Duke Head Coach Gail Goestenkors Chat Transcript

Chat Transcript
courtesy of CBS SportsLine.com
Nov. 30, 2000

"Coach G" has led the team to 6 straight NCAA appearances including 1999's championship game where they lost to Purdue.

When one thinks of Duke basketball, usually the five players on the court are men, but a new era in Duke basketball has begun to emerge. In 1992, Coach Gail Goestenkors took over the women's program and has brought it into national prominence.

Find out what 3-time ACC Coach of the Year, Gail Goestenkors, had to say about her team's 1999 NCAA Final Four run, being ranked third in the country and much more.

Goestenkors has taken the women's program from the bottom of the ACC to the top. This year's Blue Devil's include the 2000 ACC Player of the Year, Georgia Schweitzer, and 2 All-ACC Freshmen players and 10 returning letter winners.

She has led the team to 6 straight NCAA appearances including last year's Sweet Sixteen finish and 1999's championship game where they lost to Purdue. In 1999, the team was picked to finish forth in the ACC, but went on a 16-1 run and finally finished with a 26-8 record despite losing 3 All-ACC players to graduation.

The 2000 Blue Devils have started with an 8-0 record and just won their last game against Charlotte on Wednesday.

Gail Goestenkors: Good afternoon everybody. I am happy to be here and am looking forward to chatting with you!

Question: How did you go into coaching? Was it something you always wanted to do?

Gail Goestenkors: I knew I was going to be involved with basketball in some capacity my entire life. I knew I wanted to be a college coach when I was a player as Saginaw Valley. I had the opportunity to coach 7th grade girls. At that point I knew I needed to be a coach and also that I didn't want to coach 7th grade girls. I wanted to have the opportunity to recruit players that had the same passion for the game that I have.

Question: When you first got to Duke, the men's team was all the talk, did you ever feel that feel like women's basketball would never get respect at Duke?

Gail Goestenkors: Not at all! If I had felt that way I would have never taken the job. I always thought that if our men's team could achieve such tremendous success we could do so as well.

Question: You've won ACC Coach of the Year 3 times, was any one of those more special than the others?

Gail Goestenkors: Not really. I don't believe individual awards are important and certainly Coach of the Year does not necessarily reflect the best coach, but the team that achieved their potential. And I certainly can't take credit for any of that.

Question: This is kind of an odd question, but what would you like to see players learning at the high school level before they get to you? Is there anything that seems to be fundamentally lacking in young players in general?

Gail Goestenkors: Yes! Players need to learn how to play defense. In High School many teams play zones and when many players get to college they don't understand the basic fundamentals of defense.

Question: What's the most difficult thing about being a head coach? What do you enjoy most about being head coach?

Gail Goestenkors: The most difficult thing is trying to keep all of the players happy when there are only so many minutes in a game. What I enjoy most is watching the players learn and grow and blossom into intelligent, hard-working, caring young women.

Question: I never thought I would see Georgia Schweitzer doing the "Lauren Rice Gallop" after team introductions - into the pre-tipoff huddle. Talk about her passion, leadership, etc.

Gail Goestenkors: Georgia is one of the greatest leaders I have ever had the pleasure of coaching! She understood that, with the loss of Lauren Rice, we needed someone to step into a very vocal, animated role. And she has taken on that responsibility. Georgia is one of the few people I know who has a passion, not only for the game of basketball, but for life. She is just as passionate about her studies and becoming a doctor as she is about the game.

Question: You had your first All-American in Michelle Van Gorp two years ago, why do you think she thrived at Duke and not at her other school?

Gail Goestenkors: I think Michelle grew up at Duke. She was someone who needed to get stronger, both mentally and physically. I think when she came to Duke it gave her an opportunity to grow both on and off the court as a person and a player.

Question: In 1999, your team made it to the Finals, what was that like for you and your team?

Gail Goestenkors: It was a dream come true! Very exciting! And also very tiring. From the time you begin regional play until the last buzzer sounds, there was not a free moment for any of us. It is something that is much more appreciated in hindsight that it is while you are in the midst of it. There is so much going on you can't take time to really enjoy the process.

Question: Do you go into each year thinking you are going to make a run for the Championship and coach the same way each year or do you have to make changes in your coaching style every year?

Gail Goestenkors: We enter every season believing that we can win the conference and have a shot at going to the Final Four. Each year I have had to change my coaching style to adjust to the players on our team to try and give them the best opportunity to be successful.

Question: What looks to be the toughest games on your schedule this year?

Gail Goestenkors: I think for us, every game will be a tough game. We're so young that we are still learning and improving daily. Sometimes we look fantastic and other times I feel we need to go back to the drawing board, therefore everyone is a threat and must be respected.

Question: Coming into this season, what do you think your team has to work the hardest on and what do you think is your teams best aspect?

Gail Goestenkors: I think our leadership, depth, and athleticism are three areas I feel very good about. I know that we need to work on our rebounding and our poise to reach the highest level.

Question: Attendance was great for the Duke Classic. (I was pleased to see that the financial goal was met as well.) How important is attendance to you and your team?

Gail Goestenkors: Attendance is very important. We feel that the crowd in Cameron can really have an impact on the game. It also helps us in recruiting as players want to have the opportunity to play in front of large crowds.

Question: What do you think the women's game offers the fans that they don't get from the men's game?

Gail Goestenkors: I think the women's game offers tremendous TEAM basketball. There is a great deal more execution on offense where every player touches the ball and plays a vital role in the success of her team. I think in the women's game, fans can really feel like they are part of the game. And the players develop a good relationship with the fans, especially with young children. And they are appreciative of people coming to the games and supporting them.

Question: People have been talking about Tenn. Michelle Snow's dunk, do you think that they should lower the rims a bit so more girls could dunk? What do you think will bring more fans to the women's game?

Gail Goestenkors: No. I think more and more women will be dunking in the future. There are two players on my team, both freshman, who can dunk now and I wouldn't be surprised if at some point during their careers, they dunk as well. I think if more women dunk it will bring more fans because people tend to like the excitement of the dunk. I think if more people came out to see just one game and had a chance to meet with the players, they would become life-long fans.

Question: How many of the players on this year's squad do you think could make it to the WNBA?

Gail Goestenkors: That is hard to say. There are so many factors involved. Illness, injury, available spots, the rest of the country and the class that comes out. I do feel we have several potential WNBA players on the team.

Question: Who do you think are the top teams in the ACC this year besides your team?

Gail Goestenkors: I think the ACC, from top to bottom, is the best it has ever been. Everyone in our conference has improved from last season. And I think every game will be a dog fight. Some of the teams that have been picked as preseason favorites are Virginia, NC State, Carolina, and Clemson.

Question: Your husband is another basketball coach, you two must have crazy schedules, when do you find time to spend together during the long basketball season?

Gail Goestenkors: He came to my game last night and I will be going to his game tonight. There is not much time for the two of us to spend alone, and if we are alone, it seems the conversation always revolves around the game. But we wouldn't have it any other way!

Gail Goestenkors: Thanks so much for your interest. I have to go to practice and try to get better. Take care and all the best! Coach G