The Duke Womens Basketball Head Coach and star athlete, who has covered the sports spectrum from playing for the U.S. National Team to coaching for the Boston Celtics to broadcasting for ESPN, recently gave her players a pep talk about handling the hard things in life. Tia is coming back to Durham, and we are clearly excited, said Lawson. And he continued to speak well of his then-assistant. Lawson has not been shy in praising her staff for the improvement of this team, especially during the offseason. For Duke women's basketball head coach Kara Lawson, if she and the rest of the coaching staff were going to implement a new defensive scheme for the 2022-23 season, they needed the. "We have concluded through our investigation that it was a men's ball," Lawson later added." The conference office considers this matter to be closed and will have no further comment.". "I think the world of Kara, Stevens said. Taylor is a highly skilled elite athlete with an incredibly high basketball IQ. Duke's vaunted defense held UNC to just 24% shooting and kept the Tar Heels scoreless over the game's last four minutes, allowing only four points in the fourth quarter. The independent news organization of Duke University. So that concept applies to everything., Lawson says that she and her coaching staff challenge their players. Finding the one that suited us best was a fun project in the preseason. New Duke women's basketball coach Kara Lawson announced the hiring of three assistants Friday, including longtime former Notre Dame assistant Beth Cunningham. You can have individually-talented people, but you must have a group that fits together. Now in the ACC its really hard and weve got to find a way to get our defensive numbers to hold steady versus great competition. Earlier in the fourth, Reigan Richardson's jumper off a Tar Heel turnover gave Duke the fourth tie of the period and then Elizabeth Balogun made a pair of free throws to give the Blue Devils a 42-40 lead with 1:58 remaining. Fast forward one year, and Duke is the No. Stevens made the decision to target Lawson as a member of his staff and was able to lure her out of the Wizards booth to begin her coaching career. View Full Bio. Assistant Coach. She developed a terrific relationship with the players on the team and as Weiss wrote, she was "missed greatly" after her departure. "She became more than just my shooting coach, she became a longtime friend and somebody I know I can talk to if I ever need advice, Smart said after Lawson was announced as Duke's next coach, per NBC Sports Boston. Her first season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Blue Devils posted a 3-1 record in the four games they played before opting to cancel the rest of their season. They're superwomen. Duke women's basketball coach Kara Lawson said the teams played with a men's basketball for the first half of a loss to Florida State on Sunday. Schmidt, Kara Amile Jefferson. Im always surprised. But Lawson is more inspired because everyone has something to face. Hopefully, you had a coach who motivated you along the way, says Lawson. From that standpoint, there is continual growth, and our kids are seeing it on their own. When McGraw retired in April, Cunningham was not retained by new coach Niele Ivey, who also had been on McGraw's staff from 2007 to 2019. Gandy helped the Owls to a 72-22 overall record and a 42-8 mark in Conference USA the past three seasons. twitter. We all need that. Jacob Camenker is a senior content producer at The Sporting News. I don't really believe in timelines because I think when you set them, you predestine yourself to meet the timeline, and never be ahead of it, she said Feb. 21. The senior guard from Valley Stream, N.Y., was tabbed ACC Defensive Player of . Richardson, Shayeann Winston is a rising star in the profession, said Lawson. Nevertheless, these both ended up as victories, because what has made this team so successful is that even when the offense is struggling, the defense does not skip a beat. The numbers were not favorable to finding wins, especially in the highly competitive ACC. Shes somebody who Im going to lean on a lot this year to help me with decisions., There are not many times in college athletics that you get a chance to return to a place that has been really unique and rewarding, especially for me, said Jackson. She is averaging 1.4 blocks per game, but its not her post-up defense the Blue Devils rely on. The Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (26-4, 18-0 Big South) host the UNC Asheville Bulldogs (12-18, 8-11 Big South) after Lauren Bevis scored 30 points in the Runnin' Bulldogs 83-59 victory over . Niele Ivey, Kara Lawson speak at ACC women's basketball media day. I am beyond enthusiastic about coming back to Duke. Kara Marie Lawson (born February 14, 1981) is the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils women's basketball team. Terms of Service It's a complete failure. She played 13 WNBA seasons and averaged 9.