Post by kiyoat on May 19, 2023 16:39:27 GMT -6
In the final Yotecast that just got posted, Coach Kayla was on, and talked a lot about all the roster and coaching additions. It's a a really good listen:
goyotes.com/sports/2019/8/28/yotecast-podcast.aspx
Coach K from 32:27 - 57:30
Some highlights:
On Madison Grange coming back:
"once the emotions calmed down (immediately after her ACL injury), she told me "coach, I wanna come back" - she said "I know I haven't been here that long, but I just love this place, I love these girls, and I wanna play here. I can't let this end my career, and i don't want to go anywhere else. I want to live this dream out." so we were on the same page right away - it was just a matter of paperwork after that."
On no transfers out:
"last I checked we were one of only 30 programs in the country without a transfer out ... It's an important stat to us, because to me it means that the culture of our program hasn't left... and never graduates."
On the portal:
"Our coaching staff spent a lot of time on: What holes we have to fill (from the portal) in order to be a great team next year? - We felt like there were a couple of positions where we needed to get stronger and more depth - One was an off-guard or combo-guard spot, who could be a backup PG, could handle the ball, and be a good defender and scorer for us. [basically filling the role Macy Guebert left] Someone who can take some of the pressure off of Grace, and to have another scorer on the floor. That's where Kendall Holmes came in.
On Kendall Holmes:
"She was really looking for a different environment, a different team culture. She was just 45 minutes away from her home [in Illinois], and was looking for something new.... She was more of an off-guard, but this last year got thrown into the PG spot. To play PG all season in the Big East, that's no joke. UCONN, Marquette and Creighton all had great years, and she did a really great job against them.
On Tori DePerry:
"The other hole we had to fill was to add depth at Forward, or the 4 spot... We shifted Carley Duffney over to that spot, and she had a phenomenal year, but who was going to be another 4 for us? That's where Tori DePerry comes in.... She had a great experience at Saginaw State, averaged 17 points and 8 rebounds, so there were no complaints on her end about playing time. She was just looking for a different master's program that her school didn't offer.... She's 6-1, and athletic. She is strong as an Ox... You don't find a lot of players who are like "I'm going to come on the visit, but can we build in some time for me to lift? I don't want to miss my lifting this week"... so lifting has become a big part of her regimen, and has changed her game.
On Coral Mason:
"She contacted us when we first got here. She came to team camp and we kinda kept in-touch. It wasn't until the HS season when we got a chance to really watch her play, and thought: "this kid's really good, she can handle the ball, and has the build and stature to be a D-1 guard. She's a strong kid, and her skills are right up there. Unfortunately, we only had the walk-on spot available, and that's pretty much it. She had an amazing season, won B2B state titles and ended up winning Class B POY.
When I reached out to her mom again, she told me she had always dreamt of being at USD. She's come here as a little girl. She's been watching games for years. Being a Coyote has been her dream..... When we invited the family down, and they sat in my office, ... and I went over how a walk-on position is different, and has different expectations... and then i offered her the spot, she burst into tears.... she was crying because she was excited, and thankful for the opportunity... and as a coach you love that. You want people who want to be here. I think she will be a great addition to the locker-room!
On Mike Jewett:
"When Mike had reached out, he was looking to get back into college coaching... I had already known him from the recruiting trail, as you end up watching a lot of the same kids... I really feel like he will be such a great fit here, not only for what we need [in his coaching role], but also his knowledge of the Summit League, having coached on the bench at SDSU for nine years. He knows the league. He knows what success looks like. And he knows our opponents, inside and out. In terms of recruiting, he knows the state. He has a lot of deep connections here. - He was ready to get back into coaching for the relationship side of it. To be closer to the student-athletes. He's got really good relationships with the players he has coached. I've talked with many of them, and they all really like him. - We're really excited about the future with him.
goyotes.com/sports/2019/8/28/yotecast-podcast.aspx
Coach K from 32:27 - 57:30
Some highlights:
On Madison Grange coming back:
"once the emotions calmed down (immediately after her ACL injury), she told me "coach, I wanna come back" - she said "I know I haven't been here that long, but I just love this place, I love these girls, and I wanna play here. I can't let this end my career, and i don't want to go anywhere else. I want to live this dream out." so we were on the same page right away - it was just a matter of paperwork after that."
On no transfers out:
"last I checked we were one of only 30 programs in the country without a transfer out ... It's an important stat to us, because to me it means that the culture of our program hasn't left... and never graduates."
On the portal:
"Our coaching staff spent a lot of time on: What holes we have to fill (from the portal) in order to be a great team next year? - We felt like there were a couple of positions where we needed to get stronger and more depth - One was an off-guard or combo-guard spot, who could be a backup PG, could handle the ball, and be a good defender and scorer for us. [basically filling the role Macy Guebert left] Someone who can take some of the pressure off of Grace, and to have another scorer on the floor. That's where Kendall Holmes came in.
On Kendall Holmes:
"She was really looking for a different environment, a different team culture. She was just 45 minutes away from her home [in Illinois], and was looking for something new.... She was more of an off-guard, but this last year got thrown into the PG spot. To play PG all season in the Big East, that's no joke. UCONN, Marquette and Creighton all had great years, and she did a really great job against them.
On Tori DePerry:
"The other hole we had to fill was to add depth at Forward, or the 4 spot... We shifted Carley Duffney over to that spot, and she had a phenomenal year, but who was going to be another 4 for us? That's where Tori DePerry comes in.... She had a great experience at Saginaw State, averaged 17 points and 8 rebounds, so there were no complaints on her end about playing time. She was just looking for a different master's program that her school didn't offer.... She's 6-1, and athletic. She is strong as an Ox... You don't find a lot of players who are like "I'm going to come on the visit, but can we build in some time for me to lift? I don't want to miss my lifting this week"... so lifting has become a big part of her regimen, and has changed her game.
On Coral Mason:
"She contacted us when we first got here. She came to team camp and we kinda kept in-touch. It wasn't until the HS season when we got a chance to really watch her play, and thought: "this kid's really good, she can handle the ball, and has the build and stature to be a D-1 guard. She's a strong kid, and her skills are right up there. Unfortunately, we only had the walk-on spot available, and that's pretty much it. She had an amazing season, won B2B state titles and ended up winning Class B POY.
When I reached out to her mom again, she told me she had always dreamt of being at USD. She's come here as a little girl. She's been watching games for years. Being a Coyote has been her dream..... When we invited the family down, and they sat in my office, ... and I went over how a walk-on position is different, and has different expectations... and then i offered her the spot, she burst into tears.... she was crying because she was excited, and thankful for the opportunity... and as a coach you love that. You want people who want to be here. I think she will be a great addition to the locker-room!
On Mike Jewett:
"When Mike had reached out, he was looking to get back into college coaching... I had already known him from the recruiting trail, as you end up watching a lot of the same kids... I really feel like he will be such a great fit here, not only for what we need [in his coaching role], but also his knowledge of the Summit League, having coached on the bench at SDSU for nine years. He knows the league. He knows what success looks like. And he knows our opponents, inside and out. In terms of recruiting, he knows the state. He has a lot of deep connections here. - He was ready to get back into coaching for the relationship side of it. To be closer to the student-athletes. He's got really good relationships with the players he has coached. I've talked with many of them, and they all really like him. - We're really excited about the future with him.
