She can drop down low and guard a big or pop out to defend a guard or an athletic four. She's always been there for me. 6 N.C. State LOST IN THE FOREST: Shorthanded Duke men's basketball falls on the road to Wake Forest in return to . I am ecstatic., Three assistants combine for 46 years experience, Duke Women's Basketball Coach Kara Lawson Introductory Press Conference. When she went down to Duke to coach the women's team there I mean, I'm just putting A + B = C to me. Exclusive access to LIVE, virtual interviews with Maria and friendsevery month! 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. This doesnt change the mile. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. The story of Celeste for us is that if we need something done that's going to change the game from losing to winning, you put Celeste Taylor on the job. Bollin, Imani New Duke women's basketball coach Kara Lawson announced the hiring of three assistants Friday, including longtime former Notre Dame assistant Beth Cunningham. Who is Kara Lawson? 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.. 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.. 2022-23 Women's Basketball Roster - Charlotte Athletics Skip To Main Content Pause All Rotators Charlotte Athletics Main Navigation Menu Schedule Tickets Men's Sports Archive Stories Sport Navigation Menu 2022-23 Women's Basketball Roster Print Roster Layout: Choose A Season: Sort By: Go Footer All Rights Reserved. After a season in the WNBA, she entered coaching. That is one stat that has progressed in a large way. Shes in her forties and is a mom and trying to navigate it all. Once you figure that out, then everything becomes attainable., #6: No Matter Our Age or Gender, We All Must Support the Future Female Leaders, One of the most important things we can do is believe in others, says Lawson. Cancel at any time. She's elite at what she does. It has been a place that I have held very near and dear to my heart over the years. The Chronicle also reached out Thursday night to a Florida State team spokesperson, who directed all media to the ACC's statement Friday morning. 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. 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. There is no additional information to display: The conference would not allow me to do that," Lawson said. All five on the court at the same time. She was previously a news anchor and reporter who covered veterans' issues and breaking news. 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 . Your body can handle the mile better now. Staff Directory Members By Category/Department; Image Name Title Email Address Phone; Katie Gearlds: Head Coach 494.0605 494.0605: Beth Couture: 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. The numbers were not favorable to finding wins, especially in the highly competitive ACC. So that concept applies to everything., Lawson says that she and her coaching staff challenge their players. Feb. 23, 2023. Down three with 15 seconds left, Fighting Irish junior guard Olivia Miles broke the Blue Devil press and drove down the court. 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. Before we could ask her to coach us, Lawson did just that. As a player, Cunningham, then known as Beth Morgan, helped lead Notre Dame to its first Women's Final Four in 1997. Lawson has not been shy in praising her staff for the improvement of this team, especially during the offseason. Duke came in and held FGCU to five threes on 20 attempts, and 25 percent shooting from behind the arc. Karen Lange joins Duke's coaching staff after the departure of Beth Cunningham. Women's Basketball Coaching Staff. Notre Dame won the regular season and claimed the ACC tournament's top seed. Shes the Swiss Army Knife of Duke womens basketball she can do it all. Heide, Emma 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. But unless you continue to play, we lose that unique mentorship. 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. . Jai Lucas. As the Blue Devils hit the court and weight room over the summer and into early fall, it became apparent the depth, skill and athleticism were all there to run the defensive schemes the coaching staff favored. The conference continues to prioritize and support our nearly 10,000 student-athletes in a world-class manner and conduct its 27 sponsored sports with the utmost integrity. The charge adds to a conversation that has gained steam in the past few years around inequities in resources for women's basketball versus men's. "I have a lot of young minority women that are super intelligent and that can play basketball at a high level. Share and discuss First half of Duke women's basketball's loss to Florida State played with a men's ball, head coach Kara Lawson says on social media. 0:00. "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. Richardson, who was at the top of the press, sprinted all the way back down the court and stole Miles pass, clinching the Duke victory. Balogun gives the Blue Devils great versatility on defense. Fittingly, a defensive play ended UNC's chances when Reigan Richardson blocked a 3-point shot attempt by Kennedy Todd-Williams with 4 seconds on the clock and the Tar Heels trailing by three points. Later that season on International Women's Day (March 8) in 2020, Stevens was asked his opinion of Lawson. Special Assistant to the Head Coach. (Weve seen) some high-level decisions being made out on the floor.. It truly is remarkable that the team has come this far, so what are the key factors that have contributed to this turnaround? In 1974, Duke hired Emma Jean Howard to teach physical education, and to serve as the head coach of the women's basketball and volleyball teams. Assistant Coach. Caroline Doty. We pulled these seven pieces of life wisdom from our conversationwhich left us feeling capable and empowered. Tia Jackson. Lawson said that, throughout the first half, Duke players were "complaining about the ball." Meet the Duke coach who reportedly is 'prime candidate' for Celtics job, What Stevens'promotion, Ainge's departure meanfor Celtics, Eight best Celtics coaching candidates to replace Brad Stevens, Stephen A. Smith rips Celtics' promotion of Brad Stevens. The official Women's Basketball Coach List for the Duke University Women's Basketball Coaches - Duke University Skip To Main Content Pause All Rotators Skip To Main Content. The Irish (24-4) will play in Friday's second quarterfinal at 2 p.m. Duke (24-5) is the No. That may help keep things running smoothly as he transitions into the front office. In November 2022, all eyes turned to women's college basketball once again when nine Division I teams arrived at the high-profile Las Vegas Invitational to find they were set to play on a court haphazardly added to a hotel ballroom. The coaches were able to evaluate the team to see the pieces they had to solve this puzzle. And . "It's very frustrating that [the game] was not treated with the utmost respect that players on both teams deserve," she said. I think we achieved that. She still does that for us, but luckily, I dont think she has to do that as much. By the Numbers. You're invited to join Maria Shriver's new membership program! Then, at halftime, players voiced their concerns to the assistant coaches in the locker room. I don't know how, but [the video] hit a lot of people where they were. The North Carolina game Feb. 4 was no exception to that by a six-point margin . The Sunday Paper Team. The Duke Blue Devils will try to extend their three-game winning streak when they face the Virginia Tech Hokies on Saturday night. Before that, he was coordinator of player development for the NBA's Washington Wizards for three years. There are a thousand different presses you could run. 2023 Duke Athletics. View Full Bio. It's an amazing life lesson and feeling when you do something you didn't think initially you could do. ", You cannot sit here, no matter what you believe, what your politics are, and not recognize that this is urgent. The Tar Heels cracked their third-year coach's tournament goose egg with a. Plagued by injuries and inconsistent play, the team lost three games in a row on multiple occasions and slumped to a 7-11 conference record, finishing 10th in the league. She is a former American professional women's basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and a basketball television analyst for ESPN and the Washington Wizards. Duke has hired former Tennessee and WNBA guard Kara Lawson as its women's basketball coach, the school announced Saturday. That came during aWizards vs. Hornets game on Jan. 12, 2007. This is her first college coaching job, and she had previously said experience would be one of the biggest things she would look for in assistants. The Tar Heels cracked their third-year coach's tournament goose egg with a second-round win over Clemson on Friday. Season Statistics; Season Statistics (PDF) Big Ten Statistics (PDF . Havas, Mia The Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (26-4, 18-0 Big South) host the UNC Asheville Bulldogs (12-18, 8-11 Big South) after Lauren Bevis scored 30 points in the Runnin' Bulldogs 83-59 victory over . It's what I teach my players every day," Lawson said. 2 seed. For those who havent made their way to Cameron Indoor Stadium to watch a game, its time to buy-in to what Lawson and the Blue Devils have built. View Full Bio. All rights reserved, The All 22 - An Inside Look at Duke Football, No. It's hard to move up one spot in this league, but to move up eight spots in the standings is a remarkable job by our players.. The Blue Devils are lightyears ahead of original projections Duke was picked seventh in the league in the preseason media poll. I think it just speaks to her and to our team of really wanting to put everything they can into these games.. So, if Duke was going to be competitive for an ACC title and make an NCAA Tournament run something had to change. 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. 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 passed that test with flying colors. By "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.". The bells rang out across Duke's campus at 5 p.m., chiming as if in celebration of Blue Devil senior Celeste Taylor. A men's ball is 29.5 inches in circumference and approximately 22 ounces, while a women's ball is 28.5 inches in diameter and approximately 20 ounces. Slipped is relative. 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. 