Courtesy of Women's Division II Bulletin
"The Coach's Seat," Volume 13, No. 2, December 3, 2005
WDIIB: What made you want to be a college basketball coach?
Winn: I was fortunate as a child to be born to a mother and father who were both coaches. They had a passion for coaching, and it was a frequent subject in our household. When I was young, I spent hours in the gym watching my mother’s practices and attempting to emulate her athletes on the sideline. I thought I was the most special person in the world when I got to get in the middle of her huddles during a game. So, what made me want to be a collegiate coach? Since I didn’t know any other job existed, it was a fate destined for me.
WDIIB: What do you like best about being a Division II basketball coach?
Winn: My personality fits with that of a Divison II coach. I love the family atmosphere where each team member becomes a unique and special member of our UC family. In a small collegiate setting, the emphasis is on the complete student-athlete not just the athlete. We can demand excellence from our players on the court, while also demanding that same excellence in the classroom and in the community.
WDIIB: Your team was ranked No. 3 in our Preseason Top 25. Is your team feeling any pressure with the ranking? How are you handling it as a coach? Winn: We believe that pressure is something that is self imposed. It is not a real and tangible thing; therefore, we can control the pressure we feel. Our theme this season is: “We become what we think about.” If we choose to focus on inner dialogue, and our inner thoughts are toward doing our best, there is no pressure.
WDIIB: How would you describe the WV Conference in terms of basketball?
Winn: The West Virginia Conference has evolved in the past few years as one of the toughest in the nation. Last season we had three teams ranked in the top 20 and four teams make it to the East Regional Tournament. This is due to the excellent coaching. We have several coaches who are just phenomenal, and they make every team step up to the challenge.
WDIIB: How would you describe your coaching philosophy offensively and defensively?
Winn: The Golden Eagles believe in intensity on both ends of the court. Offensively, we want to push the ball on every possession. In our half court game, we want to move both ball and bodies to create a scoring opportunity. Defensively, we want to disturb, deflect, disrupt, and dictate.
WDIIB: At the end of the game with the outcome on the line, what offensive play do you run to get a score?
Winn: Quite interestingly, in my 16 years of being a head coach, I can count in single digits the number of times that we have had to use an end of the game play. Due to our fast paced style of play, we either win by a large number or lose by a large number. We really don’t try to run plays at the end of the game, but rather try to run concepts. Our concepts would be things such as screening to get the “hot” player open, penetrating to pitch, or getting the ball inside the paint.
WDIIB: What is your most memorable win of your coaching career? Why? Memorable loss?
Winn: The most memorable win of my coaching career came in 1993 when we won the NAIA II National Championships at Northern Montana College. We were ranked No. 1 all season long, and there was such determination by our athletes to win the national championship. We had lost the year before in the semi-finals and in the locker room after the game, the players decided that they were going to win the next year. It was awesome seeing them set a goal, and then actually get to achieve it. In terms of memorable losses, I’m not certain that there is a single one. I don’t see losses as failures, but rather as opportunities to grow. It is usually through a loss that I am forced to grow, to stretch my abilities as a coach, and to make the team better.
WDIIB: What is the biggest challenge you face as a college basketball coach?
Winn: As collegiate coaches, there are many challenges that we face: getting players to accept their roles; disciplining athletes; creating a positive team atmosphere; resolving conflicts; and asking players to grow outside of who they are. We spend many hours attempting to teach players to have a positive attitude with themselves, to forgive themselves, and to seek their best. We believe that the toughest opponent they will face on a basketball court, in a classroom, in a relationship, or in a job is themselves. If they can learn to like who they are, their journeys will be so
much easier.
WDIIB: When was the last time you read a coaching book or attended a coaching seminar? Did you learn something?
Winn: I believe that as a coach it is my job to continually educate myself about all aspects of coaching. I read magazines and books, watch coaching videotapes, and have chalk talks with other coaches. This is a continual process. I have determined that I would never be one of those coaches who let the game pass them by. I take advantage of and search out every learning opportunity I can. The best chalk talk I’ve ever had was with a coach of a high school boy’s program who spent an entire day with me. He was incredible!
WDIIB: What recruiting functions are you doing now?
Winn: Recruiting is a never ending process. I am fortunate to have what I consider the best recruiter in the nation as my assistant coach, Lynne Fitzgerald. She has an uncanny sense of being able to talk to anybody and make them feel comfortable. We already have 5 commitments from the 2006 class, so we are focusing on the 2007 class.
