On March 11 of last year, Laura Hungerford announced she would be stepping down as head coach of the Connecticut College women’s basketball team, a position that she held for eight straight years. Throughout the Spring 2009 semester, Fran Shields conducted a national search for a replacement head coach. After interviewing many qualified candidates, he decided on Brian Wilson, former assistant head coach at the College of the Holy Cross.
Wilson, after graduating from the University of Virginia in 2000, spent six years in the Patriot League and served as recruiting coordinator for the Crusader program for the past five years. In 2007, he was elevated to the position of Associate Head Coach, becoming only the second coach at Holy Cross to hold that title in 24 years. With the help of Wilson’s recruiting and leadership skills, Holy Cross women’s basketball achieved NCAA Tournament berths in both 2005 and 2007, as well as reaching the Patriot League Championship game in four consecutive seasons from 2005-2008.
While Wilson spent the majority of his coaching career in the Division I Patriot League, he has had some experience in the NESCAC.
After starting his career as an intern at Williams College in 2000, Wilson said, “it has been my professional goal to return to the NESCAC as a head coach and I am thrilled to be the new head coach of Camel Women’s Basketball.”
While Wilson’s enthusiasm and determination will undoubtedly bring a new energy to the Camel program, he recognizes that he and his team have a lot of hard work ahead of them in order to move up from last place in the NESCAC rankings.
“It will take exceptional passion, discipline and preparation on the part of our players and staff, day after day. We have a talented group of young women on the team this year who are determined to make a move up the NESCAC ladder. They committed themselves this summer and fall in the weight room and on the court in preparation for this season,” said Wilson.
Since the start of preseason at midnight on November 1, returning players have noticed a change in the energy of the team.
Senior Amy Towne reflects on past seasons. “We have been preparing for our opening games with more intensity this year than before. This does come with a larger time commitment than in the past but we are all adjusting and working harder on and off the court.”
With the addition of a new head coach to the close-knit team she has played on for most of her college career, Towne has definitely noticed a change in dynamic.
“It is interesting as a senior to be adjusting to a new style and intensity, but that is part of being an athlete – having the ability to adapt to new challenges. Coach Wilson is demanding but fair.”
A firm believer in discipline, Wilson expects his team to give 100 percent in every practice, “even when we are asked to return to the baseline and sprint,” said Amy Towne.
As head coach, Brian Wilson hopes to instill discipline in the Camel program “both mentally and physically.” He said the team “will be disciplined in the way we approach academics, fitness, practice and games.”
While improving the team’s overall skill and competitiveness is Wilson’s directive, his primary goal for this season is building trust with his players. He realizes the challenge his players will go through as they are asked to “transition from something known to something unknown,” but believes the key to success is a strong relationship between players and coach.
“I am most excited about forging meaningful relationships with the young women who comprise this team and hopefully having a positive impact on their lives that goes far beyond simply basketball,” he said.
Head coach Brian Wilson holds the ability to revive the women’s basketball program with his strong passion for the game of basketball and those who play it.
“I love thinking about our team, ways to motivate individual players, how we can play to our strengths and address our weaknesses. I’ve already had a number of nights where I couldn’t sleep because I was thinking about a practice drill or out of bounds play or something like that.”
Wilson’s devotion to the team will undoubtedly bring increased success for the Camels this season.
The Camels will begin their season at the two-day UMass Dartmouth Tip Off Tournament in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts this Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22.
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Mehlman told The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder that he was aware that Rove was working to make anti-gay marriage initiatives pop up all across the country in 2004 and 2006 to spur conservative voters to come out for both the initiatives and the Republican Party: