Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Bonus "Coaches Series" Ep - Matthew Mitchell (UH WBB Head Coach) Interview
76 Plays13 days ago
Welcome to a bonus installment in our "Coaches Series" (episode #60) on the No Conference for Old Men Podcast - our very 1st WBB-focused episode!
All 3 Old Men had the privilege to sit down and chat with new WBB Head Coach Matthew Mitchell. Coach Mitchell was high energy, articulate, & super generous with his time for almost a full hour to describe what he envisions for our WBB program. We dive into coach's background, his journey into college coaching at Tennessee under the legendary Pat Summitt, & how he transformed Kentucky WBB into a juggernaut while he was head coach. We bring a depth and insight into Coach's background / perspective that you won't find anywhere else!
- No Conference for Old Men is available for free via Spotify / Apple Podcast / SoundCloud & the GoCoogs.com website; we're also available via the Republic of Football Podcast feed from the folks at Dave Campbell's Texas Football as their only basketball-centric offering
- Intro / Exit music: Ground Zero provided by FreeBeats.io
- Please follow us on https://gocoogs.com/old-men/
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction of Coach Matthew Mitchell
00:00:06
@NoConfForOldMen
Welcome, folks, to a bonus episode in our special off-season coaches series on the No Conference for Old Men podcast today, where the three old guys actually have a special guest and University of Houston women's basketball coach, Matthew Mitchell, joining us for a bit of Q&A.
00:00:19
@NoConfForOldMen
We've been focused men's basketball since our existence two seasons ago as Houston entered the Big 12, but with the excitement of Coach Mitchell's hiring for our women's basketball program, we've been duly motivated and driven towards publishing our very first women's basketball-focused episode.
Achievements and Philosophy
00:00:36
@NoConfForOldMen
For fans that may not know, and hopefully I get this right, Coach, Coach Matthew Mitchell was hired as Women's Head Coach at UH on March 27th, but Coach brings to the table a massively successful resume prior to joining the Cougars.
00:00:50
@NoConfForOldMen
We want to hear the journey directly from Coach, but before coming to Houston, Coach Mitchell had spent 13 seasons as Head Coach at Kentucky, where he won SEC Coach of the Year twice in 2010 and 2012. During Coach's time at Kentucky, they were a bit of a juggernaut making the NCAA tournament nine times, excluding the COVID season where they were sure to have made it a 10th time in 13 seasons.
00:01:13
@NoConfForOldMen
Of those nine tourney bids, Coach Mitchell was able to lead his team to the Sweet 16 five times and out of those trips, three runs to the Elite Eight. Part of that coach had spent two seasons turned around a downtrodden Moorhead State program in his first head coaching role. And before getting that first opportunity, Coach had come up through the ranks as a grad assistant at Tennessee before becoming an assistant coach at both Florida and Kentucky.
00:01:38
@NoConfForOldMen
Coach Mitchell also received his bachelor's degree from Mississippi State. Just a stellar, stellar background. And we're excited to have Coach join the UH program as well as our humble podcast.
00:01:49
@NoConfForOldMen
Welcome to the podcast, Coach, and thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule, especially with the season basically upon us.
Excitement for UH Opportunity
00:01:56
Coach Mitchell
Thank you, guys. I am so fired up to be at the University of Houston. So grateful to have the opportunity to to lead this women's basketball program. It's an immense opportunity and we are extremely excited. So glad to spend some time with you all. And I really appreciate you having me on.
00:02:17
@NoConfForOldMen
No, that's awesome. We're just super grateful for for you to join the program as well as the podcast.
00:02:22
.0Bill Walker
Absolutely.
00:02:23
@NoConfForOldMen
And we're excited to hear more about what you've got in store. So we've gathered some questions amongst ourselves and from listeners, but anything else you wanted to say before we kick things off and get into our questions?
00:02:36
Coach Mitchell
No, I'm looking forward to the questions. And, you know, we've we've we've gotten a lot done in a short period of time.
00:02:39
@NoConfForOldMen
All right.
00:02:44
Coach Mitchell
So there's plenty to talk about. I can promise you that.
Early Influences and Coaching Path
00:02:47
@NoConfForOldMen
Awesome. Awesome. So, you know, I started off and gave a highlight of your background, Coach, but maybe you could spend a few minutes providing listeners with your own perspective on your basketball and coaching journey, kind like, you know how you got interested in the profession itself in the first place. And really, how did you know it was the right path for you?
00:03:07
Coach Mitchell
Yeah, I was sort of meandering through life in my early 20s and didn't have a real great focus. so I was trying to have some success and, you know, i out of college with a degree and trying to make my way in the business world and just didn't feel very fulfilled.
00:03:23
Coach Mitchell
And I was so fortunate one Friday night, I went back to my high school and my my high school basketball coach was also the head of the school and such a huge influence in my life, Coach Farrell Rigby. And so,
00:03:35
Coach Mitchell
I was helping him. He's hardest working guy in education I've ever seen. And and he would clean up, he was cleaning up the football stadium.
00:03:40
@NoConfForOldMen
Nice.
00:03:42
Coach Mitchell
We were cleaning up the football stadium one Friday night. And I was just lamenting the fact that I was sort of spinning my wheels. And he said, some of the greatest words ever spoken to.
00:03:52
Coach Mitchell
He said, Matthew, always thought you'd be a good coach. Why don't you come out and help me this season?
00:03:54
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:03:56
Coach Mitchell
That was in 1994. And so that was 31 basketball seasons ago that he encouraged me to go down that path. And I can remember still 31 years later, I can remember the feeling I had once I got on a basketball court and had a chance to coach.
00:04:15
Coach Mitchell
And it just lit a fire inside of me, an insatiable desire to learn and to, you know, I thought I knew a lot about basketball because I was a decent player and really thought I was a better player than actually was, you know.
00:04:29
@NoConfForOldMen
Ha ha ha.
00:04:29
Coach Mitchell
so i but But I thought I knew a lot about the game. And and then I found out that that coaching so different than playing. And so my first four years coaching on the in the middle schools and and high schools and little bitty towns in Mississippi, where I'm from,
00:04:47
Coach Mitchell
Gosh, I can't tell you what a great foundation that was for me because I had to learn how to coach and how to make decisions under fire, how to develop players because we didn't have a lot of talented players. And so, you know, it doesn't matter what plays you call unless they can dribble it down the court. And and i tell the I tell young coaches this all the time. I'm so grateful for that time because it really also connected me to being in love with teaching.
00:05:14
Coach Mitchell
And so to this day, what we're trying to do with Houston and we're we're teaching every day, trying to help our players get ready for the season and to have success. But that was really formative for me. And so on that journey of of trying to learn and grow,
00:05:29
Coach Mitchell
I started going to camps in the summer just to be around college coaches and learn from them, make a few extra dollars. Money was tight back in those days.
