Harvard Head Coach Carrie Moore

Carrie Moore sits down with Mark Schindler to discuss the upcoming season for the Harvard Crimson, her third in Cambridge. Having already established a strong foundation and building off of Kathy Delany Smith's legacy, Moore has Harvard primed for an exciting season.

They dive into and discuss taking over for a program with tremendous history, knowing what the right job is in the moment, recruiting at high academic institutions, getting the most out of ball screens without a true big, and so much more!

You can listen to the pod on

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theyve-got-now/id1652378572

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2eTVgaVudBvS9yox3XbgGX?si=16a02c3ea75942e8

You can watch the pod on https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSPW9eR1D5GWBw1lRpM8qTDSlliwbGp8J&si=rX7RfQZmuB6XAa3T

As always, a major thank you to James Edwards III for the intro and outro music! If you have not already, follow Mark on Twitter @MG_Schindler and be sure to rate and review the pod! Send any questions, comments, or feedback Mark's way, and enjoy the show.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:10):
Welcome into another episode they've got now. I am really
excited to be joined today by the head coach over
at Harvard, Carrie Moore. Carrie first and foremost, how are
you doing.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
I'm good, Mark, I'm good Man. Just you know, in
the thick of you know, preseason grind. And it's a
rainy day here today in Boston, so you know, feel
even better about being inside for practice later today.

Speaker 3 (00:33):
It's been it's actually.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
Been beautiful here lately, so you know, just enjoying the
fall and and kind of the free weekends and until
we don't have them anymore in the next couple of weeks.

Speaker 1 (00:43):
Yeah, no, absolutely, I have no idea how it's like,
I mean, we're like less than a month from the
season now. I was talking to somebody from k State
the other day. They have their first exhibition on the thirtieth. Like,
it's just it's so so fast. How like, how was
this summer for you kind of going ring summer into
into this, because I feel like every season it just
gets even more insane in the off season because it's

(01:05):
not really an off season. But yeah, on your end.

Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well, the IVY League is different than than a lot
of leagues. You know around the country in terms of
we don't we don't get summer access with our players,
so not you know, they're not on campus, they're not
taking classes, they're not here working out with us. So uh,
the summer, you know, it can at times, I think,
you know, comes with some some good amount of rest

(01:30):
for us in the months of May and August, which
may not feel as RESTful for for some in this business.

Speaker 3 (01:37):
But outside of that, we're.

Speaker 2 (01:38):
Doing a lot of you know, a lot of recruiting,
a lot of camps, you know, really trying to bring
people to uh to Boston, into Cambridge, and you know,
really trying to extend ourselves in the community and just
you know, kind of grow our connections you know, on
on and off campus, uh and in the greater you know,

(01:59):
Boston proper. And you know, outside of that, just constant
touches with our team, you know, facetimes calls, uh, you know,
getting them here to work camps as much as we can,
because that's you know, that's a way that we can
kind of get on court with them and just kind
of see what they've been up to, and you know,
it's it's it was nice to have our first years
to come and work work those camps that way too

(02:21):
as well. So yeah, it's it's a it's busy. It's
a different kind of busy than I would say the
school year is. But yeah, it was. It was a
great summer. It flew by, though. I mean, I you know,
I blinked twice in uh, you know, school was starting,
so went went by much faster than the previous two summers,
that's for sure.

Speaker 1 (02:41):
Yeah, no, I can can only imagine, Like I know,
my schedule was insane, just kind of keeping up with
everything in the w and going out to do with
some au stuff. But like looking at you know, I
can't eat. It's different when you're actually, you know, actually
on the staff. But I wanted to ask too, like
you mentioned in terms of doing kind of outreach stuff,
having camps with with local products, like obviously there's a

(03:01):
lot of really great basketball in the Northeast, even just
looking to deal one, Like I think you guys are
on the up and up, doing great stuff at Harvard
obviously the whole IVY League, but like you know, most
of graves over it be us doing awesome stuff. North
Easterns on the way up. Like there's a lot of
great basketball there when you do, you know, in terms
of like getting tapped in with with local scene and
also like I mean just talking frankly about like this

(03:22):
is an IVY school, like making it feel like, you know,
that's a place that people can have accessible to them.
What does that look like and how have you kind
of built that over the years.

Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yeah, I think it's you know, just really tapping into
kind of the younger generation, you know, within this Cambridge
community and kind of you know, Boston community.

Speaker 3 (03:41):
You know. I think the.

Speaker 2 (03:42):
Part of this job that I really love is like
I could be be my authentic self and really, you know,
when we're talking about you know, diversity, equity and inclusion,
I think, you know, I'm a prime example of that
just being me at this institution. And so when we're
tapping into you know, different communities within you know, this area,

(04:02):
I think it you know, it allows us to really
touch and inspire you know, a different wave generation, you know,
if you will, of young women, women basketball players, you know,
young girls, I guess you know right now, but you know,
the future of of college athletics. And I think, you know,
for us, it's it's just really being ourselves and our

(04:26):
staff is you know, brings great energy and and loves
getting out and about you know, and our players. I
think when we have the opportunity to to take them
along with us in season and you know, get out
to the Cambridge lab or work with shooting touch or
you know, invite you know, you know, different teams and
things to practices and and have autograph sessions after games.

(04:48):
And you know, I think any any type of you know,
whether it's short or extended touch, is something that's going
to be really meaningful to to kind of that younger generation.

Speaker 1 (04:59):
I love that. And I think the big reason I
wanted to ask that too is I feel like it's
the things like that that a lot of people maybe
don't necessarily think about in terms of the job of
a head coach, right because so much of building up
a program is being able to build up so many
of the things that you don't necessarily see on court
or you know, in season especially you know, coming into

(05:20):
this job, when did you like what kind of set
worth you like that this was the place like that
you really wanted to come to Harvard because I know,
like talking to anybody, I mean, you're one of made
a real name for yourself, is one of the best
recruiters in the business. Obviously tremendous job as a coach
in general, but like, so, what what made you feel
like Harvard was the right place to kind of take
that step. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (05:41):
I mean, I think it's because of the experiences that
I've had being at you know, all high academic, high
level basketball places as an assistant. You know, I started
my college career coaching wise at Princeton, and I think
that just opened up a whole new world for me.
And in terms of, you know, what this holistic experience

(06:03):
can look like. You know, I went to a college
prep high school, so I very much you know, at
the route at the core of me, you know, really
feels feel feel very comfortable in this type of environment.
And I really value this, you know, as a human
and as a you know, as a person, as a coach.
This is the type of environment I think I I

(06:24):
thrive in. And I think in recruiting you get to
really connect with those that are like minded and that
really value the same things that that I value. So
I think there is some connection there. Uh. And you know,
I've been successful at all the places that I was at,
you know, as an assistant, mainly because you know, outside
of my charming personality, I think that it's because of

(06:47):
the brands of the places. Right It's you know, it's Printing,
it's Creighton, it's you know, it's North Carolina, it's Michigan. Right, Like,
everyone's going to pick up the phone when I'm calling
from those places because it's a great degree and it's
you know, great basketball, so you know, and Harvard is
no different. So I think, you know, just that brand

(07:09):
and attaching myself to, you know, to a place that
has such a you know, a winning reputation. I'm surrounded
by excellence no matter the sport. I mean there's forty
two sports here, which is astronomical. Did not know that
before I got before I got here. But but there's
so many different head coaches that I can tap into
that have either you know, won an IVY League championship

(07:29):
or won a national championship, or you know, coached in
the Olympics or coached the USA team, or you know,
there's there's just I mean, you name it, somebody here
has done it. And it's just been really inspiring to
be here. And you know, talking to Kathy Delaney Smith,
it was her seventy fifth birthday the other day, and
we were, you know, out spending time with her in

(07:51):
Harvard Square, and I think just constantly getting her feedback
on just her experiences and the things that she fought
for and really paved the way for our program to
be where it is today. I think our meaningful conversations
for me to have and I'm you know, just so
excited about the future and what we can build here
because this place really attracts the nation's best and I
believe we can we can recruit the best players in the.

Speaker 3 (08:13):
League and and and we will win champions.

Speaker 1 (08:21):
Yeah, I think part of what's really fun with that too. Obviously,
can't get too much into it, Like you guys are
really doing a great job on the recruiting trail, which
has been very fun to watch just in general. I
wanted to ask on that part too, just like in recruiting,
because obviously you've been at both you know, Power five
and an at HI academic is do you feel like
there's a pretty big difference in it or how does

(08:41):
that like, how does that change up your approach at all?

Speaker 2 (08:44):
Yeah, I mean I think at the end of the day,
recruiting is all about relationships. So if you put in
the time and and you're authentic with who you are,
like you don't try to be anything that you're not.
I think this generation is very good at like identifying
like just fake and unknown, yeah, unauthentic, you know, you
know people, And so I try to really approach them,

(09:07):
you know where I'm at. And you know, if I'm
watching Love Is Blind on you know, on on.

Speaker 3 (09:14):
The what what program is that on Netflix? On Netflix?

Speaker 2 (09:18):
Yeah, if I watching Love is Blind, I'm gonna tell
them I'm watching Love is Blind. If I'm you know,
caught up in you know, Game of Thrones, uh, watching
it for the fourth straight time, Like I'm gonna tell
them that I'm, you know, binging Game of Thrones.

Speaker 3 (09:29):
Like if they've got homecoming, I'm going to ask, you know, who.

Speaker 2 (09:32):
Are you going with? What type of you know, what
what's your dress look like? Like, what's your outfit? You know,
shaping up to be? So I think, you know, beyond basketball,
like how can we really get to know these kids?

Speaker 3 (09:42):
And and I.

Speaker 2 (09:44):
Think I've just always just try to approach it in
a genuine, very genuine way, and I think that's been
very respected and I think it's you know, really transferred
you know, really well to the recruits and and also
the parents. You know that I've had the pleasure of
of getting to know throughout all these you know, processes.
So yeah, and and like I said, I think the

(10:06):
brands that I've I've had a chance to work at
just really amplify, you know, what I'm doing. And you know,
luckily I've I don't really know what it's like to
not associate myself with something that isn't incredibly well known,
So you know, I don't take that for granted, but
I try to, you know, I try to extend my reach,

(10:27):
if you will, because I do know that that the
places that I'm at people people want to know about.
So you know, I can call the number one ranked
recruit in the country, and I can call the you know,
two hundred and fiftieth and they're all going to pick up.

Speaker 1 (10:39):
So yeah, no, that's definitely cool to have. I do
have to ask the best Game of Thrones character if
you've gone through that many times.

Speaker 2 (10:46):
Yeah, of course, come on, now, well, Ari, it's a
running joke that I don't have kids, but when I
do that that Aria will be I mean, that will
be the name of my child.

