Basketball News, NBA, Playoff news, watch NBA Play off games online for free

Tasha McDowell has big plans for Broncos

Within minutes of being introduced as Western Michigan University's fifth women's basketball coach, Tasha McDowell put her team to work.

However, it didn't involve running or practicing jump shots. They merely walked up and stood around McDowell while she delivered her first comments in the University Arena press room Saturday afternoon. That point illustrated one of the rookie coach's philosophies -- unity.

"One of the things we've talked about briefly and we will stick to throughout the years is that everything we do, we're going to do it together," McDowell, who spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin, said. "I want to make sure we start to grow together as a team and as a family."

McDowell stressed the importance of togetherness and open communication during her opening address, and said she has plans to apply many of the exercises off the court she's learned in her 11-year coaching career.

"If someone's having a bad day, we can put them in the hot seat -- where you circle up and write good things about them ... that can brighten their day," she said. "We'll also have events at my house in terms of getting to know one another."

On the court, McDowell said she will emphasize defense, and plans to use full-court pressure and a lot of man-to-man, in-your-face defenses.

Offensively, her strategy is simple -- run.

"We want to score as often and as quickly as we can," she said. "We want our best offense to be our best defense. We're going to try to score in the 80s and limit (opponents) to the 60s."

That has point guard Tiera DeLaHoussaye excited.

"I love to run," she said. "Run-and-gun is one of the main parts of my game. If we can do that collectively, it will make everything much better."

The Broncos' floor general also is thrilled to have a former point guard as a coach.
"Just to have someone there with as much knowledge as she has and as much experience, every day will be a learning experience," she said.

Though McDowell has only met with the team twice, DeLaHoussaye likes what she has seen.

"She's a very friendly person that's very open," DeLaHoussaye said. "She's a person that you can come up to and talk to. She's very passionate."

WMU athletic director Kathy Beauregard said McDowell, the Broncos' third female basketball coach, is the perfect fit for a team that already possesses strong chemistry.

"Her commitment to the growth of young women and the teaching of young women really stood out along with her infectious enthusiasm," Beauregard said. "I called all over the country to try to find someone that had something bad to say about (McDowell), and I couldn't get anything."

McDowell's five-year contract will consist of a $150,000 base salary with incentives, Beauregard said.

Beauregard said she began with more than 100 candidates. McDowell and one other finalist, whose name WMU officials would not disclose, were then brought to campus to meet president John Dunn and the players.

WMU becomes the latest addition to the growing trend in the Mid-American Conference of female coaches. The Broncos' Ron Stewart and Toledo's Mark Ehlen both were replaced by women, leaving Kent State's Bob Lindsay and Bowling Green's Curt Miller as the only male head coaches in the 12-team league.

"The sport of women's basketball is one where there have been enough coaches for enough years now, and there's been a growth in women's basketball where it became evident to me that this was an opportunity to diversify our staff," Beauregard said.
Dunn also expressed his enthusiasm for McDowell.

"I was immediately impressed (with McDowell)," he said. "She has a great resume and a great background. ... We're all going to be in for a very, very special treat."

Wisconsin coach Lisa Stone said her former assistant is more than ready for the new job.

"She's going to be awesome," Stone said. "She's ready for this step. She's a great speaker and has a great knowledge of the game. Defense and player development are two of her greatest strengths."

With no head coaching experience, McDowell knows there will be bumps in the road.
But she said she's ready.

"There are (going to be nerves)," she said. "I think you go through the excitement to nervousness, excitement to nervousness, but it's like having a baby. I don't have one of those yet, either, but I hear you're just ready when you're ready. There's no fear in where I am right now and what I plan on doing."