This week's chat takes place with Head Women's Basketball
Coach Danny Wingate. Coach Wingate is entering his sixth season at the helm
of the Lady Spartan basketball program. He guided his team to its first
ever American Midwest Conference Championship, NAIA National Ranking and
National Tournament appearance in the 2005-2006 season, but the Lady Spartans
have suffered two disappointing seasons since. With a strong returning class,
featuring three senior starters, and a load of incoming talent, we discussed
Coach Wingate's thoughts on the upcoming year.
SID: Having just finished your fifth
year at MBU, you no doubt know what it takes to be competitive in the AMC,
and at the National level. That being said, what are your expectations of
your team this season?
DW: In 05-06, I was extremely confident
that we were going to compete at the national level. I have not had that
pre-season confidence again until this year. Our coaching staff has worked
extremely hard at piecing together a team that buys into our philosophy
and our system, and understands the values and goals that we have ahead
of us.
SID: On piecing together a team, what
attributes were you looking for in your recruits this year?
DW: Character. First and foremost we
were looking for character. We want girls that we know are going to accept
their roles and play hard. We needed to bring in fresh young talent, with
a mixture of very talented transfers, with another mixture of some extremely
talented senior returners. We have the pieces from last year's team to be
competitive, but we have now just added more talent to compete night in
and night out.
SID: So Young talent + Talented Transfers
+ Talented Returning Seniors = Success?
DW: Define Success?
SID: How do you expect to finish in
the AMC?
DW: Top two.
SID: What will your biggest challenge
be to reach that goal?
DW: Columbia and McKendree.
SID: Wow. No hesitation in that response.
Care to elaborate?
DW: You can't be the team, until you
beat the team...or in this case, "teams". Columbia and McKendree
are hands down the two teams to beat year in and year out. If anybody plans
on winning conference, you always have to go through those two teams.
SID: Alright. Speaking of the "team".
I hear you're a big NCAA D-1 men's basketball fan... who was your favorite
team growing up, and why?
DW: The Duke University teams of the
80's and 90's. Danny Ferry, Quinn Snyder, Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley,
Grant Hill, Steve Wojociechowski...just to name a few. And, of course, arguably
one of the greatest coaches of all time, Coach K. Anytime I hear Coach K
speak...I listen.
SID: Is there any particular aspect
of Coach's Krzyzewski's coaching style that you try to implement with your
team?
DW: His intensity, fire, and passion
for the game. Coach K hates to lose, and so do I.
Our weekly one-on-one chats will feature a different
member of the MBU Coaching Staff each week over the summer. Chats with MBU
Athletes will begin in August. To submit a question for an MBU Coach or
Athlete, e-mail SportsInfo@mobap.edu