Speaker 3 (10:55):
If not you know their middle name of that. I mean,
she's just such a you know, she's such a bad as.

Speaker 1 (11:03):
Yeah's she has a special art. It's always Jamie for me,
Jamie except race the last season, Pretend the last season. Yeah,
He's like, yeah, yeah, it takes time, but you know,
you get there definitely. You mentioned, you know, with having
your relationship with Kathy Delaney Smith. First off, I think
that's awesome that you can continue to have that because

(11:24):
that not everybody gets to have that. Yeah, But in
terms of you know, kind of taking over for a
legend like that, you know, somebody who literally built this program,
what is that like? Because obviously you want to put
your own stamp on something obviously and and redefine what
Harvard basketball means. But also like, okay, you're this is
the first first team that took a sixteen set over

(11:47):
a one like doing all this stuff, like you know,
like it's there's a lot in terms of kind of
redefining what that means. So how do you how do
you kind of approach that and how's that maybe evolved
over the years so far?

Speaker 2 (11:58):
Yeah, I think you know, the cool thing about Kathy
is like she's so humble and yet so like just
so so chill and doesn't like, you know, she doesn't
want the spotlight anymore. She's just like carry, I just
want to get into the games. Like just give me
a ticket. I'll you know, I'll hang out. And I'm like, no, Kathy,
you come to the game and you sit courtside where

(12:18):
you should be.

Speaker 3 (12:19):
Sitting right, Like, you know, she's she's just such a goat.

Speaker 2 (12:23):
And I think the coolest thing that she shares with
us is, you know, just the just the experiences that
she's had with.

Speaker 3 (12:29):
All of these legendary teams.

Speaker 2 (12:30):
And you know, there's so many banners, you know, in
our gym because of the championships that that she's won.
And it's just been really incredible to hear all of
the different stories from her and all the different alums
that come back, and you know, they they remember the game, right,
they remember the championship game, and there they tell me
the last two minutes of you know, of what happened

(12:52):
or you know, up against Dartmouth or you know, up
against Yale or whatever, and I hit this shot to
go up to with a minute thirty left or whatever
it may be, Like it's just this is this is
what we're after, right, So the kids that we're recruiting
and we're bringing in here, can we get them to
a place to where they're winning at this level? So

(13:12):
when they come back, they're telling these stories, you know,
to to whatever whomever coach is here and you know,
to their kids that they're bringing on campus. So I
think it's just you know, incredibly inspiring to hear from her.
I mean, to to have coached at a place longer
than I've been alive, I mean, that's just like, you know, crazy, Yeah,
I mean, I hope I can be just you know,

(13:35):
a quarter of the coach that she was able to
be for so many and you know, just the impact
that she has made on her players and how they
speak so highly of her when she comes back or
they come back. You know, it's just really just a
great reminder for me, you know, to to not you know,
take this opportunity for granted in terms of what I'm

(13:56):
doing and the position that I'm in here at Harvard.

Speaker 1 (13:59):
No, definitely, and especially too, like you mentioned in terms
of bringing people in when you are looking at like
a recruit, because I think part of what you said,
like with you can you can get pretty much anybody
to pick up a phone, but when you are looking
to bring people to Harvard, you know what is obviously
you know, I think everybody's different, of course, but like
what is if you're looking at baseline like this is

(14:20):
who I'm looking to bring to Harvard, this is what
we wanted a player on and off the court?

Speaker 2 (14:25):
Yeah, I think, you know, that's a great question. You know,
we we have core with four core value sorry, we
call them our core four, which which is unity, integrity.

Speaker 3 (14:35):
Grit, and joy.

Speaker 2 (14:37):
And I think if we are out on the road
or we're talking on the phone to you know, potential
student athletes, I think those are the four things that
we're looking for, Like are they are they a good person?

Speaker 3 (14:47):
Right?

Speaker 2 (14:47):
Like how do they treat their parents? How do they
treat their teammates? How do they treat their coaches? You know,
how do they interact with folks that they're you know,
you know spending there every day with We spend a
lot of time with our team, with our you know,
we want to make sure we're bringing in you know,
players that that we enjoy spending time with.

Speaker 3 (15:05):
You know, I.

Speaker 2 (15:06):
Think the grit piece is huge, Like how are they
displaying that I think physically and mentally, you know, on
the floor, you know, those that are obviously scoring is
you know, it's it's part of the game. But I
think who's doing who's doing the other things, right, like
the intangibles, you know, the winning plays. Who who can
we bring in that can really help us, you know
in that regard, because I think that's an area of growth,

(15:28):
you know, for our current team. And I think the
joy piece is huge, right, like who has a smile
on their face, who's loving the game, who's loving just
you know, the the growth that they're making.

Speaker 3 (15:40):
You know, who's loving the grind? Right Like it's such
a grind.

Speaker 2 (15:43):
You have to be in the gym, you have to
be working, you know, constantly, and at the same time,
you're at Harvard, right, so you're going to be challenged academically,
and you know who's going to find the joy in that?
I think, you know is those that perspective I think
is really important. And you know, on top of that,
I think the unity piece again just is you know,

(16:04):
who can we bring here that is really going to
not only help us on the floor, but who's going
to help our culture and who's going to help us
in the locker room and who's going to help us
in huddles, you know, when we're down five with two
and a half minutes to go and we need to
go on a run, Like who's going to shift the momentum,
you know, outside of myself and our staff, you know,
to really be kind of that that player led team
that we're that we want to be, so kind of

(16:27):
a long winded way of just saying, you know, just
looking for those that are.

