The Beginning.

It isn't every day that you get to begin a new adventure. It is even less often that the beginning of the adventure marks the attainment of a life-long goal; an accomplishment that has required sacrifice, hard work, determination, and a little bit of fate. My beginning at Grinnell is such an occasion.

Strangely enough though, arriving on campus as a new coach is actually the completion of a circle that began when I was a student-athlete at Tufts University. During my junior summer a new coach arrived on campus to take over the team and I can remember the excitement and the sense of promise and potential. As a player, I worked harder that summer than ever before, knowing that the slates were blank, and first impressions were critical. We arrived at Tufts in the fall with new expectations, new energy, and the hopes for new levels of success.

We were not disappointed. She was everything we had wanted: she pushed us harder, demanded more of us, and taught us more than any coach previously. She set the bar high on and off the court, and we were more than willing to oblige. She taught us to love our teammates, and most importantly, to love and respect the game.

I can not help but set similar expectations for myself as the fall approaches in Iowa. We have a great group of returners and an incoming class that is excited about Pioneer Women's Basketball. With a new lifting/conditioning program in hand, the team has spent the summer imagining the start of their new adventure, imagining pre-season, and October 15th. I can only hope that they arrive at Grinnell with the same enthusiasm, encouragement, and hopes that I did quite a few years ago at Tufts.

You will notice the sub-title of this page. Play hard. Play smart. Play together. This is what Grinnell Women's Basketball is all about. Hard work, smart athletes, and a united team. Our adventure begins with these principles and if we trust in these beliefs, I truly believe it will be an exciting ride.