Offensively, the numbers are similar from a year ago, and there is a legitimate argument to be made that Duke had a more potent offensive team last year. Upon arriving at Duke, Lawson knew her most pressing work required people skills to match her deep basketball knowledge. 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. Sasha Richie is a Trinity senior and a sports managing editor of The Chronicle's 118th volume. All rights reserved, The All 22 - An Inside Look at Duke Football, No. We don't want her to go, but it's on to bigger and better opportunities.". Does Brad Stevens share Scalabrine's opinion that Lawson is "elite" and ready to be an NBA head coach after just two years of experience? Niele Ivey, Kara Lawson speak at ACC women's basketball media day. View Full Bio. After a season in the WNBA, she entered coaching. Notre Dame won the regular season and claimed the ACC tournament's top seed. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. If thats not life-stretching wisdom, we dont know what is. Head Coach. When she went down to Duke to coach the women's team there I mean, I'm just putting A + B = C to me. Honestly, I think people miss being coached, she tells us over Zoom. The first half of Duke women's basketball's Sunday loss at Florida State was played with a men's ball, according to a closing statement made by head coach Kara Lawson in her postgame. Lewis, Reigan Before we could ask her to coach us, Lawson did just that. 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.. When McGraw retired in April, Cunningham was not retained by new coach Niele Ivey, who also had been on McGraw's staff from 2007 to 2019. And that cares about you. This may be why people respond to her videos. I thought she was head coaching material withinfive minutes talking with her. It's what I teach my players every day," Lawson said. This summer when everybody was here for summer school would have been my first thought of We could be a really aggressive man-to-man team, said Lange. ", . There are a thousand different presses you could run. Mulkey, who became the fastest coach in Division I history to reach 600 wins (needing only . Lawson, 39, had been an assistant with the Boston Celtics before taking . Her first season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Blue Devils posted a 3-1 record in the four games they played before opting to cancel the rest of their season. But unless you continue to play, we lose that unique mentorship. In 2021, the severe lack of equipment afforded to women in their NCAA tournament bubble was exposed, ultimately leading to positive change, including extending March Madness branding to the women's tournament. The official Facebook page of Duke University Women's Basketball. Despite her desire for an appeal, Lawson acknowledged and respected the outcome of the game as played. Assistant Coach. Duke basketball coaching staff could undergo more changes Amid the Nate James news, fellow associate head coach Jon Scheyer is still in the mix for the head coaching vacancy at DePaul, located approximately 30 minutes outside of his hometown of Northbrook, Illinois. 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. View Full Bio. Earlier in the fourth, Reigan Richardson's jumper off a Tar Heel turnover gave Duke the fourth tie of the period and then Elizabeth Balogun made a pair of free throws to give the Blue Devils a 42-40 lead with 1:58 remaining. 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. All of these characteristics that you would want in a coach, you want your staff to possess as many of those as possible and be experts in a number of them. She played 13 WNBA seasons and averaged 9.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while playing for the Monarchs, Sun and Mystics. 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 . Day-Wilson, Bo The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. She also made the All-Star Game once and was an Olympic champion during her playing days. There is no quantifying grit, but there is no question that this team has the heart of a lion. I need that. For this reason, Lawson believes that people yearn to have a great coach. She was giving people tips and people's jaws were dropping. I am beyond enthusiastic about coming back to Duke. Mike Schrage. She held regular 1-on-1 meetings with players, getting to know them and giving them a chance to learn about her journey. The first half of Duke women's basketball's Sunday loss at Florida State was played with a men's ball, according to a closing statement made by head coach Kara Lawson in her postgame press conference Thursday evening following the Blue Devils' home win against Pittsburgh. For Duke women's 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. There are going to be some weaker defenders out there. Shes somebody who Im going to lean on a lot this year to help me with decisions., There are not many times in college athletics that you get a chance to return to a place that has been really unique and rewarding, especially for me, said Jackson. A best-in-class newsletter that Inspires Hearts and Minds and Moves Learn more at: www.staceyannlindsay.com. On Tuesday night against N.C. State, Duke added a 19th undefeated season in Cameron Indoor Stadium to the books. 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. That mental shift for me was super helpful., #4: Strength Fuels Your Ability to Handle Hard, Most of what Lawson talks to her team about is analogous to sports and what a team or individual athlete is facing. 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. 