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while playing for the Monarchs, Sun and Mystics. Roughly three weeks after head coach Mike Krzyzewski said on a June 30 . If we just focus on the present moment and just continue to get better each day, we can get there.. The lethal combination of depth and aggressive defense is what really wears teams out, and Duke has won multiple games by effectively shutting down opposing offenses in the second half. Lawson said that, throughout the first half, Duke players were "complaining about the ball." 24, respectively), with Duke tied for the ACC's top spot with Notre Dame and Florida State one place behind. 4:21. Its not, We like this defensive set or this type of press, so well install that. You need to take a close look at the personnel involved. Gandy arrives from the Rice coaching staff, where he spent the last three seasons. So, if you look at our numbers from last year, we were a poor defensive team and that was my fault as a coach. Ultimately, the goal is to win a national championship and an ACC championship, said Taylor at ACC Tipoff. You could always kind of see that when she was playing and you could hear it when she was calling games, but to get a chance to live it every day, shes as good as there is. You want a group that is balanced and that will play off one another well. 2 seed. NC State lost 77-62. Something special is brewing in Durham in 2023 and its fun to watch. (But) you really have to have players who are willing to work that hard every possession. He's still a great mentor for meI talk to him weekly, Lawson said in a press conference last summer, per the Duke Chronicle. Duke assistant coach Beth Cunningham will be introduced as Missouri State's next head coach Thursday morning, per release . 8 Maryland. Cunningham, who also spent the eight years directly preceding her Duke tenure as an associate head coach at Notre Dame, fills the vacancy left by previous head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, who led the Bears to NCAA tournament appearances in two of her three years with the program, with the lone exclusion a result of the events COVID-19 cancelation. There are going to be some weaker defenders out there. The Blue Devils simply disrupt whatever offense is thrown at them. Shes in her forties and is a mom and trying to navigate it all. Virginia Tech . Lawson has long been involved with professional basketball. The Duke Blue Devils will try to extend their three-game winning streak when they face the Virginia Tech Hokies on Saturday night. The conference continues to prioritize and support our nearly 10,000 student-athletes in a world-class manner and conduct its 27 sponsored sports with the utmost integrity. In Duke's recent 77-62 victory over N.C. State, Taylor made numerous defensive plays, including a chase-down block on Wolfpack forward Mimi Collins and multiple deflections in the final two. Signup for our weekly newsletter. This is her first college coaching job, and she had previously said experience would be one of the biggest things she would look for in assistants. The job should be an attractive one considering that the team has high-end youngtalents including All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. What happens is you handle hard better.. Later that season on International Women's Day (March 8) in 2020, Stevens was asked his opinion of Lawson. Player of the Year: Elizabeth Kitley, Sr., C, Virginia Tech Defensive Player of the Year: Celeste Taylor, Sr., G, Duke Rookie of the Year: Ta'Niya Latson . TAYLOR'S VERSION: Taylor, Balogun lead Duke women's basketball to upset win at No. A self-proclaimed crazy dreamer of a person, Lawson offers a needed dose of positivity and motivation. It may only be July, but the early portion of Duke and head coach Kara Lawson's upcoming schedule is now clear. I don't know how, but [the video] hit a lot of people where they were. Duke women's basketball coach Joanne McCallie announced her resignation in a six-minute video posted to the program's social media accounts on Thursday. On Tuesday night against N.C. State, Duke added a 19th undefeated season in Cameron Indoor Stadium to the books. We're asking them to do things that they haven't done before, she says. A look at the 2021-22 Duke men's basketball coaching staff, assistant coaches, and head coach Mike Krzyzewski. It certainly seems that the two have a good relationship and Stevens thinks highly of Lawson. Down three with 15 seconds left, Fighting Irish junior guard Olivia Miles broke the Blue Devil press and drove down the court. I am ecstatic., Three assistants combine for 46 years experience, Duke Women's Basketball Coach Kara Lawson Introductory Press