00:05:37
@NoConfForOldMen
Nice. Yeah. Yeah.
00:05:39
Tom Lidiak
Mm-hmm.
00:05:39
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah yeah
00:05:39
Coach Mitchell
And so you could go learn and also get paid for working the camp.
00:05:42
Coach Mitchell
And so the great yeah the great opportunity that really
00:05:47
Coach Mitchell
gave me a path in college women's college basketball was I was fortunate enough to get involved at the Tennessee program, the great
Influences from Pat Summit
00:05:56
Coach Mitchell
Pat Summit. So in 1995, that summer, I started working for her.
00:06:03
Coach Mitchell
and Four summers later, she hired me as her graduate assistant. She could hire 10,000 people and probably 10 million people wanted the job. And, you know, it's just one of those blessings in life that I got an opportunity.
00:06:10
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, absolutely.
00:06:14
Coach Mitchell
And she saw something in me and gave me the chance to be and work for the one of the truly great coaches of any sport of of all time.
00:06:21
@NoConfForOldMen
absolutely
00:06:22
Coach Mitchell
And so that that had me off and running. And. those foundational moments stay with me today and and have have impacted my journey in a really significant way.
00:06:33
@NoConfForOldMen
Hey Tom, you had some questions right around,
00:06:37
Tom Lidiak
Sure.
00:06:38
Tom Lidiak
Speaking of coach Pat summit, you know, I was listening to the interview the other day and you talked about being aggressive on defense and, and pressuring the ball. Yeah. could yeah Are there some coaches besides Coach Summit where you get some of your ideas defensively from?
00:06:54
Tom Lidiak
You don't see a whole lot of pressure man-to-man in the men's game. you know it's more It's more pack line or or something similar to that.
00:07:01
Coach Mitchell
Yeah.
00:07:03
Tom Lidiak
But I was excited when you you were talking about your defensive philosophy to be disruptive, chaotic,
00:07:09
Coach Mitchell
Yeah.
00:07:13
Tom Lidiak
So could you explain a little bit more where your defensive philosophy came from? Maybe some coaches that you coached under in the past or or studied?
Defensive and Offensive Strategies
00:07:21
Coach Mitchell
Well, you know, going back to my days of learning as a high school coach, learned from a lot of hall of fame high school coaches in Mississippi that, that were very principled in, in, uh, pressure defense.
00:07:36
Coach Mitchell
So that helped. I taught a bunch of defensive stations at camp about, you know, pressure on the ball, one pass away, you deny two passes away, you help. And so it's funny now,
00:07:51
Coach Mitchell
how we try to, we're we're teaching the Cougs right now. We call it camp defense. It's pressure on the ball. And we have a way of of teaching that. And we we we really break it down and pay attention to the details. And then we're one pass away, we're denying and two passes away, we're helping. And so the way I came, with the way I found this was really courtesy of Coach Summit because Coach Summit had had had done some of that
00:08:19
Coach Mitchell
certainly in her career, but she had gotten to a point by the time I was working for her that she really had the most talented team. And so they could kind of do, what they they could they could pretty much adjust to any kind of style and they could overpower you with talent.
00:08:32
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:08:34
Coach Mitchell
Well, I was thinking, you know, hot shot young coach at Kentucky, I was going to set the world on fire. And let me tell you, it was the though what was what was in flames was my career.
00:08:38
Tom Lidiak
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:08:42
Coach Mitchell
I was about to go down the drain because i was trying to I was trying to do what Coach Summit did and I didn't have the talent to do it.
00:08:42
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:08:50
Coach Mitchell
And we were very mediocre. We were 33 and 32 after our my first two years at Kentucky had not been the NCAA tournament, picked 10th in the conference out of 12 teams.
00:09:03
Coach Mitchell
And so I roll into my third season and still just you know thinking we're going to do it a traditional way. And we lose our first scrimmage that season to Ohio University.
00:09:12
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:09:15
Coach Mitchell
and So not Ohio State University, but Ohio University, which no offense to the Bobcats, but you know the University Kentucky is supposed to beat Ohio University and they smacked us around that day.
00:09:16
@NoConfForOldMen
Right. Right.
00:09:24
Tom Lidiak
Mm-hmm.
00:09:24
@NoConfForOldMen
aye
00:09:27
Coach Mitchell
And so I really, my back's against the wall and I just said, look, we're we're not very big, but we do have some quickness and some speed.
00:09:35
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:09:36
Coach Mitchell
So we're just going to play some camp defense here. And at least we're going to go down. If we go down, we're going to go down swinging and we're going to get after it.
00:09:42
@NoConfForOldMen
swing and Yeah.
00:09:43
Coach Mitchell
And that was really kind of all that. That was really how it started. And then, know, we just started having success with it. And so that season we went from pick 10th to finish second and had Tennessee on the ropes in Knoxville. And, you know, we we kind of created some confidence in us that we could employ this style. And I loved I felt comfortable coaching it. I believe in it. I believe you can do it.
00:10:11
Coach Mitchell
I believe that you can combat size and talent with with speed and skill and precision and and and playing together as a team. The sum's greater than the parts.
00:10:21
Coach Mitchell
And, you know, we had a heck of a run there. Won an SEC championship and, you know, a game away from the final four three times and 303 victories.
00:10:25
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:10:31
Coach Mitchell
And so it's what I know. It's what I believe in. it And I think we've built a team that can give us a chance to have a very successful season and and make some progress here as we lay the foundation of a program that we know without a doubt can have sustained success. And that's what we're looking for. We just have had a few pockets of success in women's basketball and really no sustained success.
00:10:57
Coach Mitchell
And that's what the university deserves.
00:10:57
@NoConfForOldMen
Love
00:10:59
Coach Mitchell
That's what our fans deserve. That's what's possible. And that's what we're going to do. And until they prove me wrong, we're going to try to do it with this pressure philosophy.
00:11:10
@NoConfForOldMen
love it
00:11:11
Coach Mitchell
And we think it's a lot of fun to play. It's hard to it's hard to get prepared to play. But our players have given just everything that they could up to this point. I'm so so proud of them. So I tell them every day they've got to believe in themselves. I just know that they can have success with this style.
00:11:31
Tom Lidiak
Yeah, Coach, I love that pressure, man. I think the last team I saw using was Brad Underwood when he was at Stephen F. Austin. And, you know, then he got some, you know, higher higher jobs or whatever.
00:11:42
Tom Lidiak
And and he he kind of he went away from that.
00:11:43
Coach Mitchell
yeah
00:11:45
Tom Lidiak
But you talked about defense now offensively. Who are some of your influences? And could you describe your your style once again in the interview? I heard the the young ladies talk about playing with pace, you know pushing the ball up. Could you go into a little more detail on your offensive philosophy, how transition break, and then and then what what you flow into next?
