their part – it takes a lot more talent; a lot more trucks; and it costs a lot more money to be in 16 places than it does it to be in eight or four. We appreciate their involvement in the growth.”
Creating the Kay Yow Fund is another of the goals Coale has set for the WBCA.
“Another thing the WBCA is diligently working towards now is creating the Kay Yow Fund which is an organization that will obviously help fight breast cancer and will be involved in research and treatment,” said Coale. “There have been many such initiatives; but, none really all bound together as a voice of the WBCA. Different campuses have celebrated ‘Pink Outs’. We (OU) did one of those; but, for everyone to have a concerted effort and send all the funding to the Kay Yow Fund and, ultimately the Jimmy V Foundation will make a significant difference in the fight against breast cancer; so, we’re working diligently to get those things into motion. We’re very, very excited about that.”
Last and not least of the goals Sherri Coale has set for her tenure is a way to keep the “matriarchs of the women’s college game” involved and able to share their knowledge and wisdom with younger coaches.
“We’re also in the early stages of developing the Leadership Institute which is a way to involve some mentors in our game who have recently moved out of the profession – Jody Conradt (Texas), Marsha Sharp (Texas Tech), Ceal Berry (Colorado); Teresa Grentz (Illinois), Rene Portland (Penn State) – you can go across the country – and this was a very significant year for us in terms of losing some of the matriarchs of women’s college basketball. We want to keep those women involved and have our young coaches – myself included – although I guess I’m middle-aged now, I’m not young, involved in learning from those coaches. We’re working to create an opportunity to do that through our Leadership Institute for the sport of women’s basketball; so, there’s some really neat, groundbreaking things going on with the WBCA right now. Even though it is a lot of work, the things that we’re doing are energizing.”
In order to wear all of the proverbial “hats” and be effective at each job, Coale definitely has to have an effective support staff in place.
“As I told Beth Bass, the CEO of the WBCA, I couldn’t do this job at another time if my program weren’t at the place that is currently. If my staff wasn’t as loyal and reliable as they are, it would be impossible for me to take on this extra responsibility. Jan Ross, Chad Thrailkill, Stacy Hansmeyer have been with me for a number of years. Jan and I are starting our 12th year working together; she came to OU with me. That comfort level with them being able to run practice if I’m away – perhaps twice in a year – I know that our players are being taught; and pushed; and stretched; and guided while I’m gone which is a tremendous load off my mind. Also, my director of basketball operations, Guy Austin, is my liaison with the WBCA; and, he takes care of a load of paperwork that comes from the WBCA. In terms of digesting a document; summarizing it; and telling me what’s in it saves me (up to) four hours of reading. Plus, to work through travel arrangements; and meeting locations; and conference calls is a big help. It is really a concerted effort. Everyone on the OU staff has to be involved in helping me do this job as WBCA President.”
The WBCA and Oklahoma Sooners women’s basketball seems to be in very capable hands with Sherri Coale at the helm.
“I am the President – in the first year of the Presidency – and, next year, I will also be the President. It’s a two year gig. It’s actually a five year gig; but, they don’t tell you that when they ask you to do it – a couple of years as vice president and then a year as past president. I’m in the middle of that.
“It’s been a very rewarding process so far. It’s a lot of work. It’s an opportunity to really make a difference in the growth of women’s basketball. I think we all have to be caretakers of the game; and, when it’s time for us to be involved in a leadership role, we need to step to the plate and take advantage of it. I’m enjoying it. I’m excited about. I’m working with a tremendous board of directors; a great group of people who are passionate about women’s basketball. That’s fun.”
Becoming WBCA President was not just an easy process for Coale.
“Yes, there’s a nomination process. I was on the executive board of directors; and, the path to the presidency has to come through the board of directors. I was nominated and voted on by the membership to be, first, vice president, and then you move directly to the presidency. Doug Bruno was the previous president; Geno Auriemma is the current vice president; so, I’m sandwiched in between to good old boys. (laughs)”
Coale has some very lofty goals she would like to see the WBCA accomplish in her tenure as President. Is there anything you would like to see or are working towards which you would like to be changed or added or improved for the WBCA and women’s basketball?