Speaker 3 (16:31):
Winners on the floor, but but winners off the floor
more importantly.

Speaker 1 (16:35):
Well for sure, and that makes a ton of sense too.
I think, like you you need to have, like you mentioned,
you know, that relationship with parents. I think is so
underrated because even like I do a lot of stuff
in the background with like looking at you know, with
with the draft and looking at development, and I think
so much of getting to the next level is and
not not even that that's what we're talking about, I think,
but even with going from high school to college, I

(16:56):
think that matters, right, Like everybody's not gonna be a
star at the next level, Like, how are you going
to handle that role change? You're going to be okay
with it? Is that something you want to do, and
obviously you want to keep growing and get to a
higher level, but like, are you comfortable coming in and
being able to be in that smaller spot first and
kind of find your way from outside that and like, yeah,
building those relationships and also having that self awareness is

(17:17):
really difficult to find. And well, I shouldn't say difficult
to find, but I think like there has to be
that you know, that level, and I think that's probably
the most underrated part of recruiting that. I think some
people will be surprised how little there I mean, not
how little. There are some problems that you struggle with
that a little bit. You know, that's not just talent.
There's a lot more than that. So I appreciate that

(17:37):
for sure, but especially looking at you know, this is
now going to be year three, how and looking at
core values, how have those like changing involved at all?
Or like how how have things shifted for you the
most in kind of the first two years here.

Speaker 2 (17:54):
Yeah, that's a great question. I think our core four
will will stay the same, continue to stay the same.
I think I think we're on a journey to to really,
you know, being great at all four of those areas.

Speaker 3 (18:04):
I don't think we're quite there yet, but I.

Speaker 2 (18:06):
Think we're well on our way, and I'm just excited
to see, you know, how we can really you know,
hit each mark, you know, this current current year, with
the team that we have, I think the first two seasons,
I've learned that you know, no season will be the same,
or no season will honestly.

Speaker 3 (18:25):
Be what you think it will be.

Speaker 2 (18:27):
Right Like year one, I didn't know what to expect,
and it was it was a very successful year, and I.

Speaker 3 (18:33):
Was just trying to you know, stay above water half
the time.

Speaker 2 (18:36):
And here we go, making it to the IVY Tournament
championship game and you know, eleee eight of or grade
eight of the n I and you know, making the
furthest run than any team at Harvard has ever made,
right Like, so there's a lot of history that was
made in that first year that I think, you know,
really turned some heads, but also you know, put some
expectations on the team to come after that.

Speaker 3 (18:58):
And then I went in last.

Speaker 2 (18:59):
Year thinking we were going to be pretty good, and
you know, I think we were pretty average compared to
you know, kind of the expectations that we put on
ourselves towards the beginning of the year. So I think
we learned a lot from last year, and I learned
a lot as a coach, and our staff learned a lot.
And I think the level of expectation and the standard
has been raised because of the lessons that we learned.

(19:20):
And I think, you know, we're we're standing on business,
as the young folks will say, and uh, just just
really inspired to have a great season and really, you know,
be about the process. I think, you know, I think
we can get caught up so many times of or
so often of you know, just thinking, you know, so
far ahead and thinking about the outcome, especially if you
know things haven't been done here and so long, right,

(19:42):
it's like, we just want to win. We want to win,
we want to win the first IVY championship and so long,
and it's like, yeah, but what what does it take,
you know, along the way to really accomplish those things?
And I think we've we've really you know, we've really
slowed ourselves down and and kind of been more about
the not kind of we've been more about the process,
which I hope will really help us, you know, come

(20:04):
come March, come the end of the season.

Speaker 1 (20:06):
I love hearing that, but I want to ask like,
how do you reinforce that, because I think that's something
I just know for myself, Like I always try and
like reach being about the process, but like I know,
like it can be really tough sometimes if okay, if
you're not seeing the result immediately or you know, like
with what happened with you guys having a significant injury
you know mid season, like that it changes things. So
how do you kind of roll with that and work

(20:27):
to kind of find like how you still have the
process with while also recognizing like things change and there
are highs on those with it.

Speaker 2 (20:34):
Definitely, you know, I think you just you don't know
what you don't know. You know, I tell our first
years that all the time, right because they're, you know,
their heads are constantly spinning with what we're we're.

Speaker 3 (20:44):
Throwing at them in practice.

Speaker 2 (20:45):
And I think as a coach too, it's like, you know,
I don't know what I don't know. And I think,
you know, last year that that was the first time
that that I've been a leader in that regard where
you think it's going to go this way and then
all of a sudden, you know, something something happens and
now you're you're going down a different different path than
what you thought you would, and you have to essentially

(21:07):
reinvent yourselves. You've got to, you know, shift the way
that you play. You've got to bring some others along
that weren't playing that now need to play a lot.
And you know, there was just a lot of adversity,
and I think, you know, we really learned about adversity response.
And I don't think you know how to how to
respond until you've gone through something like that. And so

(21:29):
I think you know a little bit more well equipped,
you know, as a leader, as as a head coach.
I think as a team we are, you know, because
we were still just so caught up last year. You know,
we good player goes down, we lose a couple of games,
it's like we you know, we're losing too much.

Speaker 3 (21:46):
We just want to win.

Speaker 2 (21:47):
But it's like, okay, understanding kind of where we're at
now and how we can be the best version of
ourselves in that particular moment as opposed to always worrying
about you know, the scoreboard and the ultimate outcome. So yeah,
it's it's just going to take practice, and you know,
hopefully we don't get too much adverse practice this year.