00:12:11
Coach Mitchell
Yeah, I learned so much about offense early in my career when I had the good fortune of being at University of Florida. 25 25 years ago, as an assistant on the women's team, Billy Donovan was the head coach on the men's side.
00:12:29
Coach Mitchell
And back before the days of where we had something like the GVL and fancy practice facilities and fancy locker rooms and and all of the the great benefits we have now,
00:12:41
Coach Mitchell
You just had a men you had a men's staff locker room and a women's staff locker room. And so I was in there with Billy Donovan and all the guys, you know, when we would be getting ready for practice. And they really took me under my wing, to under his wing, Billy, so generous from the get-go.
00:12:52
Tom Lidiak
Thank
00:12:57
Coach Mitchell
And so he's been a huge offensive influence. He's really, really great at all phases of the game. But he he taught me a lot about offense, developed a lot of my philosophies,
00:13:10
Coach Mitchell
My first, the the head coach at Kentucky was Pat Summitt's top assistant. So she got the Kentucky job. So that's how I got there first was as an assistant, Mickey DeMoss.
00:13:24
Coach Mitchell
she had a great offensive mind, learned a tremendous thing, a tremendous amount about matchups and trying to take advantage of, of matchups on the floor and, and really identifying who needed the ball at certain times. So she was,
00:13:39
Coach Mitchell
She was a great mentor to me. And then finally, Hall of Fame coach, Lynn Dunn. She won a world championship with the Indiana Fever and went to a final four with Purdue.
00:13:49
@NoConfForOldMen
Mm-hmm.
00:13:50
Coach Mitchell
And so she's still in the Indiana Fever organization and drafted Caitlin Clark and is just a great basketball mind, but learned a ton of offense from her as well.
00:14:03
Coach Mitchell
And so they've all influenced me. And then our style of play. I've tried to seek out people that push tempo and have learned and taken taken pieces. And so we are trying to, the philosophy on offense is we're trying to shoot a layup every possession. And so what that means is we're exploring and we're attacking.
00:14:24
Coach Mitchell
And until somebody stops you, you you go to the basket.
00:14:27
Tom Lidiak
Thank you.
00:14:27
Coach Mitchell
And so over over time, we've been able to evolve and get that into a a system. So if we could shoot 50 layups and score 100 points, we'll do it. well We would do it every game. Of course, that's you know not realistic.
00:14:37
@NoConfForOldMen
Nice.
00:14:38
Coach Mitchell
But but the mentality is what you have to build and they have to have that mentality. So once we get into that spot, We've worked hard. I've learned a lot of my time away from college basketball, really got to study, got to go up to Chicago, spend time with Billy, have been able to observe. And so we're we're we're working some innovative actions as far as spreading the floor.
00:15:02
Coach Mitchell
We're not going to be a pounded inside power post presence.
00:15:05
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:15:05
Coach Mitchell
We have really mobile and skilled post players that can lift up out of the low post, get into the high post, spread the floor, put some pressure on the defense there. And then, of course, every now and then you have to set it up. You know, you have to be organized and and the coach has got to, you know, step in and make some decisions.
00:15:23
Coach Mitchell
And so we're able to do that. So it takes a lot of time and the players have to work hard and pay attention. But we, through repetition, we're starting to see the offense take shape. And I think we recruited the right type of personnel to accomplish what our goals are philosophically with our offense.
00:15:45
Tom Lidiak
Super.
00:15:46
Coach Mitchell
and raise i think I think the message I would have to the fans is that it is an entertaining style of basketball.
00:15:47
@NoConfForOldMen
Okay. Yeah.
00:15:53
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:15:53
Coach Mitchell
We are trying to score a bunch of points. We're trying to turn people over. One of the biggest one of the biggest stats for us, and i'm not I'm trying to learn more and more as as analytics evolve, but but one analytic that we've always – tried to hang our hat on his turnover margin.
00:16:11
Coach Mitchell
So we're going to try to create more opportunities, deny the opponent opportunities to score.
00:16:12
@NoConfForOldMen
and
00:16:18
Coach Mitchell
And it's a great it's a great formula. And so for many years, the the the last of our our last eight years,
00:16:27
Coach Mitchell
seven of those last eight years, we were in the top five in the country and in power conference. you know power So our our stats in the SEC, we're top five in the country in turnover margins. So getting in the plus eight to 10 is, you know some of our great teams had plus 10. And it's just, it's hard on the opponent when when when you have 10 more possessions than they have. And and and and And so the whole thing comes together offensively and defensively to be fun, exciting, fast paced. And I think it's going to be entertaining for all of the Coug nation.
00:17:04
@NoConfForOldMen
Okay.
00:17:05
Tom Lidiak
Exactly.
00:17:05
.0Bill Walker
Nice.
00:17:05
@NoConfForOldMen
Well, so since we're talking about coaching styles, we kind of jumped to
00:17:05
Tom Lidiak
Yep.
Adjusting Strategies to Officiating Changes
00:17:11
@NoConfForOldMen
this area.
00:17:12
@NoConfForOldMen
I'll finish off with one more question here and then Bill can, I know Bill's got some questions around kind of the the opportunity here that that's in front of us at U of H, but
00:17:21
Coach Mitchell
Thank you.
00:17:23
@NoConfForOldMen
You know, when we looked at your background yeah and you kind of highlighted this at the media a day yesterday where, you know, kind of your basketball beliefs and your non-negotiables are focused around honesty, hard work and discipline.
00:17:38
@NoConfForOldMen
And we've seen what you had done at Kentucky as well in terms of what I think you guys were calling it 40 minutes of dread. And it sounds like just based on our our discussions right now, that's still your preferred style of play.
00:17:51
@NoConfForOldMen
However, we also read you know in Back in 21, in the Lexington Herald-Leader interview that you had, you had actually stated that officiating changes put in place heading into the 2013-14 season that focused on freedom of movement made it hard for you to continue with that style of play with 40 Minutes of Dread.
00:18:11
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. And you actually even referenced kind of that that change in yesterday's chat with the media. And I guess the question is, do you still believe that to be the case?
00:18:23
@NoConfForOldMen
Because I'd say, you know, as time has passed, we've we've seen certainly on our men's basketball side that a very physical defense can still thrive in today's game.
00:18:31
Coach Mitchell
yeah
00:18:32
@NoConfForOldMen
So it has your your thought changed where you believe you can still be still play that that fast-paced pressing defense?
00:18:39
Coach Mitchell
Yeah, the the rule the rule changed. So it's it's very advantageous. And so what the what what really, which I thought was a difficult rule change was was you know, you had one touch and if there was more contact after that, it was an automatic foul.