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 . A look at the 2021-22 Duke men's basketball coaching staff, assistant coaches, and head coach Mike Krzyzewski. de Jesus, Ashlon 7 Seed UNC, Donovan Named 2023 Jersey Mike's Naismith HS Girls First Team All-American, Taylor Crowned ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Taylor Tabbed Semifinalist for Naismith Womens Defensive Player of the Year. Humanity Forward. That run included a four-point play by Kelly, who led all scorers with nine points in the first half. Associate Head Coach. She was previously a news anchor and reporter who covered veterans' issues and breaking news. 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. I think she'll do a great, great job for us.". Lawson was part of a Celtics staff that posted a 43-21 record and reached the Eastern Conference Finals despite playing in "The Bubble." 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. Exclusive access to LIVE, virtual interviews with Maria and friendsevery month! Lawson announced her assistants on Friday, and the three coaches have combined for 46 years of collegiate coaching experience including one NCAA Championship, 17 NCAA Tournament selections and six NCAA Final Four appearances. During our Sunday Paper editorial meeting this past week, we were all talking about Kara Lawson. Take time away when you need a break. So, if Duke was going to be competitive for an ACC title and make an NCAA Tournament run something had to change. There's something different about a coach from a great boss or even a teacher, she says. Duke women's basketball fell in its regular-season finale to rival North Carolina, breaking its season-long home win streak. I think thats really really key, being connected and trusting each other. Women's Basketball Coaching Staff. "She's insanely good as a coach," headded. But how did Lawson get to this point so quickly after her playing career came to an end? A key member of the Blue Devils' coaching staff is headed elsewhere. She was in Australia coaching with USA Basketball during those months and credits the assistants for working closely with the players. / Bridgewater Raynham Regional HS. "I think the world of Kara, Stevens said. And she'd never lost to Duke. Slipped is relative. Duke's staff looks a lot different than it did just a month ago, when the Blue Devils bowed out of the Final Four and Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski's career came to an end. Shes the Swiss Army Knife of Duke womens basketball she can do it all. We didnt practice it well and it didnt translate well, so that was a big point of emphasis for our entire staff in the offseason.. 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. twitter. She is averaging 1.4 blocks per game, but its not her post-up defense the Blue Devils rely on. MORE:What Stevens'promotion, Ainge's departure meanfor Celtics. With one former Duke basketball team captain moving to his first head coaching job, another is moving into a larger role on coach Mike Krzyzewski's staff. We pulled these seven pieces of life wisdom from our conversationwhich left us feeling capable and empowered. In Duke's recent 77-62 victory over N.C. State, Taylor made numerous defensive plays, including a chase-down block on Wolfpack forward Mimi Collins and multiple deflections in the final two. The conference and Florida State is saying that it wasn't.". The independent news organization of Duke University. You don't pass the buck. 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. Then once we got through the summer and the start of the fall and seeing how were moving and what were capable of doing and building on the (non-basketball) principles. MORE:Eight best Celtics coaching candidates to replace Brad Stevens. That's what will ultimately matter during the hiring process. Kara has proven that with everything that she has done. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. I don't really believe in timelines because I think when you set them, you predestine yourself to meet the timeline, and never be ahead of it, she said Feb. 21. THIRD TIME'S A CHARM: Duke women's basketball downs North Carolina to reach ACC tournament semifinals, Brinker's top-10 finish not enough as Duke women's golf underwhelms at Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, Isaiah Hamilton elected DSG president, Ashley Bae to be EVP, Chagall at the Chapel: Beautiful and powerful, 'We can get there': Inside Duke womens basketballs swift rise to ACC contention, Column: Powered by the Roach-Proctor backcourt, Duke men's basketball is growing offensively, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to deliver Class of 2023 commencement address, DukeAfrica endorses Isaiah Hamilton for DSG president, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers endorses Isaiah Hamilton for DSG president, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. 1:51. (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. 2023 Duke Athletics. Who is the player of the year in every women's college basketball conference? 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. 2023 Duke Athletics. And she'd never lost to Duke. If that was the recipe for success, the Blue Devils cooked it to perfection. As such, the team should be able to attract some of the best and brightest available coaches. This Duke team has shown elite fight game-in and game-out, along with a serious will to win. Duke can take away opponents strengths and has proven to do so consistently. 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. Last year, we were the 10th-place team in the league playing on Wednesday [in the ACC tournament], said Lawson Monday. However, that number has decreased to 0.66, now good for the 99th percentile. One of those options could be Kara Lawson. Take Dukes win at Notre Dame. Jackson also went to the Women's Final Four as a player . In taking over for the Tigers, Mulkey became the eighth head coach in LSU women's basketball history. Your body can handle the mile better now. Aside from her numbers, it is the little things that make Taylor invaluable to this group. The Blue Devils and the Seminoles both entered Sunday's game in the top 25 nationally (No. Down three with 15 seconds left, Fighting Irish junior guard Olivia Miles broke the Blue Devil press and drove down the court. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Journalism Above the Noise. Lawson got her start with the Celtics and served as an assistant during the 2019-20 season. Rest well. Staff Directory Members By Category/Department; Image Name Title Email Address Phone; Katie Gearlds: Head Coach 494.0605 494.0605: Beth Couture: This doesnt change the mile. Nevertheless, these both ended up as victories, because what has made this team so successful is that even when the offense is struggling, the defense does not skip a beat. UNC used a 10-2 run in the second quarter to take a 24-19 lead into halftime as Balogun's 3-pointer with 8 seconds left in the half ended an 0-for-6 shooting drought for the Devils and cut into an eight-point deficit. Duke is still holding opponents under 51 points per game and has allowed only one ACC squad to score more than 58 points in a game. Schmidt, Kara This story originally appeared in the 14.6 Issue of GoDuke the Magazine January 2023. In short, the game had steep implications for both the conference and NCAA tournament seedings, which Lawson mentioned. Duke's Lawson adds Cunningham among 3 hires. We want to try and force turnovers, said Lawson at preseason media day. I don't know of a higher compliment you can give a player than that.. The Blue Devils simply disrupt whatever offense is thrown at them. It never settles. Understanding that we can handle it is a way to free ourselves, she believes. Follow us on Twitter: DukeWBB & Instagram: dukewbb Follow one of the top Division I women's basketball teams in the nation at the official Facebook page of Duke women's basketball. "Three of the most important decisions a headContinue Reading Share and discuss Duke women's basketball assistant coach Beth Cunningham hired as Missouri State head coach on social media. It has been a place that I have held very near and dear to my heart over the years. I've gotten so many messages of people just telling their story and how this has helped them, she says. What happens is you handle hard better.. Kara Lawson huddles with her team during a December 2022 win at N.C. State before Duke cracked the AP Top 25. To say the defense has improved is an understatement. 6 N.C. State LOST IN THE FOREST: Shorthanded Duke men's basketball falls on the road to Wake Forest in return to . And then the types of personnel we need inside of it. Duke won its last two games by double digits, cruising to a 79-62 . You're invited to join Maria Shriver's new membership program! Lawson specified that she was not a part of that talk as she is not usually in the locker room at halftime. I did think athletically, especially on the perimeter, we could be a pretty good, aggressive man-to-man team.. "so we're excited to have her on board. Women's basketball vs. Duke. The Blue Zone breaks down the loss: She led the score sheet and she . Amile Jefferson will be Duke's newest addition to the coaching staff. 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. They're superwomen. And the student-athletes must have the confidence that their teammates will always have their backs, because defense is a total team effort. NC State lost 77-62. She's a non-traditional star on a non-traditional team, said Lawson after Dukes Feb. 7 win at Notre Dame. During Lawson's tenure, Smart shot 34.7 percent from beyond the arc, the second-highest mark of his career, while attempting a career-high 6.6 shots from 3-point range per game. She returned to her alma mater in 2012 as an assistant to Muffet McGraw and was a part of the 2018 national championship team among her five Final Four appearances with the Irish. To have this second coming and be under the leadership of Kara is even more gratifying. A key member of the Blue Devils coaching staff is headed elsewhere. Two years after her retirement from the WNBA in 2015, she became the lead analyst on the Wizards broadcast and remained in that role before she got into coaching. We're asking them to do things that they haven't done before, she says. Brown, in her first season at Duke after transferring from Oregon State, is a major disruptor around the basket standing at 6-foot-6. Slow offense has cost the team in multiple games, including its most recent loss to North Carolina. 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. Fast-forward to July when the majority of the 2022-23 roster was on campus. Winston is also a very well-rounded coach. If you look at our numbers from last year, we were a poor defensive team and that was my fault as a coach, said Lawson Jan. 10. Duke women's basketball head coach Kara Lawson announced Friday the hiring of Beth Cunningham, Winston Gandy and Tia Jackson as assistant coaches. Last season, Duke finished the year with a 17-13 overall record and 7-11 mark in conference play. After playing professionally, she began as an assistant coach at Virginia Commonwealth in 2001 before becoming head coach two years later and staying in that role until 2012. I think they're representing this school and Duke basketball in an incredible way right now.. Senior forward Jada Boyd shoots the ball during the game against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Thursday. 13 Duke Rallies for Ally ACC Tournament Quarterfinal Win Over North Carolina, No. Jackson also went to the Women's Final Four as a player, with Iowa in 1993. Sophomore guard Reigan Richardson, one of the impact transfers that Lawson nabbed at the beginning of the season, coincidentally also came from Georgia and had a special relationship with Lange.