(22:08):
Hopefully we can get a little luck on our side.
But but yeah, I think you know, I'm growing and
I'm learning.

Speaker 3 (22:14):
Our team is also doing the same, you know.

Speaker 1 (22:17):
As we go. Yeah, off that too, mentioning like just
gaining experience having a freshman class of five obviously all
players to be very excited about, but like, what is that,
Ben like? Because I believe this is your biggest freshman
class you've had since you've been here, So like, what
is that Ben like? Kind of getting used to that?
Obviously you have the on the flip side, only losing
one senior is nice. Obviously hard to lose little because

(22:38):
she was phenomenal. But you know, what has that process
been like of kind of watching them come along obviously
early on, but both from you as a coach and
also kind of seeing how you know, having to be
a player led thing and seeing how they're coming together.

Speaker 3 (22:52):
For sure.

Speaker 2 (22:53):
Yeah, I think the biggest thing that I love about
these five is that it just the type of people
that they are. Right Like, I can blow my whistle
every thirty seconds and correct and coach and you know,
do what I I want to do in practice with
them and they'll look me in the eye and they'll
say yes, coach, I got you, Like, they'll give it

(23:15):
that next rep everything that they've got and and there's
just there's no defeat and them like they're they're they're
going to They're here for a reason.

Speaker 3 (23:24):
We wanted them here for a reason. They want to
be here for a reason.

Speaker 2 (23:28):
And I think you know that that relationship that that
I developed with all five of them in the recruiting
process is really helping me coach them. We talk about
love and toughness, you know, as as as a staff
a lot within the recruiting process.

Speaker 3 (23:42):
Just I'm gonna love you, you know, love on.

Speaker 2 (23:45):
You in so many ways, and but I'm going to
be incredibly tough on you as well. And I think
this is the first class that you can really see,
uh just you know that dynamic, you know, really take place,
because yeah, they'll go through a too tough, too hour
practice and then you know they'll be marching up here
to my office and laughing and dancing and joking and
you know, just not taking themselves too seriously and not

(24:09):
taking you know, what happened in practice overly seriously. Either
They're able to kind of compartmentalize in that way that
I think is really cool and very healthy, especially at
a place like this, you know, at Harvard.

Speaker 1 (24:21):
So yeah, no, exactly, because that's something I was so
bad as an athlete, Like you have to be able
to put that aside otherwise it's going to plague you
the rest of your day. And like, totally you can't
have that happen at Harvard. You might be able to
get away with it. It's in other schools, but if
you have a Harvard course load, rip you row.

Speaker 3 (24:36):
But yeah, I wanted.

Speaker 1 (24:38):
To ask too in terms of one of the things
I really like. I love how you schedule a non conference,
and I always try and reinforce people to because I
did bracketology for the athletic this last year and like
so much of why, I don't like seeing schools who
are outside of power conferences get penalized for strength to
schedule because so much of it is not up to them.
So I wanted to ask how you approach scheduling a

(24:58):
non conference because I think you've on a really job
with obviously Indiana coming up at Saint John's Rude Island, Maine,
like great non consolate, but it's hard because people know
you have a good program, people know you're a good coach,
it doesn't quote unquote in some ways benefit them to
play you, because if we lose, that hurts us. So
what is the difficulty like in kind of putting up

(25:20):
a non conference schedule that is, you know, helps get
you guys prepared, gives you those opportunities to keep getting better,
because I think that's just something that tends to go
underrated with looking at you know, putting together a schedule
that isn't at the power level yet.

Speaker 3 (25:34):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (25:35):
Yeah, it's a it's an interesting conversation, right, It's I
think scheduling is probably it was something I never did
as an assistant, and then when I started doing it
as a head coach, I was like, wow, I'm so
glad I never did this because it's just, I mean,
it's so stressful and it's just honestly annoying at times,
especially you know, being in the situation that we're in.
You know, similar to what you just said of you know,

(25:57):
p fours don't want to play us, and not all
people is don't get me wrong, Like, uh, you know,
the ones that you know don't want to lose to
to a Harvard are probably not going to put themselves
in a position to take the game, or if they
do take the game, it's at their place. It's they're
not willing to come to our place and play. You know,
a really cool game in Lavidis that will be sold

(26:19):
out and you know, be in front of you know,
two thousand fans that are on top of you. So
I think we're I think we're missing you know, some
cool opportunities you know to play certain folks uh here
in Boston. But it you know, that's just those are
the cards that that we've been dealt. And so we'll
then go after those games, you know, we'll go and

(26:39):
get guarantee money and play you know at Indiana or
you know at Michigan and and and those things. You know,
we'll go to Northwestern. We're not you know, we're not
going to run away from the competition. If anything, we
want to challenge ourselves and and put ourselves in a
position to to get some really good wins and then

(27:00):
on conference and really prepare ourselves for you know how competitive, uh,
you know our our conference season will be.

