I can understand that she wants to be at a different Univ. than Nika, but it is a curious choice in a way. I mean, Illinois hasn't made a ripple in women's basketball. Maybe this is how they begin. South Florida has built some strong teams with players from abroad, and Indiana seems a growing force in the big ten. Oh well. Ours is not to reason why...but I am interested. Anyone know more?
I'm on record as being a huge fan of coach Fahey, but I believe this will be a put up or shut up season for her. I can't see the AD, as much as she was "his hire" from Washington U, being able to justify keeping her around after a 5th season of no significant improvement in results.
Washington University has about 15000 students, whereas a typical D3 school has about 2000. The University Division D3 schools have a huge recruiting advantage over everyone else.
That would make sense if D3 schools offered scholarships.
Yeah, I've known loads of people who went there. I can't think of anyone who didn't love it there, although my sample is mostly from the hard sciences, in which UIUC is really strong. Hanna can get a great education there if she wants to.
I had no idea WashU was DIII. Not only 15k students, last I knew they had at least one Nobel Prize winner, too.
Don't know more, but as above, maybe her choice isn't all about basketball.
They have a much larger student population, plus a highly prestigious academic reputation. Plus, they do offer scholarships; just not for athletics. Their ability to offer aid far exceeds that of a typical D3 school.
That conference also has Brandeis, Case Western Reserve, NYU, Emory, Case Western, University of Rochester and the University of Chicago. That is second only to the Ivies in terms of academic prestige. A great place for a coach.
Illinois picked up a transfer from Michigan State, Kendall Bostic. Was impressed with what she did with the amount of playing time she got last season. She had a good game against Iowa during the BIG 10 tourney.
I can't think of many programs that don't need better recruits to get better....
Yes, yes, yes, so true. Remember this though, there was one program that got better recruits and still did not get better. Fortunately, they recently got a better coach. Their uniform color is orange.I can't think of many programs that don't need better recruits to get better....
Nancy Fahey won five D III NCs, and four Runner's up, she gave up an amazing run in D III (84.7% winning percentage was second only to Geno at the time) to move up to D I, and has not found the key to winning at Illinios in the Big Ten. I was hoping she could start beating Maryland by now....
Very strong in research prestige. Would be interesting to compare them to the NESCAC (Amherst, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Connecticut College, Hamilton, Middlebury, Trinity, Tufts, Wesleyan, Williams) in terms of undergraduate instruction prestige though.
No question that one is oriented toward graduate education and the other undergraduate. Very good point.
Teresa Grentz was a legendary coach and she had fair to middling success at Illinois. There is no winning history at all in that program.Nancy Fahey won five D III NCs, and four Runner's up, she gave up an amazing run in D III (84.7% winning percentage was second only to Geno at the time) to move up to D I, and has not found the key to winning at Illinios in the Big Ten. I was hoping she could start beating Maryland by now....
The team is allowed to schedule a summer European tour every four years, if I’m not mistaken. Taking that tour in Croatia would certainly be an option.
Jordy, maybe she's the important factor that starts the change from closing to winning. Congrats to her on securing an athletic scholarship.
(Thread drift alert!)
Sometimes "academic" is " practical". I trust that Hana will get a good educational