Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie, never known from shying away from speaking her mind (with or without actually thinking and occasionally doing so in a delusional manner), demonstrates that she not only did not have any "lessons learned" from Duke's HR investigation of her, she will attack anyone who dares to criticize her, including her former All-Americans.
On criticism and the HR investigation
Crisis has a way of clarifying, but I was really disenchanted with former players trying to interrupt what the current players are doing. I think that’s a really bad thing. I don’t think anybody should try to play AD and play a role of that nature.
...
I wasn’t comfortable with it in the sense that I liked it, but I was very proud of the team. I never shared that sort of pathetic—the attack mode of people thinking they know better and things of that nature. I never understood or appreciated that at all.
NOTE: One of the primary triggers for the investigation was a letter authored by Duke alum and All-American Elizabeth Williams, the most decorated and highest ranked recruit of the McCallie era, expressing serious concerns about McCallie and the state of the program.
On Azurá Stevens
She went to USA, did really well. We were really proud of her. I think she came back from USA a different player and a different person a little bit with her thoughts about things. I knew all season that she was struggling. This was no surprise. Very devastating, but no surprise.
She played well at times, then she had the injury with the plantar fascia That was extremely distressing for her to have that. I just think that Azurá made that decision to go to Connecticut. She told us, she told her teammates that 'I want a guaranteed national championship.' That became something more important than a Duke education. It was really sad.
NOTE: The comment about USA Basketball is an indirect attack on Dawn Staley.
On transfers and UConn
If you’re looking at us, we’re one of the lowest transfer rates of any program out there. I wrote them all down. We’ve got two players in nine years that have transferred and played at Duke. I’m not talking about somebody who sat on the bench. Alexis Jones, who is very good, got injured and went home. We miss her greatly, always will, always have, just like Azurá. That’s a pretty astounding thing.
...
When have you known Connecticut to take transfers? They took two this year. They took Azurá and [Batouly Camara] from Kentucky. Make sure you look at this stuff from a deep point of view, because why is [Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma] doing that? You know why he’s doing that? Because talent is down. And he wants to continue to win. Obviously, they’re great.
But really? Is that what we’re about now, I’m going to take transfers? That was the neat thing they used to have. Connecticut wasn’t a transfer school. Now, even if they win it, who cares? I can’t even understand it because he’s such a good coach and it’s such a great program.
NOTE: McCallie does not believe bench players count as transfers; only starters count. Her transfer count is in double digits.
That being said, even going with starters, she forgot about former MCDAA Sierra Calhoun who started every game of her first season, before transferring after the first semester ended.
And the best part is that McCallie had to answer a question about the two transfers she took in the past two years, immediately after attacking transfers and the players' mentalities about transferring.
#Delusion
#ConvinceYourself
Q&A: Duke women's basketball head coach Joanne McCallie discusses HR evaluation, recent high-profile departures
