Women's Basketball Team

Stingrays · Post by **Stingrays** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:13 pm

What's the general feeling about the hiring of Tricia Bader-Binford as head WBB coach? Did anybody go to the Meet the Coaches deal last week?

mslacat · Post by **mslacat** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:17 pm

I met Traci about a month ago, and really liked her. She is full of energy, and ambisiuos, much like Potera, BUT has a very charming personality. I hear that she has developed a good relationship with the player. I found her very engaging.

CelticCat · Post by **CelticCat** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:30 pm

All I can safely say is that a change was needed.

Stingrays · Post by **Stingrays** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 12:59 am

I follow Big West WBB very closely, so I've seen Tricia Bader-Binford and her top assistant Amy Saneholtz in action.

I am not trying to start a flame war nor am I a troll. But I was surprised that TBB took this job. Why? The lack of stability in the program. Four coaches in the last seven years? Also I've talked to a few coaches and they said they wouldn't touch the MSU job. I'm not sure what to think or who to blame for the situation at MSU.

There is no question that Tracy Sheenan should never coach again. But it seems as though the players went crying to the AD about Coach Potera and the AD sided with the players. Being forced to practice with injuries, or more than the allowed time is flat out wrong. But how did Coach Potera mistreat the players? Yelling at them? Geez a coach should never yell at a player. Sometimes I think kids today think mistreatment means they do not get their way.
Why they didn't keep Coach K, I don't know. It seemed as though he did a good job. McCarthy was an idiot for getting involved with a player. So come to think about it, McCarthy because of that stupid decision to get involved with a player, may have hurt any male coach's chance of being the permanant head coach at MSU.

At Utah St, TBB was in charge of guard development. During the two seasons at USU, they had two guards who earned All BW honors. So she knows how to develop guards and she knows how to spot guards while on the recruiting trail.

As a person, she's great. I could always talk to her and she was always nice and friendly. Living in the LA area, her USU team came to the area six times a year.

I believe with her personality and the respect the players should give to a former WNBA player, I think TBB will do a great job at MSU. She will need to get the kids to buy into her program ASAP. Some kids might have wanted Coach K back but they didn't get their wish so TBB will need to work to get those players to buy into her program. If she can't, she's screwed and maybe charges of mistreatment might be heard again. With TBB's personality, I think she will get the players to buy into her program.

Amy Saneholtz. The only think I will say bad about Amy is that at Cal Poly they never had a winning season during her time there. I think assistant coaches need to take some of the blame or credit for a good or bad season. Of course Amy doesn't deserve the entire blame for the 81-138 record.

Now there are some reasons for that record. Injuries played a huge part. Three or four years ago it seemed as though CP was going to turn the corner. But injuries to key players really brought the team down.

As far as recruiting, Amy brought in some very good players and once they got there they developed into good players.

Also the CP staff had the courage to stick to their convictions when they suspended six players right before the opening game of the BWT when those six player violated a team rule. The rule? No drinking during the season. I hate many of today's coaches who are suppose to set an example, come up with these custom made excuses to allow violators back onto the team, usually when they are going to play a big game.

I think MSU made a very good hire in TBB and TBB put together an excellent staff. Hopefully some good times are ahead for TBB and her staff and MSU fans, who I understand are very supportive of WBB.

CelticCat · Post by **CelticCat** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:10 am

Thanks for the insight Stringrays. I was excited to her TBB was hired, she was my favorite of the candidates, and I have to agree I was pleasantly surprised to see she took this job. I hope she can do what Coach K (too many coach Ks) has done for the Griz men's team. I will be perfectly honest and admit I have never attended a womens' basketball game at MSU, not necessarily because they were never good, mostly because I'm just not really into women's bball. I think I may start going next year, I've been meaning to come out and support the team for a few years, and this year I think will be a crucial year in getting the MSU team on track.

Bleedinbluengold · Post by **Bleedinbluengold** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 11:45 am

Well, I think she took the job for two main reasons, which are total conjecture on my part.