00:19:02
Coach Mitchell
And so that was where the, it really, it really,
00:19:07
Coach Mitchell
caused us to pay more attention to detail and and and and to make some adjustments. But now that they have changed it back to, you know, there's a clear foul that there's two hands on at one time.
00:19:18
Coach Mitchell
But but now, as long as you're playing and you're not impeding movement, but there's some there's some contact there, it's it's no longer the second touch is an automatic foul.
00:19:22
@NoConfForOldMen
decision. Yeah.
00:19:30
Coach Mitchell
so So we never... the the This is what I had to have to teach the players and I'll also tell the fans, we don't want to foul.
00:19:41
Coach Mitchell
So we don't want to, we don't want it to be a, you know, kind of a street brawl or anything and, and and and you know, fouling because that slows the game down.
00:19:47
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:19:51
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:19:52
Coach Mitchell
We want to guard legally. And and and so ours is very specific. We're an arm length away where you can almost touch and you're putting pressure. And so we we have a very clear system on how to to guard with pressure without fouling.
00:20:08
Coach Mitchell
And so I'm very optimistic that we, no matter what adjustments we have to make, and and and that's one of the things that that we try to teach them in life lessons is there's volatility life, you know, and we sometimes will have one plan and we have to make some adjustments, but the philosophy will be attacking.
00:20:22
@NoConfForOldMen
Yep.
00:20:29
Coach Mitchell
It will be speed is is a premium. We have great positional speed on our team right now. And also, you don't have to be the fastest, you know, line up and run a straight ahead race with someone and be faster than her.
00:20:49
Coach Mitchell
You over the course of the 40 minutes, you have to win more races to the basket and back to your basket than she does. And so stamina and conditioning comes into, know,
00:21:01
Coach Mitchell
the the the The equation and and like I tell our players, you don't have to be faster than her one time, you have to be faster than her over the course of the game and you win more races than than she does.
00:21:10
@NoConfForOldMen
Yep.
00:21:13
Coach Mitchell
That's where the speed comes into play.
00:21:16
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, no, that's great.
00:21:18
.0Bill Walker
Got it. Uh, well, coach, I, I've got a little bit more of, I guess, a macro question and, uh, uh, yeah, maybe, maybe it was more, more of an introductory question, but, uh, uh, uh, kind of a three-parter, uh, A, why Houston, why U of H, uh, B, know, what, what, uh,
00:21:43
.0Bill Walker
What excited you about coming
Why Choose University of Houston?
00:21:44
.0Bill Walker
here? What excites you? And this is this is you know before you took the job. what what What really drew you to U of H?
00:21:52
.0Bill Walker
And then three, and and I imagine it it's maybe similar to to Kentucky where you went into a program that hadn't had a lot of success and and then and that built phenomenal success.
00:22:08
.0Bill Walker
what what What challenges did you seek? coming to the yeah U of H program.
00:22:15
Coach Mitchell
Well, number one, why Houston is, as as we made a concerted effort, my fan it was really a family decision to to return to the game.
00:22:26
Coach Mitchell
I'd had of some success and was having success coaching in the corporate world. I'd written a couple of books. I was speaking all over the country.
00:22:35
.0Bill Walker
Mm-hmm.
00:22:37
Coach Mitchell
I traveled a great distance from the creation of the company to where we were operating at the time. and but,
00:22:47
Coach Mitchell
you know, my wife just always said, listen, I just, I just believe the best thing that you do is to help young people and help young people learn through the game of basketball. And I just don't want you to give up on that. And she felt like I'd made a lot of strides in my own personal leadership. And so she, she and my family, we really talked about it and decided we were going to make a concerted effort to return to college basketball. So you're,
00:23:16
Coach Mitchell
you're wondering if if somebody's gonna give you a chance after being out for four years. And yeah,
00:23:22
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:23:23
Coach Mitchell
and so I was pleasantly surprised that people were interested. I think me staying active in the leadership space and people could see that I was you know still growing. And you know retirement was probably the wrong word that I used. I was trying to give the program at Kentucky some space to to I didn't want it looming that I was staying there in town. and and And so it's a good lesson on being careful with your words because retirement probably was the wrong word, just stepping away and and seeing where life took you.
00:23:53
Coach Mitchell
but But as interest started to develop, you know I was talking to a lot of people about what were the changes since I had been in previously. And the the really the first thing that that stood out to me was Eddie Nunez and his vision for what Houston athletics could be.
00:24:20
Coach Mitchell
his his ability to articulate how important it was for women's basketball to be in that equation.
00:24:27
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:24:28
Coach Mitchell
And he really made me believe that he cared. And i just got to tell you that you you benefit from a leader like that who can who can tell who you can sense,
00:24:31
.0Bill Walker
Mm-hmm.
00:24:41
Coach Mitchell
cares about it and And and and so so that was really why i got interested in it. So then that second part of what I was able to see was the the more I looked into it,
00:24:59
Coach Mitchell
the the the universities that are really high level. So that's one piece that you need to attract student athletes. And I'm telling you now, and this everybody's up in arms about the new era and NIL and transfer portal and all those things.
00:25:13
Coach Mitchell
i think it's I think it's important. I think we should have been doing that before, but it's important now you're recruiting every day. You're creating an environment that's attractive for a player to stay. And and I have no illusions that we'll be 100% on retention, but I'm telling you now, think having I think still being able to find those student athletes that are preparing for life and and and don't view it just as a professional opportunity, but know that the education has some value. I think it's so important to have a university that you can really look to that has some standing and and can can elevate people academically. So that that was a piece, the the success men's basketball was having.
00:25:55
Coach Mitchell
And I would never in a million years try to compare myself to Coach Sampson. I think he's one of the great coaches of all time. And if I could just... you know learn anything from him is going to be a bonus because he is he is such a great coach.
00:26:10
Coach Mitchell
But it does inspire you and it does make you believe that if you get in and do the job that it's possible. And I really had followed him before I even knew that I could come to Houston.
00:26:21
Coach Mitchell
I'd been following him since Oklahoma and and at every step of his career, he'd been someone I looked up to.
00:26:24
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:26:28
Coach Mitchell
And I started just reading about what he was able to do and how he was able to elevate things just through his leadership and his belief and his vision. So that gave you another indicator that that it it's possible.
00:26:41
Coach Mitchell
And then the final and most important thing, is I believe Houston's a special place as a city. I believe Houstonians are really proud to be in Houston.
00:26:54
Coach Mitchell
And that's gonna help us because we have access to some of the best players in the country right in the world, women's basketball players right here in the greater Houston area.
00:27:07
Coach Mitchell
And I've already tell you, I would come down here. i got a good player out of Houston. So I've been doing that for a long time. And so now when I think about, I don't have to hop on a plane and go recruiting. I can just drive.