16 and No. Duke assistant coach Beth Cunningham will be introduced as Missouri States next head coach Thursday morning, per release. Without it, a plan is just that an idea on paper. 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.. That's what will ultimately matter during the hiring process. Kara Lawson huddles with her team during a December 2022 win at N.C. State before Duke cracked the AP Top 25. There are going to be some weaker defenders out there. 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. It is undeniable that the offense will need to improve for the Blue Devils to do some damage in March. No, she walked into practice and she commanded practice right from the jump. (Associate head coach) Winston (Gandy) referred to her several times this summer as the ambulance because last year she was going all over the place saving everybody. "I know the organization thinks she's unbelievable. The official 2020-21 Women's Basketball Roster for the Wisconsin Badgers Badgers. Women's basketball vs. Duke. 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 primarily played as a shooting guard.She won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in . The Blue Devils simply disrupt whatever offense is thrown at them. Richardson had 10. Ultimately, the goal is to win a national championship and an ACC championship, said Taylor at ACC Tipoff. A coach is someone that inspires, that encourages, that motivates [] and that challenges you. Because when you have those two things defensively, whatever theyre being taught, whatever were playing, whatever were doing it, only works from a defensive Xs and Os standpoint if were connected and were trusting each other.. Winston is a rising star in the profession, said Lawson. Gandy, Karen 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 have more people who are doing what theyre supposed to be doing and holding their own. Taylor is a highly skilled elite athlete with an incredibly high basketball IQ. Volleyball Wrestling Duke University Athletics Department Mailing Address:PO Box 90555, Durham, NC 27708 Department Shipping Address:Scott Family Athletics Performance Center, Room 364, 110. 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. 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. "Kara is always known for putting a smile on players' faces," center Robert Williams saidafter Lawson joined Duke, per Justin Leger of NBC Sports Boston. We need to be equipped to have the energy levels to handle hard., Senior editor Stacey Lindsay is a multimedia journalist. Jackson also went to the Women's Final Four as a player . When the Blue Devils traveled to Florida Gulf Coast earlier this season the Eagles led the nation in 3-pointers made per game (11.7) and attempts per game (35.3). Shes really, really good.. Im always surprised. But Lawson is more inspired because everyone has something to face. This is where the non-basketball skill of trust comes in. Eat well. "She is as sharp as they come," Stevens said, per KnoxNews.com. 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. Senior forward Jada Boyd shoots the ball during the game against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Thursday. Lawson, a former Tennessee player who spent the past year as an assistant with the NBA's Boston Celtics, was hired by Duke on July 11. "It's not one of those things where 'she's good for a female.' While the numbers emphasize the improvement on the defensive end, there are some things that they can not explain. And she'd never lost to Duke. The core of the team guards Shayeann Day-Wilson and Celeste Taylor and wing Elizabeth Balogun remained intact, but the supporting pieces that Lawson brought in have made a great impact this season. 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. Player of the Year: Elizabeth Kitley, Sr., C, Virginia Tech Defensive Player of the Year: Celeste Taylor, Sr., G, Duke Rookie of the Year: Ta'Niya Latson . She is averaging 1.4 blocks per game, but its not her post-up defense the Blue Devils rely on. 1:51. 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. 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. She didn't coach in The Bubble, as she had already left for Duke, but her footprint was clearly on that squad. In taking over for the Tigers, Mulkey became the eighth head coach in LSU women's basketball history. Upon arriving at Duke, Lawson knew her most pressing work required people skills to match her deep basketball knowledge. She was giving people tips and people's jaws were dropping. Cunningham departs Dukes program on the heels of a once-promising season that saw the Blue Devils ranked as high as No. It never settles. Understanding that we can handle it is a way to free ourselves, she believes. 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. Three of the most important decisions a head coach makes are in hiring assistant coaches, said Lawson. Jackson has 24 years of coaching experience, including four as coach of Washington. One of those options could be Kara Lawson. Who is the player of the year in every women's college basketball conference? 