Conference. Women's Basketball - Duke University The official Women's Basketball page for the Duke University The official Women's Basketball page for the Duke University The official. Duke Women's Basketball Coach Kara Lawson. Duke allowed 62.2 points per game to rank eighth in the conference and 148th nationally, while its three-point field goal percentage was last in the league and 292nd in the nation. According to Jared Weiss of The Athletic, Lawson is a "prime candidate" to watch in the Celtics' coaching search. She leads the team and ranks fifth in the ACC in steals while also pacing Duke on offense with 12.9 points, 2.1 assists and 28.1 minutes played per game. The trio boasts a combined 46 years of collegiate coaching experience including one NCAA Championship, 17 NCAA Tournament selections and six NCAA Final Four appearances. While she was still playing, Lawson started a broadcast career and became the first woman to serve as a broadcast analyst for an NBA game. The North Carolina game Feb. 4 was no exception to that by a six-point margin . One of those options could be Kara Lawson. The women's athletic department . Sasha Richie is a Trinity senior and a sports managing editor of The Chronicle's 118th volume. "I'm not perfect, but I admit when I'm making a mistake, and the mistake was made here and it's a big one.". The presence of it often leads to success. If thats not life-stretching wisdom, we dont know what is. Shaffer, Jiselle Kara Lawson. MORE:Eight best Celtics coaching candidates to replace Brad Stevens. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Bollin, Imani That, of course, means that Boston is going to need a new coach. Thats our next challenge because they have slipped a little bit in league play.. To subscribe, join the Iron Dukes or call 336-831-0767. NC State women's basketball has become accustomed to success in the last few seasons. There is no additional information to display. UNC coach Courtney Banghart had no wins in the ACC Tournament before this season. Three of the most important decisions a head coach makes are in hiring assistant coaches, said Lawson. Then gosh darn January comes, and it doesn't settle. Full Schedule wbball Sat, Jan 28 Final James Madison 64 at Georgia State 72 wbball Thu, Feb 2 Final James Madison 72 at South Alabama 54 wbball Sat, Feb 4 Final James Madison 61 at Georgia Southern 72 wbball Thu, Feb 9 Final James Madison 65 vs Louisiana 59 wbball Sat, Feb 11 Final James Madison 70 vs Arkansas State 57 wbball Thu, Feb 16 Final Lange. That should at least put her on the radar as a potential option, especially if the team is looking to bring in someone who is already familiar with the roster. Then, at halftime, players voiced their concerns to the assistant coaches in the locker room. An instrumental part in helping the Duke women's basketball team boast one of the nation's top defenses throughout the season, Taylor leads the squad in total steals (58) and steals per game (2.0 . While NC State just recently began racking up ACC Tournament championships, the program had consistently been knocking at the door for years prior to its three-peat, finishing the regular season in the top-four of the conference each year since 2017. Every game against every team we play we emphasize defense, defense, defense, said Balogun after a Jan. 1 win against Louisville. R.A. LESLIE, By With the three-headed monster of Taylor, Brown and Balogun leading the charge, the Blue Devils have given opposing offenses fits all season and its never in the same way. To have this second coming and be under the leadership of Kara is even more gratifying. You have to have player buy-in to play good defense, said Lawson. In addition, assistant head coach Beth Cunningham moved on to a head coaching position, and Lawson filled her spot with a well-respected and experienced coach: Karen Lange. Slow offense has cost the team in multiple games, including its most recent loss to North Carolina. We need to be equipped to have the energy levels to handle hard., Senior editor Stacey Lindsay is a multimedia journalist. The players are fully bought into achieving success, and Lawson highlights that as the number one reason for this improvement. Editor's note: This story was updated the morning of Feb. 3 to include the statement from the ACC. OTL: Investigation underway at Duke (6:00) Outside the Lines discusses the investigation into Duke women's basketball head coach Joanne McCallie and her program for alleged mistreatment of players . Buoyed by the success theyve had, the players are raising their ability to play fluidly and adapt to any changes being thrown at them by an opponent. Powerful Stories. This is especially so for first-year students. They don't get affected on the defensive end when they're struggling offensively and that's something that happens to a lot of players, said Lawson