12B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
BASKETBALL
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2004
New women's basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson addresses fans at Late Night in the Phog on Oct. 15. She joined Kansas from Virginia Tech, where she coached the Hokies to seven postseason appearances. She said she was better prepared to coach the Jayhawks.
Kansan file photo
BY PAUL BRAND
pbrand@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWINTER
Rebuilding programs is Henrickson's forte
Talking to first-year women's basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson, one can sense her commitment to her newly acquired program.
"Right now my responsibility and my staffs is to re-establish tradition and build this into something very, very special," Henrickson said.
During her tenure from 1997 until 2004, Henrickson led the Hokies to five NCAA tournament appearances and made the WNIT twice.
Henrickson had her fair share of success as coach at Virginia Tech, where she established a winning program that averaged 23 victories per season.
Although the program has suffered a string of disappointing seasons lately, one of the most alluring motives for Henrickson to leave Virginia Tech was Kansas' past achievements and the local enthusiasm for basketball.
"The most appealing reason is one, the passion and vision for basketball in the state of Kansas," she said. "The program has had success historically in the Big Eight and Big 12."
"R right now my responsibility and
In terms of a revival effort,
my staff's is to re-establish tradition and build this into something very,very special."
Bonnie Henrickson Women's basketball coach
Henrickson's takeover at Kansas presents a challenge, but she already has experience in rebuilding a program in her brief coaching career.
At Virginia Tech, she guided the Hokies to a 22-10 record and a conference title in her first season after the team finished 10-21 and in last place the previous year.
While Henrickson will make no guarantees concerning win totals in her first year at Kansas, she maintains that the situation is more suitable than the one she encountered at Virginia Tech.
"I can promise you that I am better prepared to do it now than I was then. I have more resources and commitment," she said.
The transition period to a new system has not been exceptionally hard for the players, despite the fact that many played several seasons under former coach Marian Washington.
"We didn't have a hard time adjusting," junior forward Crystal Kemp said. "It just took us a little while to keep everything under control in our heads."
Henrickson's impact on the players and the program has already been felt in offseason workouts and early-season practices.
In her first days at Kansas, the coach has earned a reputation for being a demanding figure on the court.
"Coach Henrickson doesn't let up on anything." Kemp said. "She is definitely trying to push me to work harder."
Such work and motivation will be essential to Henrickson's rebuilding efforts, especially with a roster that has obvious concerns.
With only nine scholarship players and a what Henrickson calls a "glaring height problem," the Jayhawks will find a definite challenge in the Big 12 Conference.
For her, a challenge is an opportunity, she said. For the program, that opportunity will be measured in future successes.
Women's coaching staff brings experience, hope
Edited by Bill Cross
BV JACK WEINSTEIN
jweinstein@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
When women's basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson came to Kansas, she didn't come alone. She brought with her a talented group of assistants who may help her turn around a program that hasn't had a winning season since 1999-2000.
Henrickson knew what she was doing when she hired her assistants. With basketball careers that included playing and coaching success, her assistants bring a winning attitude to a team that collectively has never won at Kansas.
LANGE
Karen Lange joins the Kansas staff after serving as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech under Henrickson since 1997.
She also had an illustrious career as a player, helping to lead Iowa to two Big 10 Championships, a Sweet 16 appearance, and a trip to the
"We're teaching
young ladies to become successful women for their lives after college."
Kyra Elzy Assistant basketball coach
Final Four in 1993 from her point guard position. Lange coordinates the recruiting at Kansas, but on the court, she works primarily with the guards.
Kyra Elzy has a playing résumé that includes three trips to the Final Four and two National Championships.
Elzy was a member of the 1997 and 1998 NCAA Championship teams at Tennessee. She spent the past two years honing her coaching and recruiting skills at Western Kentucky.
"Kyra has quickly built the reputation as a tremendous recruiter." Henrickson said. "She is a great communicator and relates well to coaches, parents and student-athletes."
primarily with the wing players.
The only member of Henrickson's staff to actually have experience playing u n d e r Henrickson is K. a. t i.e
On the court, Elzy will work
O'Connor. O'Connor said she counted that as an advantage.
"I understand her system, the commitment and work ethic it takes to succeed at this level, to do things the right way, every day." O'Connor said.
O'Connor, who recruits and works with Kansas' post players, made the move with Henrickson after being an assistant at Virginia Tech for the past two seasons. her senior season as a player, O'Connor helped lead the Hokies to a 28-3 record, an Atlantic 10 regular season title and a trip to the Sweet 16.
Henrickson's staff also includes Trena Anderson, director of basketball operations, and Katie Wulf, an administrative assistant.
Anderson is responsible for fundraising, travel accommodations, the
O'CONNER
booster club and other public relations efforts.
Wulf, who is pursuing her master's degree, will help with recruiting and academic support, film
exchange and breakdown Neither Anderson nor Wulf wants to coach, but they said they hoped to use their experiences at Kansas to climb the University administration ladder.
Lange, Elzy and O'Connor also assist with the adjustment student athletes make from college to the real world, a job they said was even more important than their coaching duties.
"We're teaching young ladies to become successful women for their lives after college," Elzy said.
This season will certainly be different with all the new faces roaming the sidelines for the lavhawks.
With such a promising staff, more Jayhawk victories may be part of that difference.
Edited by Paige Worthy
Lining up for tickets
Kansan file photo
Students line up outside Allen Fieldhouse to pick up their tickets to the men's basketball team's first five games. Everyone who came to the fieldhouse during the first redemption period got tickets, though there was fear that student tickets might run out.
THE ONLY VIEW BETTER THAN THIS, IS ON THE COURT.
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