After a rollercoaster 2007-08 season, the AU women's basketball team comes into this season with a fresh approach and a new head coach.
Matt Corkery, who was Melissa McFerrin's assistant for four years, replaces her as the Eagles' head coach. McFerrin, who left to become the head coach for the University of Memphis, stunned members of the team with her decision last spring.
"She told us it was the hardest decision she had to make as a coach," senior guard Talicia Jackson said. Jackson said everyone loved McFerrin as a person and admitted there was a flow of tears from everybody at the meeting in which McFerrin told the team she was leaving.
But at first, a handful of McFerrin's older players did not accept the decision.
"Me personally, I was angry, very angry," Jackson said. "We kind of felt like the first time we did well, she dropped us like a bad habit."
Senior point guard Pam Stanfield said she was shocked to see the coach who had recruited her go.
"I was sad, but I knew she didn't leave us because she didn't like us," Stanfield said.
Both Stanfield and Jackson said there are no hard feelings now and are excited for the new style of play that coach Corkery has implemented.
Corkery brings a tougher, more aggressive full court press defense, a style both Stanfield and Jackson hope to flourish in. Both players were in similar systems in high school and benefit from a faster pace of play.
Corkery, who is a native of Whitharral, Texas, was hired as head coach May 19. Corkery has deep experience in the women's game and brings a different approach to coaching then his predecessor.
"I'm a little more blunt and honest," he said. "I'm not as diplomatic in a way."
Jackson said she sees more of Corkery's personality coming out and is impressed by the way he handles practice. Corkery pays serious attention to the details and spends extensive time looking over film of practice and games. He is also loud.
"[Corkery's] more of a yeller, but [he] kind of teaches more in practice too," Stanfield said. "It's kind of new to some of the freshmen, but they know it's for good."
The seniors know the coming season is their last shot to play deep into March, and both coach and players know there is quite a bit of unfinished business. Last season, AU went on a 10-game winning streak going into the Patriot League tournament and then lost in the semi-finals to Bucknell University.
"Last season we peaked midway through the conference," Corkery said. He added that the team won their final four or five regular season games but played them poorly and that carried into the tournament.
With a blend of youth and senior leadership, and under the helm of a new coach and system, the AU women's basketball team is fired up. And it seems they're in good hands.
"It's not my first rodeo," Corkery said.
You can reach this staff writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.