1) She has the opportunity to build MSU into a contender year-in and year-out. Already, she has proven that her credentials will help recruiting quality athletes.
2) The Athletic Dept. is 100% behind doing what it takes to elevate women's sports at MSU. That means she'll be given pretty much free reign to do whatever is necessary, within the regulations, to build the program.

The combination of the above, gives Tricia a very good chance to start a very impressive resume', which will help her as she moves up the professional coaching ladder. From what I see, I think she has the potential to coach at the highest levels of Women's BB.

If Potera would have attended to her players to the same degree that she cared about herself, things might have been different. From what I know, I think her "outbursts" were borderline demeaning, at best, and totally abusive, at worst. As a booster, I found that she was 99% all-talk, and delivered on about 1% of what she said she was going to do. And when her teams had failures, it was never her fault to ANY degree. She went so far as to tell us that she simply couldn't recruit in Montana because of UM's Selvig...so she pretty much gave up recruiting in Montana. Potera was a disease to the program, and no amount of medicine could make it recover. We needed a total extraction.

Stingrays · Post by **Stingrays** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 2:10 pm

Bleedinbluengold wrote:Well, I think she took the job for two main reasons, which are total conjecture on my part.

1) She has the opportunity to build MSU into a contender year-in and year-out. Already, she has proven that her credentials will help recruiting quality athletes.
2) The Athletic Dept. is 100% behind doing what it takes to elevate women's sports at MSU. That means she'll be given pretty much free reign to do whatever is necessary, within the regulations, to build the program.

What examples are there that the athletic department is 100% behind women's sports? There are many examples that prove otherwise.

Will kids in Montana go to MSU, knowing all the things that have happened at MSU within the last 5-7 years?

And will TBB have the backing of the athletic department if the players go to the AD and say they are being "mistreatment" I mean this is D-1 basketball. It's people's careers at stake. This isn't little league where everybody who pays, gets to play. It seems as though the MSU athletic department is quick to take sides with the players. When will the players ever look in the mirror and say that maybe it's their fault?

wbtfg · Post by **wbtfg** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 3:36 pm

Stingrays wrote:
Bleedinbluengold wrote:Well, I think she took the job for two main reasons, which are total conjecture on my part.

1) She has the opportunity to build MSU into a contender year-in and year-out. Already, she has proven that her credentials will help recruiting quality athletes.
2) The Athletic Dept. is 100% behind doing what it takes to elevate women's sports at MSU. That means she'll be given pretty much free reign to do whatever is necessary, within the regulations, to build the program.
What examples are there that the athletic department is 100% behind women's sports? There are many examples that prove otherwise.

Will kids in Montana go to MSU, knowing all the things that have happened at MSU within the last 5-7 years?

And will TBB have the backing of the athletic department if the players go to the AD and say they are being "mistreatment" I mean this is D-1 basketball. It's people's careers at stake. This isn't little league where everybody who pays, gets to play. It seems as though the MSU athletic department is quick to take sides with the players. When will the players ever look in the mirror and say that maybe it's their fault?

I knew/know many of the players who played under Potera, and BELIEVE ME Potera needed to be fired. SHE RUINED OUR PROGRAM! You have to remember we didn't really want to hire her in the first place. Everyone and their brother knew that McCarthy was going to get the job, and once he got caught with his pants down, we were left with a VERY WEAK pool of applicants. And instead of reopening the search, we ended up being stuck with Potera.

The department did everything they could to try to stand behind Potera, but she kept violating NCAA regulations and pissing people (Admin/Boosters/Players) off. She was a first class witch who deserved everything she gets.

As for Kudrna. He is a great guy who was caught in the middle of a difficult situation. He was well liked by everybody who brought some FUN to the program, but I honestly don't think that he is a Division I bball coach. I think the department went in the right direction in hiring someone from outside of the current staff, and I think that TBB was the best candidate.