after defeating Pittsburgh Feb. 2. Its you. Balogun, Taya . Lawson uses the example of being out of shape: If jogging a mile leaves you winded and tired, you may think I cant wait to get to two weeks, then it'll be easier. Since Lawson and her team started posting the videos of her team talks, the response has been positiveand huge. twitter. Lawson primarily played as a shooting guard.She won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in . The team is 23-1 when it keeps opponents under that number, with the lone loss coming 45-41 in Sundays regular-season finale to North Carolina. "Kara is always known for putting a smile on players' faces," center Robert Williams saidafter Lawson joined Duke, per Justin Leger of NBC Sports Boston. (Associate head coach) Winston (Gandy) referred to her several times this summer as the ambulance because last year she was going all over the place saving everybody. This Expert Has the Secret to Easing Your Mind, Still in the Game: New Campaign Starring Veteran Storytellers Challenges Hollywood to #RethinkAging. That is one stat that has progressed in a large way. The goal is to get [opponents] taking a contested shot, and one of them. Share and discuss 'We can get there': Inside Duke womens basketballs swift rise to ACC contention on social media. The man likely tasked with replacing the winningest college basketball coach ever is a former Duke player who moved to the Blue Devils' bench just eight years ago and was promoted to associate . Meet the Duke coach who reportedly is 'prime candidate' for Celtics job | Sporting News SAN NOP 5:00p -7.5 pts WAS UTA 6:00p -6.5 pts PHI NYK 9:00a -4 pts LAL DAL 11:30a -4.5 pts MIL BOS 2:00p. She is perhaps best known as the women's college basketball head coach of Duke University and The University of Texas. Beyond her work with Smart, Lawson left a lasting impression on Celtics players with her ability to connect with players. View Full Bio, Celeste A key member of the Blue Devils' coaching staff is headed elsewhere. Assistant Coach. Lawson got her start with the Celtics and served as an assistant during the 2019-20 season. I think our leadership vocally has improved drastically having been here last year and just hearing the difference in practice, Jackson said. We See You: Inspiring Women. Cunningham has nine years of experience as head coach at VCU. However, the team ignored the outside noise, staying focused on its goals and the task at hand. Duke's staff looks a lot different than it did just a month ago, when the Blue Devils bowed out of the Final Four and Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski's career came to an end. Dedicated to sharing the stories of Duke student-athletes, present and past, GoDuke The Magazine is published for Duke Athletics by LEARFIELD with editorial offices at 3100 Tower Blvd., Suite 404, Durham, NC 27707. Last season, Duke allowed 0.76 points per play, which was in the 65th percentile nationally, per Her Hoop Stats. The Celtics are starting a new era ahead of the 2021 NBA offseason. Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time. That run included a four-point play by Kelly, who led all scorers with nine points in the first half. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Tenacious defense and the full-court press has given opposing offenses nightmares, and Lawson has set out a clear philosophy that her team has embraced. And . Man, can [the staff] coach defense; they could play it as players and they can really coach it, said Lawson in a Jan. 17 availability. So, he understands the type of kids we want to recruit -- kids that have big dreams; kids that want to impact the world in a lot of ways and hes got a great feel for that. Fittingly, a defensive play ended UNC's chances when Reigan Richardson blocked a 3-point shot attempt by Kennedy Todd-Williams with 4 seconds on the clock and the Tar Heels trailing by three points. One, it takes a lot of energy. "The lack of accountability is striking. I struggle with this too, admits Lawson about facing lifes tough sides. Richardson, who was at the top of the press, sprinted all the way back down the court and stole Miles pass, clinching the Duke victory. Duke came in and held FGCU to five threes on 20 attempts, and 25 percent shooting from behind the arc. "This included discussion with all parties involved, including game officials, game administrators, table crew and both schools. Contact the Coaches; Recruit Info; Recruiting Questionnaire; Stats. Women's Basketball Coaching Staff. And as competition has ramped up so has the play and leadership on the defensive end by the Blue Devils. During our Sunday Paper editorial meeting this past week, we were all talking about Kara Lawson. She still does that for us, but luckily, I dont think she has to do that as much. Head Coach. Koabel, Kennedy Long-time GM Danny Ainge retired and coach Brad Stevens is replacinghim in the front office. Most people would think its because shes 6-6 and she gives you great size, Lange said. 2023 Duke Athletics. There is no additional information to display: The Duke women's basketball coaching staff, then led by head coach Joanne P. McCallie, helped her learn how things functioned within the Duke Athletics. Richardson had 10. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. The ACC Defensive Player of the Year has more than double the amount of steals of any other player on her team, and her sheer commitment to defense is what has impressed Lawson from the start. Ten players average double-digit minutes per game, and six of those are transfers or freshmen. Special Assistant to the Head Coach. Hes one of the finest player development coaches in the country; thats one of his superpowers. Kate Barnosky. Follow us on Twitter: DukeWBB & Instagram: dukewbb Follow one of the top Division I women's basketball teams in the nation at the official Facebook page of Duke women's basketball. It just wouldn't happen," she added. (Weve seen) some high-level decisions being made out on the floor.. Tia has so much experience and shes great at building relationships. I think we talk to them a lot about being connected, Lange said. The way I approached it was trying to find individually-talented coaches, similar to building a team. View Full Bio. Understandably, there was skepticism on whether the Blue Devils could perform at a high level during the conference slate, especially with the depth of the league this season. Duke has hired former Tennessee and WNBA guard Kara Lawson as its women's basketball coach, the school announced Saturday. It doesn't get shorter. "I wanted to appeal and protest the game. Women's basketball vs. Duke. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Moving You and Humanity Forward. But when ACC play hit, Duke could never find its footing. Also on the staff will be Tia Jackson, who previously was an assistant at Duke for Gail Goestenkors and has spent the last five years at Miami, and Winston Gandy, who has been at Rice for three seasons. Head coach Wes Moore and the Wolfpack huddle up during a timeout during the game against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Thursday. Jackson also went to the Women's Final Four as a player, with Iowa in 1993. The conference and Florida State is saying that it wasn't.". Because when you have those two things defensively, whatever theyre being taught, whatever were playing, whatever were doing it, only works from a defensive Xs and Os standpoint if were connected and were trusting each other.. 13 Duke Rallies for Ally ACC Tournament Quarterfinal Win Over North Carolina, No. "I am extremely excited to bring these three talented, skilled and . The Blue Devils and the Seminoles both entered Sunday's game in the top 25 nationally (No. Drink water. The team then alerted the scorers table of the incorrect ball. And thats what we have at Duke; we have kids who want to be great students and we have kids who want to be great basketball players. facebook It's an amazing life lesson and feeling when you do something you didn't think initially you could do. The conference would not allow me to do that," Lawson said. @Scalabrine explains why he thinks Kara Lawson is the best candidate for the Celtics' new head coach: She was giving people tips and people's jaws were dropping. Karen kind of runs our defense and she deserves a ton of credit for how our defense has changed.. Aside from her numbers, it is the little things that make Taylor invaluable to this group. "It's not one of those things where 'she's good for a female.' The story of Celeste for us is that if we need something done that's going to change the game from losing to winning, you put Celeste Taylor on the job. There is an urgency for helping the young women in our country become more powerful. Gandy, Karen Scott Merritt. ", You cannot sit here, no matter what you believe, what your politics are, and not recognize that this is urgent. For UNC, Deja Kelly led the way with 11 points. This doesnt change the mile. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Its really nice to say were going to play great defense. Signup for our weekly newsletter. In Dukes recent 77-62 victory over N.C. State, Taylor made numerous defensive plays, including a chase-down block on Wolfpack forward Mimi Collins and multiple deflections in the final two minutes of the first half, to swing the momentum onto the Blue Devils side. Tia Jackson. I think we achieved that. The official Women's Basketball Coach List for the Purdue University Boilermakers. If you really know anything about basketball and as youre watching Xs and Os, its all of her coverage and everything that doesnt involve the simple post-up defense. And she'd never lost to Duke. No, she walked into practice and she commanded practice right from the jump. Brown, Shay During Lawson's tenure, Smart shot 34.7 percent from beyond the arc, the second-highest mark of his career, while attempting a career-high 6.6 shots from 3-point range per game. I know the players respect her. If that was the recipe for success, the Blue Devils cooked it to perfection. That's what will ultimately matter during the hiring process. I'm really looking for improving defensive points per possession.. Assistant Coach. Kara Lawson huddles with her team during a December 2022 win at N.C. State before Duke cracked the AP Top 25. 