New faces for women's bball
Esther Rufolo
Issue date: 11/18/09 Section: Sports
This year the Mount St. Mary's women's basketball team has three new additions to their coaching staff: assistant coaches Denise King, Jada Pierce and Lisa Steele.
Steele, the youngest of the three, graduated this past year from George Washington University where she amassed 206 points and 107 rebounds over four years. In her time there, the Colonials went 101-20 and had four NCAA tournament appearances, making it to the sweet sixteen the past two years.
"Coaching at the Mount has been great so far," Steele said. "Coach [Bryan] Whitten coaches differently from previous coaches I've had, and … I feel like it is always positive to get out and learn from as many people as possible."
Steele met Whitten at the Final Four last year and thought that he would be a good coach to work with.
"He seemed like a great guy," Steele said. "When I heard about openings on his staff, I immediately expressed interest. I plan to learn as much as I can about being a college coach. I hope to bring the passion and energy I have for the game and pass it along to the players and coaches."
The Mount won their season opener 55-51 against the Golden Griffins of Canisius on Saturday.
"They [the coaches] helped greatly during the game by pulling us aside, telling us to relax, what to work on, and how we're doing," said sophomore Courtney Nyce.
Despite the new faces, players feel that the team has been coming together nicely this year.
"We all get along really well," said junior co-captain Mary Dunn. "We're always together and we joke around a lot. We're really close and we work to make sure that everyone is on the same page."
"They [the coaches] help us outside the games by working out with us and shooting with us," said Nyce. "They've been a great help and we're all thankful to have them here."
"The goals I have for the team are to win the conference and play in the NCAA tournament," said Steele. "It is a special experience that all players and coaches should get to have."
Steele, the youngest of the three, graduated this past year from George Washington University where she amassed 206 points and 107 rebounds over four years. In her time there, the Colonials went 101-20 and had four NCAA tournament appearances, making it to the sweet sixteen the past two years.
"Coaching at the Mount has been great so far," Steele said. "Coach [Bryan] Whitten coaches differently from previous coaches I've had, and … I feel like it is always positive to get out and learn from as many people as possible."
Steele met Whitten at the Final Four last year and thought that he would be a good coach to work with.
"He seemed like a great guy," Steele said. "When I heard about openings on his staff, I immediately expressed interest. I plan to learn as much as I can about being a college coach. I hope to bring the passion and energy I have for the game and pass it along to the players and coaches."
The Mount won their season opener 55-51 against the Golden Griffins of Canisius on Saturday.
"They [the coaches] helped greatly during the game by pulling us aside, telling us to relax, what to work on, and how we're doing," said sophomore Courtney Nyce.
Despite the new faces, players feel that the team has been coming together nicely this year.
"We all get along really well," said junior co-captain Mary Dunn. "We're always together and we joke around a lot. We're really close and we work to make sure that everyone is on the same page."
"They [the coaches] help us outside the games by working out with us and shooting with us," said Nyce. "They've been a great help and we're all thankful to have them here."
"The goals I have for the team are to win the conference and play in the NCAA tournament," said Steele. "It is a special experience that all players and coaches should get to have."
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