I wish the entire program good luck, and I look forward to a successful/fun season.

mquast53000 · Post by **mquast53000** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 3:43 pm

I had met Potera a couple of times and I never really liked her. One thing that Potera said that has always stuck with me was when she told one of our FB coaches that they should not waste their time recruiting in MT and go to TX where all the good athletes are. After that little comment you never saw any of the FB coaches talking to her.

wbtfg · Post by **wbtfg** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 3:55 pm

mquast53000 wrote:I had met Potera a couple of times and I never really liked her. One thing that Potera said that has always stuck with me was when she told one of our FB coaches that they should not waste their time recruiting in MT and go to TX where all the good athletes are. After that little comment you never saw any of the FB coaches talking to her.

I remember former Men's assistant Jerry Olson telling me that after a year of working basically down the hall from Potera that she still didn't know his name, and wouldn't even make eye contact when they passed each other in the hall.

I also heard stories of when she moved into her office, and finding people to plug in her phone, and hang up pictures on the wall because she couldn't figure it out.

On the other hand, her assistants were always great people. Kellog is awesome, Matt (I can't remember his last name) left after a year because he couldn't take her, and we all know how great of a person Kudrna is. These guys are all saints...I can't imagine having that witch as a boss.

hokeyfine · Post by **hokeyfine** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 4:15 pm

i think msu was the first/only school in the big sky that was title IX compliant. now i think there are others.

Bleedinbluengold · Post by **Bleedinbluengold** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 4:59 pm

Stingrays wrote: What examples are there that the athletic department is 100% behind women's sports? There are many examples that prove otherwise.

Will kids in Montana go to MSU, knowing all the things that have happened at MSU within the last 5-7 years?

And will TBB have the backing of the athletic department if the players go to the AD and say they are being "mistreatment" I mean this is D-1 basketball. It's people's careers at stake. This isn't little league where everybody who pays, gets to play. It seems as though the MSU athletic department is quick to take sides with the players. When will the players ever look in the mirror and say that maybe it's their fault?

I've worked with the athletic dept. for 5 years raising money for the kids' scholarships and I've witnessed success in volleyball and track, and in WBB pre-potera. Potera was spoon-fed a good program, and she buried it within 2 seasons. Above, hokey makes it clear where the MSU athletic department stands in terms of women's D-1 athletics, I think.

I don't think Tricia will experience a ton of success early on with respect to recruiting in Montana. An analogy would be trying to out-recruit Pat Summit in Tennessee. The guy at UM is an icon...he IS women's basketball Statewide, if not the country to a great degree. I do think that over time, however, Tricia will make some inroads. I like her demeanor, and she exudes honesty and integrity - that will go along way in this State.

I don't think the players recruited by Tricia will ever go to the AD. Tricia doesn't strike me as a person who talks out of both sides of her mouth - which potera was remarkable at doing. The fiasco with potera festered for a couple seasons before the end result - so I disagree that the AD rushed to judgement. In fact, I would have canned potera after season 2 just because it was obvious she didn't know what the heck she was doing. Unfortunately, injuries were blamed for much of the teams' demise under potera. FINALLY, it became clear that unless a recruit fell into her lap, she had no luck recruiting quality Big Sky talent.

Stingrays · Post by **Stingrays** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:45 pm

I'm not trying to defend anybody, but some of the reasons people have posted about their dislike for Potera, seems more about her personality or her as a person than her coaching ability. Whether she knows how to plug in a phone or change a light bulb, has nothing to do with coaching ability. Though her comments about in state athletes is just flat out stupid.

Now I know as fans, we would like a coach who is friendly and welcoming. But a coach can lack people skills when it comes to relating to fans/booster but can coach like crazy. Bobby Knight for example. He's a jerk, he has a jerk personality, but he knows basketball and is one hell of a coach.

On the other end of the spectrum, a coach could make every fan feel like his or her best friend but the coach may be a terrible coach. Following the BW, I can name a ton of coaches who fit that discription.

hokeyfine · Post by **hokeyfine** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 8:26 am

maybe potera was a good x's and o's coach, but obviously couldn't communicate that with her players, the public, etc.

mquast53000 · Post by **mquast53000** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 8:26 am

Stingrays wrote:I'm not trying to defend anybody, but some of the reasons people have posted about their dislike for Potera, seems more about her personality or her as a person than her coaching ability.