Speaker 1 (27:07):
So yeah, no, absolutely, because the IVY is just it's
such a grind and I think it got lost last
year because like obviously, like don't get me wrong, like
Princeton and Columbia are incredibly you guys were very good
last year, but I think the rest of the IVY
gets underlook sometimes, Like I just remember watching teams have
to play Brown last year, especially in non cond heading.
I was like, I just that's not a team I

(27:28):
want to play for, play against, or scout for, because
that's just a disgusting defense to have to play against.
Kyla Jones was so good. They they're a really good
team last year, but like up and down, Like I
think you can look across the IVY with that, and
it's a ton of different styles as well, so it's
just tough. Like that's it's not an easy conference to
come in and try and compete with. But I think
part of what's fun with you guys, like I feel

(27:50):
like there's a really exciting window this year for you
guys as a group, because obviously Princeton's great senior class
is graduated, and you guys were very competitive with them
this past year. Same thing with Columbia. I think there's
obviously everybody's going to still be competing, but I think
when you look at how everything is coming together, like
really exciting opportunity for you guys kind of take that
step forward this year.

Speaker 2 (28:11):
Yeah, definitely, you know, no pressure or anything, but yeah,
you know, we talk about it all the time since
honestly since our season ended last year, knowing what this
year was going to bring and who we were bringing back,
who we were bringing in, what other teams were losing,
and you know, so I think what I'm trying to
do with our current group is not to get caught

(28:32):
up in those those expectations or those thoughts or you know,
what other teams are doing or what they've lost or
what they're bringing in, and more so just concerned about
us and you know, really just making sure we're getting
better every day, you know, one percent is what we
talk about, you know, every single day. And if we
can do that and if we can stay true to
our own process and make sure that we're the best

(28:53):
version of ourselves and that we're we talk about three c's,
you know, be coachable, compete, and relentless communication. If we
can do those things, you know, I think I think
will be in really good shape. But yes, you know,
we're very excited about the season. But like I said,
you know, each year has gone completely different than than

(29:14):
what I thought it would, So, you know, not trying
to put any expectation, but knowing, you know, knowing that
that we want to be at our best, you know
against every opponent in our league this season.

Speaker 1 (29:26):
Yeah, No, not to put under expectations. I just get excited.

Speaker 3 (29:28):
No, no good.

Speaker 2 (29:30):
Yeah, one of the the first time I'll.

Speaker 1 (29:33):
Be one of the players I really wanted to ask
you about because I just didn't really know a whole
ton about her until this season and then obviously going
back through and watching stuff again before we talked, and
someone who I think after getting to you know, really
learn more about your core values. Sanaia Glenn really came
on last year in my opinion, especially going back and
watching like I love her defense. I think does so

(29:56):
much as a stopper for you guys, and kind of
just in general, like brings so much to the table.
What is her you know, kind of seeing her kind
of continue to develop and become this level of player
and what you're most excited about from her this year?

Speaker 2 (30:08):
Yeah, I smile as soon as you said her name,
because I really do. We were talking about as a
staff earlier today, Like I think she's just she's she's
been awesome this year, Like she had a really good summer,
you know, her and her dad or texting me. You know,
she's in the gym in the morning before her internship
and they're getting after it. And I think she's just
in a in a place of confidence. I think she's
in a place of you know, experienced. You know, I

(30:32):
think she's attitude wise. I think she's as great as
she's ever been. She's that joyful piece. She she is
joyful every day. She's she's taking it from you know,
I think she's approaching every day from a from a
place of gratitude.

Speaker 3 (30:46):
Right, It's like I get to do this.

Speaker 2 (30:48):
I get to be with my teammates, I get to
have this this jersey on, I get to compete, and
I get to leave my team because she should. She's
a junior and she's been at this, you know, with
me for two years now and she's played a lot
of minutes. And yeah, she's she's so so versatile, so
important to what we want to do defensively with her
length and just you know, she just has a nap

(31:09):
for you know, the ball and where it's going and
how to get her hands on it. And you know,
she's she's most often guarding the other team's best player.
For us, she's up in our press. You know, she's
doing a lot of things, you know that that we
need for her to do. But I think the growth
at what you're seeing in practice is more so offensively

(31:30):
and just you know, her being able to kind of,
you know, take more ownership of what she's doing on
that end of the of the of the ball, and uh,
you know, I think she's she's doing a tremendous, tremendous
job so far.

Speaker 1 (31:41):
I love hearing all that because you know that parbably
isn't exactly what to talk about, Like with looking at
player development, do you feel like anything has kind of
changed for you and how you look at player development
now that you know, being a head coach and as
opposed to being an assistant, or has anything kind of
like opened up more in your eyes and how you
look at it or how you approach it.

Speaker 3 (31:59):
Yeah, I mean, it's it's always top of mind. I think.

Speaker 2 (32:02):
You know, as an assistant, you're you're out there and
you know, you're on the court, you're watching the film,
you're you're you're getting a lot of that individual one
on one time, which was you know what makes being
an assistant so fun. And I think as a head
coach not really wanting to lose that. I think, especially
as a young kind of players coach that I feel
like I am you know, they tell me I am,

(32:23):
so I'll keep going with that. But you know, I
think year one I was just so like, you know,
my head down, just trying to you know, again, just
do a lot in that year, and.

Speaker 3 (32:35):
Didn't necessarily get out on the floor.

Speaker 2 (32:37):
Last year you know, didn't either, just so much going on,
and I think this year really kind of you know,
pulling back a little bit and just saying, hey, this
is an area that I think, you know, I can
really connect with our players more.

Speaker 3 (32:50):
I can really help them grow their confidence.

Speaker 2 (32:52):
And and then also just you know, I think simplify
the messaging, you know, if they're hearing it from me directly.

Speaker 3 (32:57):
So I say all that to to say, I'm on.