00:27:19
Coach Mitchell
And if I have to sit in traffic a little bit, that's better than having to lay over on a plane flight. But I mean, I can get to so so many gyms. You have no idea. Three of our...
00:27:30
Coach Mitchell
we have six players on the roster who are from the greater Houston area right now. And the ability to recruit in the, in the city, I think is an incredible benefit because I think there's so many kids that are proud to be from Houston and we give them and a good option to stay home. I think it's going to be parts of of us to, to really have success. So yeah,
00:27:56
Coach Mitchell
the those are those are the things that really drew me here. And my belief is, in that last part, my belief is the the opportunity really comes down to strong leadership.
00:28:10
Coach Mitchell
and And I feel like we have a strong system to to develop a program. We know who we wanna be. We know what we're teaching. We know what we want this opportunity. We know how we want this to impact a young woman. And and so our goal is to build through high school players, good high school players,
00:28:34
Coach Mitchell
find people that fit us and can supplement the program through the transfer portal, but really try to build a stable women's basketball program where year after year you can see the development.
00:28:45
Coach Mitchell
And I think because of our our ability to explain what we're about and live who we are, that's going to be the the the part that can get us over the top and and gives me so much optimism for the future.
00:28:46
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:29:03
.0Bill Walker
Gotcha. what Yeah, that sounds great. Steve, you want me to continue on?
00:29:10
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah Why don't we talk about this upcoming season?
00:29:12
.0Bill Walker
Okay. Yeah, yeah.
00:29:14
@NoConfForOldMen
I forgot some questions there.
00:29:14
.0Bill Walker
Looking forward to the upcoming season. I know you you and you've got three,
Recruitment and Team Building
00:29:20
.0Bill Walker
if I'm not mistaken, and correct me if I'm wrong, three three returning players.
00:29:20
Coach Mitchell
Thank you.
00:29:25
.0Bill Walker
Yeah. you know some of which were recruited by the previous regime. And I think, if I'm not mistaken, seven transfers that that that you and your staff have brought in. And and I'm curious to know, how our how are the players adjusting this offseason to your expectations? And yeah know those that follow the the women's program know of Kiera Merchant's contributions. And and and yeah you brought in
00:29:56
.0Bill Walker
as like I said, the transfers, TK Pitts, Myra Abdurrahim, to speak with the media yesterday. But who else of the new players have have stood out so far?
00:30:09
Coach Mitchell
Well, the first thing I want to say is that you guys have said this is just a humble podcast that, you know, you don't know what you're doing.
00:30:15
@NoConfForOldMen
Ha ha ha
00:30:17
Coach Mitchell
The the research is amazing. The research is stellar.
00:30:19
@NoConfForOldMen
ha. Ha ha ha.
00:30:22
Coach Mitchell
I mean, there's been no mistakes in the research and I am so impressed.
00:30:24
@NoConfForOldMen
Ha ha ha.
00:30:26
Coach Mitchell
And so I feel like you guys were giving me the old okey-doke here before we got on.
00:30:30
@NoConfForOldMen
Ha ha ha.
00:30:31
Tom Lidiak
Coach, and no I even know about your singing abilities, you and Mike Neighbors.
00:30:31
Coach Mitchell
I mean, you guys.
00:30:32
.0Bill Walker
Well...
00:30:34
@NoConfForOldMen
Ha ha ha.
00:30:34
Tom Lidiak
I came across that one too.
00:30:36
Coach Mitchell
There's nowhere to hide on this podcast.
00:30:38
Tom Lidiak
but
00:30:39
Coach Mitchell
So, you know, it is, it's been such an amazing experience putting the roster together.
00:30:47
Coach Mitchell
I've never done it before. I've never, the last time I coached a brand new team was my first year Warhead State.
00:30:48
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, like this.
00:30:57
Coach Mitchell
And, you know, back in those days, you inherited a roster you know, You know, it was going to take you that first year.
00:31:04
@NoConfForOldMen
Yep.
00:31:05
Coach Mitchell
there was that you you've You ended up with what you had there and and you made the best of it.
00:31:09
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:31:11
Coach Mitchell
And so we didn't inherit any roster. And so I said, we have a major problem here. We only have three players, so so we can't really take the four. So we got to sign at least two.
00:31:19
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:31:35
Coach Mitchell
Summer and Kateri had both transferred in last year.
00:31:40
@NoConfForOldMen
right.
00:31:40
Coach Mitchell
Kateri, unfortunately for her, Fortunately for us, had to sit out last year, which would have been her final year of eligibility. But ACL tear is a tough, tough injury to bounce back from.
00:31:55
Coach Mitchell
She's worked really hard and continues to try to get back to full speed. But she's never taken the floor yet for for Houston.
00:32:01
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:32:02
Coach Mitchell
So so those three hung in here with us. We were. Very fortunate. i I want to compliment Coach Huey and the the previous staff. We had two freshmen committed.
00:32:16
Coach Mitchell
Kayla King from San Antonio, Jay Jones from West Palm Beach, that their family was was gracious enough to give me an opportunity to get to know them and talk to them.
00:32:26
Coach Mitchell
They stayed, so they could have gone anywhere. They could have bounced to another you know situation that was maybe more certain. They did not, and we will benefit from that. They're going to be great Cougs. They're going to be kids that that I believe are going to be foundational pieces of what we accomplish over the the next few years.
00:32:43
@NoConfForOldMen
Nice.
00:32:44
Coach Mitchell
So that was kind of our start. And so then we added one more freshman late in the proceedings, Gemma Hunter from Australia.
00:32:52
@NoConfForOldMen
Yep.
00:32:54
Coach Mitchell
And then the rest were in the transfer portal. And that was that was blazing speed. That was we had, I think, you know, 14 visits in about 30 days. It was, I mean, I just still don't know how we do it.
00:33:04
@NoConfForOldMen
Oh, wow.
00:33:06
Coach Mitchell
We, we, but we hit, we hit 500. We would get paid a lot of money if we were major league baseball hitters.
00:33:12
@NoConfForOldMen
Ha ha ha.
00:33:13
Coach Mitchell
We got seven, seven players that decided to join us out of 14 visits.
00:33:16
.0Bill Walker
you
00:33:19
Coach Mitchell
And it was a lot of hard work, but, we We, you know, some Houston, some kids from Houston came back. Bree Pegaro from Troy is very exciting point guard and on ball defender. And so she's really done a great job.
00:33:39
Coach Mitchell
The other players from Houston, Kendall Hunter from Houston, Jordan Ross from Houston, Amani Bartlett from from Cleveland, they,
00:33:42
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:33:50
Coach Mitchell
you know, we're really excited to be able to come back and play in front of their, their families and, and, and people in Houston, I think are excited about this sort of Houston centric piece that we have to the roster. And so i think that's given us a big boost.