6 N.C. State LOST IN THE FOREST: Shorthanded Duke men's basketball falls on the road to Wake Forest in return to . Women's Basketball 0:00. Duke women's basketball fell in its regular-season finale to rival North Carolina, breaking its season-long home win streak. And why did Lawson leave the Celtics? Its all the other movement defensively that were asking her to do at 6-6 and its super impressive that she can do it consistently well.. The bells rang out across Duke's campus at 5 p.m., chiming as if in celebration of Blue Devil senior Celeste Taylor. And that cares about you. This may be why people respond to her videos. The Chronicle also reached out Thursday night to a Florida State team spokesperson, who directed all media to the ACC's statement Friday morning. Jackson, Elizabeth Before we could ask her to coach us, Lawson did just that. Karen Lange joins Duke's coaching staff after the departure of Beth Cunningham. Senior forward Jada Boyd shoots the ball during the game against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Thursday. Duke announced its nonconference schedule for the 2022-23 season via release. Lawson, 39, had been an assistant with the Boston Celtics before taking . I think that her experience will be helpful for me in a lot of ways., I couldnt be more excited about the opportunity to work with Kara at Duke, said Cunningham. Who is the player of the year in every women's college basketball conference? Duke women's basketball head coach Kara Lawson announced Friday the hiring of Beth Cunningham, Winston Gandy and Tia Jackson as assistant coaches. On Dec. 21, 2021, the 16th-ranked Blue Devils routed Charleston Southern 78-35 to finish an impressive nonconference slate 9-1, the lone loss a single-digit defeat to future national champion South Carolina. Learn more at: www.staceyannlindsay.com. Lawson added that since Sunday's game, the ACC has instituted a rule change where players have to confirm the correct ball during the captain's meeting prior to tip. Its not always exactly right, but they give us tremendous effort, so I think the credit really goes to them for doing that and being willing to do that because its very hard.. Kara has proven that with everything that she has done. You're invited to join Maria Shriver's new membership program! I think they hire Kara Lawson. I don't know of a higher compliment you can give a player than that.. She's really excited to get going. A noticeable pickup in good chatter during practice followed by consistent play during the games this season has the Blue Devils sporting a 17-2 record (through Jan. 25) and holding opponents to just 50.9 points per game and 34.7 percent shooting both marks atop the league charts and in the top 10 nationally. In November 2022, all eyes turned to women's college basketball once again when nine Division I teams arrived at the high-profile Las Vegas Invitational to find they were set to play on a court haphazardly added to a hotel ballroom. The first half of Duke women's basketball's Sunday loss at Florida State was played with a men's ball, according to a closing statement made by head coach Kara Lawson in her postgame press conference Thursday evening following the Blue Devils' home win against Pittsburgh. Head Coach. Let's take a look. She pointed out that this was her first fully recruited freshman class, and the three freshmen added to the talent and depth of this team. She was in Australia coaching with USA Basketball during those months and credits the assistants for working closely with the players. Coach (Lawson) has said this in practices as well. She's elite at what she does. She can drop down low and guard a big or pop out to defend a guard or an athletic four. When Kara Lawson met with the media after being hired as Dukes womens basketball head coach, she said that the most important factor in choosing a staff would be experience.. 2023 Duke Athletics. Women's Power Rankings: Pac-12 teams, Maryland show their teeth. Following the thorough and objective review process, there was no evidence found to support the claim. Brown, in her first season at Duke after transferring from Oregon State, is a major disruptor around the basket standing at 6-foot-6.