Speaker 2 (33:00):
The floor actually with you know, a quarter of our
of our team individually, you know, in terms of positional
you know, how we're separating them, you know, between each
coach on our staff, and uh, it's top of mind
for us all you know. I think when I hired
our staff, it was you know, are you a good person?
Do I want to be around you? And are you

(33:21):
going to help our players get better? Was you know
the second thing that I was most concerned about. And
you know, it's our job to make sure that they're
graduating a much different player than than they came in
as and if we're not doing that, I have a
huge problem with that. So yeah, we a lot of
our time is spent on you know, individual work, small

(33:42):
group work, film work. You know, we're doing our our
individual development plan meetings with our players right now, you know,
prior to our first scrimmage next week, just trying to
make sure, you know, we're all aligned in kind of
areas that they need to improve in and and what
they're doing well and just kind of checking in on
where they're at.

Speaker 1 (34:00):
So yeah, going off that like again, because you know,
being a process driven team, I think part of what
is like sort of the double edged sword and like
player developments, Like you know, it's it's getting those reps
in every day and having those touch points. But also
like again, it can get like easy to kind of
get lost and like, you know, am I improving? Am

(34:21):
I taking this step? Especially when like I don't know
I think one of the most important things I ever
got like reinforced from me was like talking to Mike
Neighbors at Arkansas about, you know, when he was coaching
Kelsey Plumb News. Like, I think Kelsey made her biggest
strides when she stopped trying to work on everything and
started taking it one step at a time. But that's like,
you know, it took me into like my mid twenties
to get to a point where I felt good about that, right,

(34:42):
And like, so, how do you kind of help players
recognize that they are getting better at what they're doing,
because I think that is something that players do struggle
with at times, is being able to kind of see
it from the same ones that a coach might.

Speaker 3 (34:54):
Yeah, definitely, I think a couple of things.

Speaker 2 (34:58):
I think knowing what they do well, you know, I
think that's important so they can really focus on doing
those things really well and being really confident in those
areas and making sure they're doing those consistently for our
team first. And then after that, Okay, let's talk about
you know, some specifics in terms of you know, areas
of improvement.

Speaker 3 (35:16):
I think the next thing that we've tried.

Speaker 2 (35:18):
To do, you know, within our program is really give
our players some measurables. You know, we added an analytics
you know staff staff person to essentially give them things
you know, from practice stats, shooting stats, you know, green
light shooting drills. Shout out to Mike Neighbors you just said,
you know, with his green light stuff. But again, just

(35:38):
making sure they're aware of, you know, what what their
output looks like, you know, on a daily basis. So
we're not just practicing and you know, just log and hours,
but they're actually like getting live feedback and input on
areas of growth, you know, from those those practices. Because film,
film doesn't lie, stats don't lie, you know, so as

(36:02):
many measurables as we can give them, as many numbers
as we can give them. I think you know that
that allows you to kind of pinpoint certain, you know,
areas of improvement.

Speaker 1 (36:11):
Yeah. I think the feedback piece is so important because
if you don't get the feedback, like how am I
supposed to? You know know, and and not even just
getting feedback, but like you know, digestible feedback that you
can like understand. I think having that level and I
think part of a good part of being like, you know,
being an ivy I think there's in general, at least
from players I've been around and talked with, Like, I
think there's more understanding sometimes with like looking at analytics

(36:34):
or you know, how to kind of approach uh stuff
with that. So it's you know, it's always just kind
of a difference with that last thing I want to
close out on because I just want to ask, because
I I mean, you have played, i mean not played,
coach and bet around some of my favorite offensive minds
and systems in the game, and I love what you
guys have been doing. Like going again, going back through

(36:54):
like watching kind of the end of IVY stuff, especially
into the tournament, I was like, Yeah, this offense is
really just and like, you know a lot of everybody
kind of being able to make a decision but also
play on and off the ball and just have that
flow and cohesion and you know, you can kind of
see some of the principles mixed in from being at
Princeton with Courtney and obviously you and see with Courtney too,

(37:15):
and then being it you know with Planet Creighton, like
and obviously you know your time with KBA. Like there's
just so much great stuff all mixed together. And I
was wondering how you kind of have to do sit
down to get to where you're at, because I really
like where it's at and where it's headed.

Speaker 2 (37:30):
Yeah, I think I've been able to kind of pull
from everybody that that I've had the opportunity to coach
under in terms of kind of where we're at offensively,
and we've even you know, tweaked some things, you know
heading into this year that I think a lot will
allow us to kind of play with you know, a
little bit more space, which I think will help us
with our our our roster in the areas of ways

(37:53):
that we can be a little bit more efficient from
from the field. But yeah, I think I've just always
been and especially at this level, right the mid major level,
it's like trying to find a style that you know
benefits you and the players that you have, but also
it's hard to play against if you're trying to be
you know, certain teams in your league, but also are
you you know, can we get a P four, P

(38:16):
five win, can we make a run in the NCAA tournament?
And what are ways that we can really help ourselves
in that way. So I think a lot of different styles,
but I think you know, five out four on one
is kind of you know, which I spent five years
at Creyton, so that was embedded in my head and
that way, and nobody runs it better than Flan does.