00:34:10
Coach Mitchell
Amira and TK, who you heard from yesterday, they, they had played together at SMU and knew each other and, and are are just off to a great start and I think going to be real consequential players for us. But, you know, we we just the players are working hard at it and you can start to see it take shape and it's very exciting. And it's like I told, said earlier, they just, they just need to believe that they have enough. We don't have to have the most talent. We just have to have enough talent. And then we have to come together and be a really strong team.
00:34:49
Coach Mitchell
And I like our chances of being able to make that happen. It's not going to be easy. It's not smooth sailing.
00:34:53
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah Hey coach, so I wanted to actually zero in on one other name on the the roster.
00:34:54
Coach Mitchell
There's nothing guaranteed. We have to go out and earn it. But I'm really appreciative to this group of 13 you know have have been able to to form this version of the kooks
00:35:13
@NoConfForOldMen
And it was one of your transfer recruits that caught my eye when it was announced and it was, hopefully I don't butcher the name, Shantaria Anumale, since she's coming in as a sophomore.
00:35:22
Coach Mitchell
yes yes
00:35:25
@NoConfForOldMen
So it's almost like a freshman. You've got three three years, right, with her coming on board.
00:35:30
Coach Mitchell
yes
00:35:31
@NoConfForOldMen
And she had done some great things and at St. Louis as well as a true freshman. And so just trying to to figure out how she fits in with it. Obviously, when you're recruiting someone like that as a sophomore, it's it's a longer play as well because you yeah because you see something there.
00:35:44
Coach Mitchell
Yeah.
00:35:47
@NoConfForOldMen
So maybe you could spend a little bit talking about her.
00:35:48
Coach Mitchell
Yeah. Thank you so much for mentioning her because she is a great example of someone who from Houston,
00:36:00
Coach Mitchell
Happy to come back and be able to play in front of her family. And she is a player that you just have seen from day one. you look at what she's done, what she was on day one to now, you know, we're in this four, four and a half months together and you can just start to see what she can become. She has been so consistent in practice.
00:36:23
Coach Mitchell
And she may be one of the players that's come the farthest since she arrived. And I have a lot of confidence that she's going to be an important contributor to this team. And then as we go forward, so that that she's an example of what we hope we can build here.
00:36:39
Coach Mitchell
We hope that, and we believe that Sean won't have to transfer again, that she'll be able to find everything that she needs in our program as a student at the great university we have as a player.
00:36:45
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:36:52
Coach Mitchell
She is has caught on and she's bought into the style and she's in the right place at the right time and she's maximizing her ability. And then as someone who can make an impact in the city of Houston and it's it's the it's She's one of the city's own. And so think she's a great example of what we can accomplish here. I'm so excited to see her continue to develop, but she is, she's standing out in practice doing some really good things.
00:37:21
.0Bill Walker
That's great. Steve, you want to continue on with the with the recruiting or, or I can take it whatever, whatever you like yeah to, to give, to, to give some credit coach Steve, Steve is, is the Steve, Steve's the, the key researcher here.
00:37:29
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:37:40
Coach Mitchell
Okay, we're gonna get Steve the credit.
00:37:40
.0Bill Walker
So i I've, I've, I've,
00:37:41
Tom Lidiak
Thank you.
00:37:42
Coach Mitchell
I like that. I see him a good teammate.
00:37:45
@NoConfForOldMen
I'm retired.
00:37:45
Coach Mitchell
like that.
00:37:46
@NoConfForOldMen
I'm retired. So I got time on my hands.
00:37:47
.0Bill Walker
I might, yeah, I might be asking some damn good questions, but I'm being fed a lot of good information from Steve.
00:37:56
@NoConfForOldMen
No, it's a team effort. It's a team effort.
00:37:57
Coach Mitchell
That's great. I love it.
00:37:59
@NoConfForOldMen
I mean, so so I'll kick this one off. I mean, obviously, and we've touched on it, recruiting and player retention is the lifeblood of the program.
00:38:06
Coach Mitchell
Yeah.
00:38:06
@NoConfForOldMen
And you've highlighted as well that high school recruiting, you certainly moving forward is going to be a major focus in terms of getting kids into the program.
00:38:18
@NoConfForOldMen
And I know, you know, coaches and Coach Sampson says this all the time. It's like, hey, Never focused on recruiting stars and all that. It's focused on the players and you're your own a kind of view of the kids.
00:38:31
@NoConfForOldMen
But maybe you can speak a little bit around the traits that you tend to focus on with recruits as you start attending the camps.
00:38:34
Coach Mitchell
yeah Yeah. And so, listen, that's I think why I've always admired Coach Sampson, because drawn to his his coaching ethos and and and and his outlook on what this is supposed to be.
00:38:53
Coach Mitchell
And what's fun for me. is to watch a young person walk through the door on day one and then see how she can grow when she gets into a system that values the principles we value and that she's attracted to that and that's what she wants to be and so she and her family are or aspire to be honest hard-working and disciplined so we can define that which helps us identify people that that resonates with
00:39:01
@NoConfForOldMen
you
00:39:23
Coach Mitchell
and and And what we try to tell people, I don't have any idea how in the world you think you can ever develop into your best version if you're if you're constantly hopping systems and you are you know trying to learn what's going on.
00:39:40
Coach Mitchell
We're all seeing right now in real time how difficult this is to merge all of these people coming from, you know it's brand new for everybody. And I just think about my best teams at Kentucky. You know, when I was at Kentucky, I was I was told cal Coach Cal, he was a magician because he could find a way to get those freshmen more times than not.
00:40:01
Coach Mitchell
It wasn't every year, but it was it was a unbelievably successful clip of how he could get those guys in their first year. Now, they were incredibly talented. So that helps you.
00:40:10
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:40:12
Coach Mitchell
But we we want to find people that it still resonates with, that that I'm going to get into a program that that is serving me well. We have to do that. That's on me. I've got to create that environment.
00:40:24
Coach Mitchell
But when we find those people, Steve, that can connect with the message and have some vision of how valuable that can be, That's going to help us. And that's where no star comes from.
00:40:38
Coach Mitchell
That's where no star by their name. I can go into a gym. And this was the great of great benefit for me.
Recruitment Focus and Philosophy
00:40:43
Coach Mitchell
I had not been in a gym recruiting for four summers, you know, and so I'm coming in with fresh eyes and I didn't want a list of who the top players were.
00:40:45
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Right.
00:40:52
Coach Mitchell
I didn't even want to know. I wanted my eyes to tell me who can be a Houston Cougar. And that was so beneficial. And so we've identified and we've got some some players that i you know I can't comment on, but but that you know I believe have a future at Houston.