I have to disagree with this comment. College sports success is due in great part to the booster and fan support. If you don't have either then you are screwed. Being a good HEAD coach only gets you halfway there. You have to be able to solicit financial support. Kramer's record is not that enticing to fans and boosters, but he knows how to drum up support from people. That is what makes him a good coach. I am sure that Bobby Knight was able to get money from boosters, otherwise he would not have stayed in the Big Ten for as long as he did. You can not alienate your fans, boosters and colleagues and expect to keep your job.

BobcatLionFan · Post by **BobcatLionFan** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 8:36 am

A head coaching position in a major sport (football especially) is a political position. You don't get it without being politically acceptable to boosters (money) and you don't stay unless you win half your games (or more), recruit well and stay political.

A good head coach get's good assistants to do a lot of the coaching and recruting and keeps them. You only keep them if you deligate responsibilites. If the head coach tries to do to much, he does NOT get the asst coaches that are very good and want the responsibilties. He gets followers and a 2-7 record (whcih then pisses off the boosters who puts pressure on the AD and coach gets canned).

Bleedinbluengold · Post by **Bleedinbluengold** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 8:39 am

Those are valid points, Stingrays, but I guess I would argue that Potera wasn't even a good game coach. At least I didn't see any evidence that convinced me that she was any better than average to below average. Her record at MSU spoke for itself.

Helcat72 · Post by **Helcat72** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:01 am

hokeyfine wrote:maybe potera was a good x's and o's coach, but obviously couldn't communicate that with her players, the public, etc.

I met Potera a couple of times and she seemed quite nice. My observation was that she was rather shy, and for a head coach that just won't make it. She was afraid to approach a recruit in Montana. I had to introduce her to a recruit's coach and parents and just about act as an intermediary to get her to actively recruit her. She really wanted this recruit and shortly after the preliminaries she told her she could start at MSU as a freshman. The recruit went to UM because Selvig had already done the work...but Potera just wouldn't mess with anyone Selvig wanted. I think this is what basically happened with Katie Edwards too, although there were other unfortunate things that transpired there.

Potera always walked around in the stands before games and shook hands with the fans, so I don't think she was anti social, just a social cripple who had to force herself to relate to people. Not head coaching material at all.

Stingrays · Post by **Stingrays** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 2:44 pm

mquast53000 wrote:
Stingrays wrote:I'm not trying to defend anybody, but some of the reasons people have posted about their dislike for Potera, seems more about her personality or her as a person than her coaching ability.
I have to disagree with this comment. College sports success is due in great part to the booster and fan support. If you don't have either then you are screwed. Being a good HEAD coach only gets you halfway there. You have to be able to solicit financial support. Kramer's record is not that enticing to fans and boosters, but he knows how to drum up support from people. That is what makes him a good coach. I am sure that Bobby Knight was able to get money from boosters, otherwise he would not have stayed in the Big Ten for as long as he did. You can not alienate your fans, boosters and colleagues and expect to keep your job.

It's funny to hear boosters say things like that. I've never seen a booster make a basket or a TD or a goal. The development office is in charge of raising funds. It's easier for the development office to raise money when a team is winning. Thus the most important thing for a coach is his or her ability to know the X's and O's and to be able to teach that to the players.

mquast53000 · Post by **mquast53000** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 3:23 pm

Stingrays wrote:It's funny to hear boosters say things like that. I've never seen a booster make a basket or a TD or a goal. The development office is in charge of raising funds. It's easier for the development office to raise money when a team is winning. Thus the most important thing for a coach is his or her ability to know the X's and O's and to be able to teach that to the players.

It is funnier that you assume that a booster hasn't made a basket, TD or a goal.

You create a winning program with $$$! You can draw all the X's & O's that you want, but if you can not attract quality athletes because you lack acceptable facilities you will never have a winning season. I know that you need your head coach in college athletics to be a people person. Kramer is considered a great coach, yet he doesn't even have a winning record with the Cats. What does he do so well? He gets the fans and boosters excited about football, and in return he gets people to give money to the program, which in return will build a winning program. Anyone that thinks coaching is all about X's & O's in the college ranks is delusional!