(38:37):
But I think the biggest thing I pulled from him
is that, you know, allow your players to have some freedom,
like teach him how to break it down and kind
of small sided games, but you know, really teach them
how to play the game and then allow them to
play the game. And I think even in our two
years that we've been here, we haven't quite gotten to
the overall freedom standpoint that I'd like us to get

(38:57):
to this year with the experience that we have, so
just really excited to kind of see, you know where
that can grow and yeah, how we can put it
all together. We've we've got some international pieces on our
team too, which is much different than a lot of
the teams that I've I've been an assistant for, So
I've really kind of grown to to liking that kind
of euro style, you know, kind of you know, uh

(39:19):
like middle of the flour quarterback type position where you
kind of point forward play through kind of point series
type stuff, you know, give and go zoom action you know,
I think that type of stuff has been really effective
for us, and we'll continue to try to grow it
as well, which we've seen has been very much you know,

(39:40):
replicated at the pro pro level. You watch a lot
of you know, you watch the Minnesota links, you watch
you know, the the Aces, you watch any of the
teams in the w n b A, and they're they're
playing very similar to to the themes in in which
we we teach every day with with our girls, which
you know, I think.

Speaker 3 (39:56):
Is is pretty cool.

Speaker 1 (39:57):
Yeah, No, absolutely, and I'm very excited to see more
of it. And then I guess, okay, just one smaller
question off that, because I love what you mentioned in
terms of playing you know, technically, like just in general,
smaller because you're at the mid major level, what is
the most key for you in getting the most out
of screens without having a true big because I think,
like obviously people think so much of screens like, oh,

(40:20):
it's got to be bone crunching it as much separation possible.
And I think part of what's been really fun about
the last couple of years is, like you mentioned, seeing
the teams in the w that have really gotten to
showcase like great guard screening and great screening that isn't
always you know, kind of what people think of it stereotypically,
but I do think there's a tendency where we can
see teams like, Okay, you know, if you don't really

(40:41):
set a screen, or you're not fully active in getting
the screen, it's just easy to switch it or say cool,
we don't really care that you're screening. So, like what
has been biggest in kind of reinforcing for you and
for your players to make sure that their screens matter
because I think like it's so easy to if you're not,
if you just go through the motion with screen doesn't
do anything right.

Speaker 2 (41:02):
But yeah, yeah, Also another another great one, Mark, I
think as we talk through you know, our screens, it's
it's about you know, I think you're trying to Those
are scoring screens. As much as we talk about scoring
cuts and you know, scoring footwork and things like that,
those are scoring screens. You're you're either getting someone else

(41:24):
open or you're putting yourself in a great position to
score off of that screen.

Speaker 3 (41:29):
Sometimes that screen might.

Speaker 2 (41:30):
Take two people with you or with your teammate, and
that leaves you wide open for you know, a dive
you know, or cut to the rim off of that.
So I think for us it's you know, it's also
just a variety of screens too. It's like yeah, yeah,
sometimes you're getting two feet set and you're holding your screen.

Speaker 3 (41:49):
But also sometimes it can be a.

Speaker 2 (41:50):
Blur or it could be a ghost, or you're just
getting us the mismatch that we want, right if teams
in our league especially are gonna switch a lot, right,
so sometimes it's about like, hey, just bring guy, I
don't care what position you are. You could be a
two guard, you could be our five player, but let's
get this switch so then we can get you know,
this mismatch on the ball and then spread out and
then play out of it. So I think it's it's

(42:11):
really just trying to to grow the you know, the
the understanding and kind of the the IQ of our
players to know how but also like when and why.

Speaker 1 (42:23):
Yeah, no, that's such a great point because like I
think even like you know, talking about the pro level,
like you know, talking to players on the aces, like
so much of what they do with screening is like
it's not coach directive, Like it's like, no, we just
know how to play with each other and right, that's
so hard to play against because okay, cool, if you
have somebody who if you just know personnel, which easier
said than done because you're on an IVY League course

(42:44):
a load, but like you know, being on top of Scott,
being on top of that, like you can really just
kind of destroy people with what you do in screening.
Because I love what you said, like there's just so
much more to a screen than just having you know
one or two types of ways to do it. So
I love that. I'm excited to see how that continues
to play out this year because Harmony is just special
with you know, coming out of ball screens. Yeah, but

(43:06):
that she is, Yeah, we'll carry it.

Speaker 2 (43:10):
No, I was just gonna say we it's funny every
year we start like with just like seeing and cuts
and like no ball screens.

Speaker 3 (43:16):
Right, yeah, and you know she, you know, she she.

Speaker 2 (43:20):
Stands out because she's she's obviously a really talented score.
But second you put in some type of ball screen,
she just completely separates herself from every other person on
the floor. And and we just did that last week
and it was the same exact way.

Speaker 3 (43:34):
I mean, she just immediately.

Speaker 2 (43:35):
Looks so much more dynamic and you know, has just
an ability that that everyone you know just doesn't have. Right,
It's just a thing where you can come off a
ball screen and see every you know, see every possibility,
and deliver it.

Speaker 3 (43:49):
The way that it needs to be delivered. So yeah,
great player.

Speaker 2 (43:53):
Hoping it's you know, her best year yet and you know,
leads us ultimately to our best year in a.

Speaker 3 (43:58):
Really long time.

Speaker 1 (43:59):
Yeah, her pacing coming out of experience is pretty special. Like,
I know, you guys did end up winning that game,
but the game against Baylor, I think that's like some
of the most trouble that anybody gave that team this year,
and they were really solid, really tough defensively. So yeah,
it's I'm excited for it. But Kerry, I really appreciate
your time. This was fantastic. I'm very excited to watch

(44:20):
you guys continue jelling this year and see what you
guys do to everyone listening. Of course, keep up with
all things Harvard women's basketball and IVY League. Gonna be
a great season, and most importantly, enjoy the rest of
your day. Thank you for listening.