00:41:03
@NoConfForOldMen
right
00:41:08
Coach Mitchell
And I still don't know what how many stars are by their name, but... yeah but They've got they're going to wear the Houston Cougar uniform, and that's going to be good enough for me because they can play basketball and they are the right kind of people that fit our system.
00:41:22
Coach Mitchell
And certainly you want talented players. i'm I'm just saying that the focus is talent, skill, energy, talent, skill, energy, talent,
00:41:35
Coach Mitchell
Do they have enough talent? That has to be a yes. Do they have enough skill? We can help them develop more. Can't do anything about their talent. the Good Lord gives them that. So I can't anything about making more talented, but, but, but skill, I can help with that.
00:41:44
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:41:48
Coach Mitchell
But do they have enough where they can come in? We have to recruit a freshman who could come in and keep her head above water. Like we're not recruiting any freshmen that can't play and they can develop in three years. No,
00:42:00
Coach Mitchell
you got to be able to handle yourself in a college game. So you got to have enough skill there. But then the X factor for Houston Cougars women's basketball is what kind of energy do they have?
00:42:11
Coach Mitchell
And that's, that's the thing that, that, that a star system can't, can't figure out. A lot of talented players, lot of skilled players. That is that third piece that, that separates you and makes you good for our system.
00:42:26
Coach Mitchell
And so, We got, it's a testament to the strength of of of the university and the outlook of the athletic program and the strength of of what but what men's basketball has from a reputation standpoint of what Houston is in basketball.
00:42:45
Coach Mitchell
We are getting some really talented players that that are excited about what we're doing. I hate to say I'm surprised. i should I should give myself a little bit of credit for being able to recruit at high level.
00:42:55
Tom Lidiak
Mm-hmm.
00:42:57
Coach Mitchell
But I mean, I am just so flip so pleased that we have been able to arrive on the scene with what the what the recent results have been in the program.
00:43:01
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:43:07
Coach Mitchell
And to get up into this area where where we are in recruiting is really, really gives you a lot of faith in that that we can pull this thing together. So so recruiting,
00:43:21
Coach Mitchell
I hope I explained that well enough that that that's that's that's what's important for us in recruiting.
00:43:23
@NoConfForOldMen
Absolutely.
00:43:25
.0Bill Walker
Yeah.
00:43:26
Coach Mitchell
And we're not just collecting a group of talented players. We're really trying to connect people that want to to to to be part of a great team and a great program.
00:43:37
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah, I mean, you're you're off to a fast start. Obviously, we can't talk names, I know, but I mean, three commitments. Hopefully you're able to keep those commitments, right? to Two bigs and a point guard.
00:43:49
@NoConfForOldMen
Those are the most critical positions. So we're excited.
00:43:55
Coach Mitchell
Yeah, I think the future, i think we've got some great possibility recruit at a high level here.
00:43:55
.0Bill Walker
yeah
00:44:00
.0Bill Walker
Great. And we, we wholeheartedly agree. I guess I'll ask the last question and, uh, yeah, obviously we're, we're all familiar with the, with the unbelievable success that the men's programs had under Calvin and, uh, and, uh, with that, the, uh,
00:44:21
.0Bill Walker
yeah We read the message boards and the fans' expectations are through the roof. They they expect national championship every year. So with that said and with the expectations so high, when will when will we get to experience the first women's national championship?
00:44:38
.0Bill Walker
And I'm assuming that'll be prior to 2030.
00:44:38
@NoConfForOldMen
Nice.
00:44:40
.0Bill Walker
Ha ha
00:44:42
Coach Mitchell
Yeah, we're going to try to win it this year.
00:44:45
Coach Mitchell
I mean, that's is what I tell the players. I mean, we're not going to go into any game planning to lose.
00:44:49
@NoConfForOldMen
this
00:44:50
Coach Mitchell
So we're going to plan for, I think it would be 40 victories is what we'll plan for.
00:44:51
@NoConfForOldMen
aye
00:44:54
Coach Mitchell
But it's, yeah, it's,
00:44:55
.0Bill Walker
Perfect. that's That's what we love to hear.
00:44:57
@NoConfForOldMen
Okay. what We'll get that clip and we'll post it all over Twitter.
00:45:02
Coach Mitchell
yeah, yeah, exactly.
00:45:02
.0Bill Walker
yeah
00:45:03
Coach Mitchell
I mean, it doesn't matter what you're saying.
00:45:03
.0Bill Walker
yeah yeah, now we're we're absolutely going to hold you to it.
00:45:07
Coach Mitchell
It doesn't matter what you say. You know, anybody can to can use it what you want to. But listen, I think that it's an interesting time in athletics of where the traditional timeline doesn't necessarily necessarily apply.
00:45:26
Coach Mitchell
So I'm not quite sure how to answer the question in all honesty, because I'm just not sure how these, you know, who's available, who might you be able to attract, what will our, what, I think the results of this year, maybe not the record,
00:45:32
.0Bill Walker
Thank you.
00:45:43
Coach Mitchell
But I think that if people can get a vision of that, we are a factor and that we are here. It's like I said in my press conference, we're open for business to play at the highest level.
00:45:54
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:45:54
Tom Lidiak
Thank you.
00:45:55
Coach Mitchell
And I think that there's a way I think it's important for the future, how this team performs. And that's what I keep telling them. I've coached 10 NCAA teams, nine in the tournament.
00:46:06
Coach Mitchell
And as you all so astutely noticed that we had, we were a shoe in and had a really good team that year.
00:46:10
@NoConfForOldMen
Yep.
00:46:11
Coach Mitchell
So I've seen 10 NCAA teams. And so I'm not saying that it is, it's certainly not guaranteed because not one of those teams, you know, started the season with a guarantee.
00:46:19
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:46:22
Coach Mitchell
We had to do the work, but my message to the players is that I've been around 10 of these. I know what it looks like.
00:46:28
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:46:29
Coach Mitchell
And i'm I'm sitting here today. I'm not saying you can't be one of them. I'm saying that you can be one of them.
00:46:33
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. That's awesome.
00:46:35
Coach Mitchell
i think the I think the results this year matter for the future and as we build. And I think people need to know that we have the ability to get a lot out of a team.
00:46:47
Coach Mitchell
And so then I think that impacts who who you're able to to build with. Can we retain? And so I think, you know, hey, listen, in our third year at Kentucky,
00:46:59
Coach Mitchell
They thought we were going to finish next to last and and we went to the elite eight. So basketball is an interesting sport. There's teams that you think going to win the final four that get beaten the first round.
00:47:10
Coach Mitchell
It's one of the craziest ways to determine who the best team is.
00:47:10
@NoConfForOldMen
Yep. Yep.
00:47:14
Coach Mitchell
And that's why people love it so much is because there's so much that can happen.