“Well, there are a lot of things that we have in the works right now. The most recent change the general public and fans will recognize is that our NCAA Tournament is going to the 16 sites. It’s going back from the four to the 16 in hopes of regenerating our early round attendance which has seen some drop off in the last few years. I think it’s a tremendous move. I think it’s a courageous move by the NCAA to say ‘Hey, what’s really right about the game?’ And, I think this is where we get, sometimes, people get caught, and I’ve seen headlines, saying ‘Women’s basketball going backward’ with a question mark. All sorts of slants that make this move a negative thing. This is a positive thing. The reason I think it’s so courageous is that the NCAA is looking at our game and saying ‘What is the right thing to do?’ – not perception-wise – ‘what should we do?’ or ‘what looks best?’ ‘What is right for our game?’ I think for that honest; candid perception of it we have to be thankful for that for those people on the committee who are saying ‘Let’s fix this thing now. Let’s not wait three or four years from and see how much attendance erodes. Let’s figure out how we can people at these games.’
“ESPN bought into it. They’re going to still televise at every site which is a huge commitment on their part – it takes a lot more talent; a lot more trucks; and it costs a lot more money to be in 16 places than it does it to be in eight or four. We appreciate their involvement in the growth.”
Creating the Kay Yow Fund is another of the goals Coale has set for the WBCA.
“Another thing the WBCA is diligently working towards now is creating the Kay Yow Fund which is an organization that will obviously help fight breast cancer and will be involved in research and treatment,” said Coale. “There have been many such initiatives; but, none really all bound together as a voice of the WBCA. Different campuses have celebrated ‘Pink Outs’. We (OU) did one of those; but, for everyone to have a concerted effort and send all the funding to the Kay Yow Fund and, ultimately the Jimmy V Foundation will make a significant difference in the fight against breast cancer; so, we’re working diligently to get those things into motion. We’re very, very excited about that.”
Last and not least of the goals Sherri Coale has set for her tenure is a way to keep the “matriarchs of the women’s college game” involved and able to share their knowledge and wisdom with younger coaches.
“We’re also in the early stages of developing the Leadership Institute which is a way to involve some mentors in our game who have recently moved out of the profession – Jody Conradt (Texas), Marsha Sharp (Texas Tech), Ceal Berry (Colorado); Teresa Grentz (Illinois), Rene Portland (Penn State) – you can go across the country – and this was a very significant year for us in terms of losing some of the matriarchs of women’s college basketball. We want to keep those women involved and have our young coaches – myself included – although I guess I’m middle-aged now, I’m not young, involved in learning from those coaches. We’re working to create an opportunity to do that through our Leadership Institute for the sport of women’s basketball; so, there’s some really neat, groundbreaking things going on with the WBCA right now. Even though it is a lot of work, the things that we’re doing are energizing.”
In order to wear all of the proverbial “hats” and be effective at each job, Coale definitely has to have an effective support staff in place.
“As I told Beth Bass, the CEO of the WBCA, I couldn’t do this job at another time if my program weren’t at the place that is currently. If my staff wasn’t as loyal and reliable as they are, it would be impossible for me to take on this extra responsibility. Jan Ross, Chad Thrailkill, Stacy Hansmeyer have been with me for a number of years. Jan and I are starting our 12th year working together; she came to OU with me. That comfort level with them being able to run practice if I’m away – perhaps twice in a year – I know that our players are being taught; and pushed; and stretched; and guided while I’m gone which is a tremendous load off my mind. Also, my director of basketball operations, Guy Austin, is my liaison with the WBCA; and, he takes care of a load of paperwork that comes from the WBCA. In terms of digesting a document; summarizing it; and telling me what’s in it saves me (up to) four hours of reading. Plus, to work through travel arrangements; and meeting locations; and conference calls is a big help. It is really a concerted effort. Everyone on the OU staff has to be involved in helping me do this job as WBCA President.”
The WBCA and Oklahoma Sooners women’s basketball seems to be in very capable hands with Sherri Coale at the helm.
posted by Kris Gardner @ 10:31 PM
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