2 Seed Duke to Open 2023 Ally ACC Tournament Against No. I don't know of a higher compliment you can give a player than that.. The trio boasts a combined. ET, ACCNX), she's gotten the Blue Devils back into the Top 25 rankings and coached up Shayeann Day-Wilson to . "I am extremely excited to bring these three talented, skilled and . Amy Yakola, ACC deputy commissioner and chief of external affairs, provided The Chronicle with a statement from the ACC Friday morning: "Upon completion of the game, the conference office was made aware of the allegation and immediately conducted a comprehensive review," the statement read. Since 1996, she has been an assistant at six different programs, along with being head coach at Washington from 2007 to 2011. Duke and UNC combined to shoot 31% in the first half, making just 16 of 53 shots from the field. Duke Women's Basketball Coach Kara Lawson. pic.twitter.com/uOqYb7tnFQ. She also made the All-Star Game once and was an Olympic champion during her playing days. 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. 2 seed entering the ACC tournament, one game behind Notre Dame. There is no quantifying grit, but there is no question that this team has the heart of a lion. They're superwomen. 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 We're really working on being disruptive defensively. 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. There is an urgency for helping the young women in our country become more powerful. There are times when Duke can not buy a shot from the field including its six-point fourth quarter against Miami and 10-point second quarter against Pittsburgh. The 16th-ranked Blue Devils lost to the Seminoles . 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 thats really really key, being connected and trusting each other. It may only be July, but the early portion of Duke and head coach Kara Lawson's upcoming schedule is now clear. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. A best-in-class newsletter that Inspires Hearts and Minds and Moves Hearing the consistency and the ownership in games has been a huge change for us. Honestly, I think people miss being coached, she tells us over Zoom. Duke women's basketball coach Joanne McCallie announced her resignation in a six-minute video posted to the program's social media accounts on Thursday. If you really know anything about basketball and as youre watching Xs and Os, its all of her coverage and everything that doesnt involve the simple post-up defense. Corosdale, Jordyn 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. Buy-in acceptance of and willingness to actively support and participate in something, such as a proposed new plan or policy. "To have a game that, at the end of the season, could be the difference between a seed, between a title, my players don't deserve that and neither do their players. Another goal achieved. You can have individually-talented people, but you must have a group that fits together. They have formed a team identity by playing consistently on the defensive end of the floor. She's someone I can come to not just for basketball but for other things outside of that, so I love coach Karen, said Richardson at the teams preseason media day. The job should be an attractive one considering that the team has high-end youngtalents including All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We See You: Inspiring Women. Duke allowed 62.2 points per game to rank eighth in the conference and 148th nationally, while its three-point field goal percentage was last in the league and 292nd in the nation. 2022-23 All-ACC Women's Basketball Team. On Dec. 21, 2021, the 16th-ranked Blue Devils routed Charleston Southern 78-35 to finish an impressive nonconference slate 9-1, the lone loss a single-digit defeat to future national champion South Carolina. @Scalabrine explains why he thinks Kara Lawson is the best candidate for the Celtics' new head coach: 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. Jackson, Elizabeth 24, respectively), with Duke tied for the ACC's top spot with Notre Dame and Florida State one place behind. There has been a complete transformation that has turned the Blue Devil defense into a nationally terrifying unit. The team then alerted the scorers table of the incorrect ball. And then the types of personnel we need inside of it. For UNC, Deja Kelly led the way with 11 points. MORE:Eight best Celtics coaching candidates to replace Brad Stevens. She is perhaps best known as the women's college basketball head coach of Duke University and The University of Texas. Elzy has hired former Duke and Texas head coach Gail Goestenkors as one of . She aims to do this for the brilliant young minds she coaches at Duke. 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. Aside from her numbers, it is the little things that make Taylor invaluable to this group. Duke, finishing its nonconference slate at 10-1, held teams to 48.5 points per game, 31.9 percent shooting from the floor and just 25.9 percent from long range. For Duke womens basketball head coach Kara Lawson, if she and the rest of the coaching staff were going to implement a new defensive scheme for the 2022-23 season, they needed the buy-in from the players first and foremost. Man, can [the staff] coach defense; they could play it as players and they can really coach it, said Lawson in a Jan. 17 availability. 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.