Where is she now?

[mred]

Someone on the WBBALL-L brought up that Bill Fennelly applied for the job at ISU twice. He wasn't really given the time of day the first time, when Theresa Becker was given the job instead. Becker resigned from ISU after three seasons, and Fennelly applied again (and the rest is history). Becker's tems were for the most part pretty bad, but she was working with players she largely did not recruit and the players she did recruit (Gunderson, Olsen, Grimm) flourished under Fennelly.

I was wondering where Theresa Becker is now, and I found out some really interesting things about her:

Before coaching at ISU, she was an assistant at Nebraska. After coaching at ISU, she returned to her job as a Nebraska assistant. When Angela Beck left UNL, she wanted Becker to get the head coaching job she vacated. I also read an article in the UNL student paper supporting Becker as the choice for the WBB head coacking job. However, UNL went with a different person: Paul Sanderford.

Anyway, Becker appears to be the assistant director of compliance for the UNL athletic department now. A "Theresa Becker" is also listed as a basketball referee in some lower-division games in Nebraska, and I'm guessing that's her.

If Sanderford does get let go or resigns anytime in the next season or two, UNL has one decent option to replace him sitting within their own athletic department.

Any comments, Chipper?

[This message has been edited by mred (edited 03-13-2002).]

[mred]

Forgot one small bit of trivia I came across...

Fennelly's first contract at ISU: 4 years, $70,000 per year. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[BenEClone]

Yes, a recent article reported that she enjoys getting out and officiating. The article also suggested she aches for a return to the front lines. Look for her to coach again. Main stream Nebraska press is acknowledging that Sanderford's teams are underachieving. Buoyed mainly by his Western Kentucky trips to the final four, and a roster loaded with BlueStar rated recruits, he has another year before the heat turns up. UNL returns everyone of consequence and adds a highly rated guard. If Becker is interested, she is certainly in position to undermine, but, I don't see Byrne allowing that to happen and I have no reason to think she would.

[mred]

Originally posted by BenEClone:
Yes, a recent article reported that she enjoys getting out and officiating.

Where was this article. I'm interested in reading it.

[NorthForty]

Interesting note on Theresa Becker. She interviewed for the recruiting position at Kansas a few years ago and didn't get it. Well, as we can see that was a huge mistake. Becker left the cupboard quite full for Fennelly at ISU and was highly responsible for Sanderfords successful first few years. She is a tremendous coach and even a better recruiter. If any of you are looking to send your daughters to a basketball camp this summer check into the Loper All-Star camps in Kearney, Nebraska. Becker is a camp director along with Amy Stephens (currently the best coach in Nebraska). I have had kids go there and it is top notch.

[BenEClone]

The article was in Lincoln Journal Star print edition guessing January-February of this year. (My sense of time can be way off). Journalstar.com has some archives, but, I'm not great at searching and not all items are on line.

[ChipperF1]

Any comments?

Teresa Becker could recruit her butt off. This is the lady that brought a lot of talent to Lincoln, BUT that was about it. Becker was a weak strategist (then again so was Beck). NOBODY hires a coach with a record of 20-63.

Now Becker was championed for the Nebraska job after Angela Beck was ousted (I never believed Beck left 100% on her own accord), more because of concerns over Affirmative Action then her actual record. Hiring a coach who loses 76% of her games is like asking Anita Bryant to lead a Gay Pride March. Paul Sanderford was the best applicant available based on credential (although had Nebraska MOVED on two other good opportunities sooner, they could've sign a candidate that would have appeased the feminist-PC lobby that wanted Becker.)

If Sanderford does get let go or resigns anytime in the next season or two, UNL has one decent option to replace him sitting within their own athletic department.

No, NO! NO! NO! NO!

Hire Teresa Becker, and you get more of Angela Beck. You get teams that can win 20 games against Jabronis, but put the real teams on them, they fall short. Teresa's a fine recruiter, but she won't get you to the next level.

My short list to replace Pale Sanderfraud.

1. Amy Stephens (Head Coach Nebraska-Kearney)
NorthForty is partly right. She is the best small college in Nebraska.
Strengths: Very disiciplined. Gets the most out of the ballclubs. Does well with minimal talent. Good teacher and motivator. Just a good all-around lady who loves basketball. Also, she has a good name among high school coaches in state, and she's a former Husker, so fans have a hometown girl.
Weaknesses: Hasn't gotten quite over the hump in Division II. Her UNK teams always die in the Regionals to the Dakotas or whoever. Also, can she recruit city kids? She's never had to at Nebraska-Kearney. She can recruit regionally?
Overall: She's one of the first people I'd call.

2. Connie Yori (Head Coach-Creighton University)
Connie's the best major college coach in Nebraska, at least she is this year.
Strengths: Gets the maximum out of minimum talent and resources. Solid motivator, and has greatly improved as a gameday strategist. Good on the sidelines. She's come a long way in 10 years.
Weaknesses: Recruiting. Although she's gotten better. Connie tends to shy away from or not recruit minority kids, and that is something that can hurt you in the Big 12.
Overall: I couldn't see her leaving Creighton, but if she wanted to it wouldn't be bad.

3. Jody Runge (Former Head Coach Oregon)
Strengths: Jody would have no reason to sue. Nebraska would give her serious support. She'd get respect, and Jody's abilities could take over. Plus, she's a midwestern girl (grew up in Iowa). She knows the landscape.
Weaknesses: Her reputation. This would be kind of like ditching Frank Solich for Steve Spurrier. Plus, could she warm up to Nebraska? Could Nebraska warm up to her? Could her players warm up to her?
Overall: She's the biggest name out there without a job, but is she worth the risk? Nah!

4. Kelly Flynn (Head Coach South Sioux City High School)
Strengths: Winning reputation ( 7 state championships in 8 years. 4 national rankings). Good Xs and Os coach, believes in the up-tempo style of play and has the contacts with the high school coaches. He's a known commodity in Nebraska and would greatly excite Husker fans.

Weakness: He's a high school coach and is a little thin-skinned. Big 12 isn't like NSAA Class B ball. Also could Flynn get used to going from kids he has had a hand in since they were in 4 grade, to the mix of kids and experiences that college students have. For example, could he deal successfully with an intense kid like a Steph Jones and a carefree spirit like Paige Sutton at the same time?

Overall: A longshot, but I also know of a High School coach who went to the Big University and did well. Of course Kelly Flynn couldn't look that pretty if his life depended on it.

5. Chipper (Opinionated HoopScoop "expert" )
Strengths: Would be good copy for the newspapers, and an excellent soundbite for the TV. Strategic doctrine stems from John Wooden's "Teaching Fundamental Basketball".
Weaknesses: Took the Bobby Knight Course on Management ("I curse you, cause I love you.")
Overall: The Big 12 already has one Bob Knight. It doesn't need two.

Becker left the cupboard quite full for Fennelly at ISU and was highly responsible for Sanderfords successful first few years.
She got the kids, yes. But remember

1996-1997...19-9 went 2-9 on the last 11, lost the final 8 in a row and missed the NCAAs
1997-1998...same kids+Paul Sanderford...23-10, NCAA Second Round.
1998-1999...22 wins
Even I give Paul a lot of credit for that. The first two seasons, the man did the job, with a lot of kid weren't very good.


After the last three seasons however, I look forward to seeing him fired after next season.

--ChipperF1








[This message has been edited by ChipperF1 (edited 03-14-2002).]

[This message has been edited by ChipperF1 (edited 03-14-2002).]

[This message has been edited by ChipperF1 (edited 03-14-2002).]