00:47:16
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah
00:47:19
Coach Mitchell
But, but,
00:47:20
.0Bill Walker
Agreed.
00:47:21
Coach Mitchell
To finally answer the question, I think that we have the mentality of that we're just on a one-year plan every year. We need to be the very best team this team can be.
00:47:31
Coach Mitchell
We don't know where that will will end up. But to if you look at the history of the men's program and seven Final Fours, we think that if we can play if we if we can be the best Houston can be, we have some evidence that that can be Final Four.
00:47:45
Coach Mitchell
And so we just go to work every day, not trying trying to be the best, trying to be our best.
00:47:51
@NoConfForOldMen
Yep.
00:47:52
Coach Mitchell
And we believe our best at Houston will put us among the best. And so we certainly have aspirations to be in the final four. Nothing would make me happier than to be a part of a national championship team.
00:48:05
Coach Mitchell
All of those things. we will we will be excited about, but it's the reason I have confidence that it's possible is is how we operate day to day. We win because winning's a byproduct of how we operate every day. So,
00:48:23
Coach Mitchell
we're We're trying to operate today like the very best we can be and see where that takes us. and And Cinderella's, you know, barge into the ball sometimes.
00:48:34
Coach Mitchell
And then sometimes they don't get up the front steps either.
00:48:35
Tom Lidiak
This is...
00:48:37
Coach Mitchell
So, you know, we're we're we' definitely want to have that mentality as a program.
00:48:38
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:48:43
.0Bill Walker
yeah Yeah.
00:48:43
@NoConfForOldMen
No, that's...
00:48:44
.0Bill Walker
And qualify that that that, that question obviously was a bit of a joke, but, uh, but, but seriously, you know, what what's what what what, what, what, you know, yeah.
00:48:48
@NoConfForOldMen
They joke, yeah?
00:48:49
Coach Mitchell
yeah
00:48:51
Coach Mitchell
Well, you can now see how serious I am about it. I've got a plan. i've got a plan for it.
00:48:56
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. Nice.
00:48:57
.0Bill Walker
What, what's not a joke is that, that we're excited as hell that you're, you're here.
00:49:01
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:49:01
.0Bill Walker
And, and, uh,
00:49:02
@NoConfForOldMen
Absolutely.
00:49:03
.0Bill Walker
and Yeah, we're we're admittedly the expectations are, or of you know, for the future are a bit more than they've been in the past.
00:49:12
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah.
00:49:13
.0Bill Walker
And then that's because of your hire, obviously.
00:49:16
Coach Mitchell
Thank you.
00:49:16
@NoConfForOldMen
Yeah. I mean, it that that was just
Community Support and Impact
00:49:19
@NoConfForOldMen
fantastic coach. and And really, I think that was all the questions that we had. So thank you so much for your deep insights into the program and your approach. And as everyone has kind of stated here, we're so excited for you to to join the program. any Any other parting shots you want to you ought to mention at this point?
00:49:38
Coach Mitchell
Yeah, I would. I'd love to mention this. the the One of the greatest gifts I had coming in was that Final Four run. And what was the best thing that I could do was go to San Antonio and and really get into what what is being a member of Coug Nation? What is it like? What is it about?
00:49:59
Coach Mitchell
And man, to walk into that that energy and see how much pride people have for being a Houston Cougar, being a Coug, it connected me in a really powerful way very early and and and it made me understand what the power of the energy our fan base has. And so I just wanna invite everyone who listens to this and can hear my voice.
00:50:25
Coach Mitchell
I wanna invite you out and November 4th to Fertitta Center for our game. We're gonna be, so family friendly as well. I think it's gonna be a great place where you can bring the family and we're gonna be accessible after games and the the players will be around and I'll be around and we'd love to meet your family and and and thank you for coming. But but the energy that we can get in the building can directly impact our success and can give our players energy.
00:50:53
@NoConfForOldMen
Yep.
00:50:55
Coach Mitchell
And so i I want the fans to believe in themselves that they can actually be a part of our success by showing up and being in the stands in Fertitta Center this season.
00:51:06
Coach Mitchell
Season tickets are a possibility for people, and we'd love for people to buy season tickets.
00:51:09
@NoConfForOldMen
ye
00:51:13
Coach Mitchell
but if you just can come to one game. I want to invite people to the game. And I think if they'll come one time, I'm betting that they can get they'll get back another time.
00:51:23
Coach Mitchell
I think they're going to see a team they're proud of and excited about.
00:51:23
@NoConfForOldMen
Yep. I'll be hooked.
00:51:26
Coach Mitchell
So just want to invite everybody out and to support us. And it'd mean a lot to us this season.
00:51:31
@NoConfForOldMen
That's awesome, coach. After this just recording, I'm going to go out and get my season ticket.
00:51:36
Coach Mitchell
That's fantastic.
00:51:37
@NoConfForOldMen
I'm excited.
00:51:38
Coach Mitchell
Good.
00:51:40
Tom Lidiak
Coach, have you have you worked on the cougar paw yet?
00:51:43
Coach Mitchell
Are you kidding me?
00:51:43
Tom Lidiak
and
00:51:43
Coach Mitchell
I do every, every, you gotta start watching my Cougar Red Fridays on Instagram.
00:51:48
@NoConfForOldMen
yeah Instagram.
00:51:49
Tom Lidiak
Okay.
00:51:50
@NoConfForOldMen
On Instagram.
00:51:50
Tom Lidiak
Okay.
00:51:50
Coach Mitchell
I am every one of them with Bill Cougs.
00:51:51
@NoConfForOldMen
Come on, Tom.
00:51:51
Tom Lidiak
Okay.
00:51:52
Coach Mitchell
So I got it down, man. I've done it about a million times and can't wait to do about 10 million more times.
00:51:56
Tom Lidiak
but
00:51:57
.0Bill Walker
Nice.
00:51:58
@NoConfForOldMen
That's awesome. if Thank you again so much.
00:52:01
Coach Mitchell
Yeah.
00:52:01
@NoConfForOldMen
So that's it for this bonus coaches series episode of the No Conference for Old Men podcast. Hope you all enjoyed it. and And again, would really appreciate it folks would follow, subscribe, or collect our podcast, depending on your podcast platform of choice.
00:52:14
@NoConfForOldMen
We're also available via the Republic of Football podcast feed from the folks at Dave Campbell's Texas Football as the only basketball-centric podcast. We're at the gocougs.com website for those that prefer to digest the content that way.
00:52:26
@NoConfForOldMen
We appreciate the continued support from all. Also, please... Give us follow on our Twitter account, No Confidence for Old Men. And folks, we are back to our weekly cadence now with the season around the corner.
00:52:37
@NoConfForOldMen
So please stay tuned to download and listen as the next episode drops. Take care, everyone.