Welcome to Duke, Kara Lawson!

[devildeac]

That looks like a great coaching staff.

[CameronBornAndBred]

That looks like a great coaching staff.

I hope one of them ups their game in the sweater collection department.

[miramar]

It seems strange that Beth Cunningham was not retained by ND after serving as associate head coach to Muffet McGraw for eight years, although there must be some sort of an explanation. At any rate, she seems like a great additon to Kara Lawson's staff, just like Tia Jackson and Winston Gandy.

Considering that she has such a talented bunch surrounding her, I can only hope that Lawson will talk to her assistants before she calls a time out. That way she won't waste time huddling with the coaches before she addresses the team, as McCallie used to do.

[53n206]

Coaches often have assistants, to whom they are obligated, that they bring with them. So it is possible that Coach Cunnimgham might have been forced into a demotion to remain at N.D.. Just saying.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Coaches often have assistants, to whom they are obligated, that they bring with them. So it is possible that Coach Cunnimgham might have been forced into a demotion to remain at N.D.. Just saying.

Both the new HC (Ivey) and Cunningham worked side by side as assistants for years at ND, and at least 4 with Ivey in the job above her as lead assistant. Knowing they worked together, and yet didn't continue to after Ivey's hire more likely points to one not getting along to well with the other. You don't kick someone out of a program with that much experience with the current players that you have worked with for a long time if you like having them around.

[loran16]

Might have missed this from earlier this week, but did someone else post how Lawson has released all our scholarship commitments for next year?

https://mitchellnortham.substack.com...hing-carousel?

Four class of 2021 players who had previously verbally committed to Duke while Joanne P. McCallie was the head coach decommitted from the school and reopened their recruitment in the past week. They are Olivia Pollerd, Brooklyn Rewers, Lauren Walker and Marisa Davis-Jones.

And apparently, former Oregon forward Lucy Cochrane was also committed to Duke as a transfer, though she and the Blue Devils did not publicize it. She decommitted as well.

Davis-Jones was the lone ESPN Top 100 recruit that McCallie had landed in the 2021 class. She told All in the Game that she spoke with new Duke head coach Kara Lawson before making her decision.

“She is actually the reason why I made the decision,” Davis-Jones said. “She chose to go a different route and so did I.”

[Jim3k]

Is Keturah Jackson still staying as a special assistant?

[CameronBornAndBred]

Might have missed this from earlier this week, but did someone else post how Lawson has released all our scholarship commitments for next year?

https://mitchellnortham.substack.com...hing-carousel?

Yes and no. We knew of the decommitments, but only surmised the reasons why. They jibe with that posting. I thought it was interesting in one of the stories linked above, that Lawson mentioned she was just on the phone with a recruit's mom.
I was assuming that it was not anyone that Lawson was targeting, but more likely having the tough conversation of "we are going to look elsewhere instead of at your daughter".

[pigskindevil]

wow what a coaching staff announced today. beth cunningham, tia jackson and winston gandy. experience, great recruiters and just downright winners.

[jimsumner]

Is Keturah Jackson still staying as a special assistant?

TBD.

[Phredd3]

Personally, I think this look like a fairly brilliant bunch of staffing decisions (obviously, without any personal knowledge of the individuals and personalities). In Tia Jackson, you have someone who first and foremost is a recruiting specialist, and a darn good one both at Duke and elsewhere, who has been in college coaching for 24 years. She brings in the "how Duke works" expertise, as well, from the most successful era in team history. In Winston Gandy, you have a young, dynamic specialist in player development. Although he brings only three years of women's college experience to the table, he also brings an equivalent amount of NBA experience. In Cunningham, you get someone used to shouldering the day-to-day administrative burdens of running a big-time women's college basketball program. Kara herself seems quite capable of the Xs and Os, but Cunningham and Jackson are used to helping there, too. Diverse skills designed to complement each other (and hopefully compliment, too).

Seems like some pretty good management decisions from our rookie coach.

[Bluedog]

Might have missed this from earlier this week, but did someone else post how Lawson has released all our scholarship commitments for next year?

https://mitchellnortham.substack.com...hing-carousel?

I'm not equating us to UK, but it's a similar situation to when Calipari went to Kentucky and all committed recruits went elsewhere. Cal then recruited much more highly ranked players. I hope Coach Lawson has the same fortune in that regard, and I expect she will.

[gadzooks]

I hope one of them ups their game in the sweater collection department.

+1

[jimsumner]

Diverse skills designed to complement each other (and hopefully compliment, too).
.

Great job Phredd!!

[CrazyNotCrazie]

Personally, I think this look like a fairly brilliant bunch of staffing decisions (obviously, without any personal knowledge of the individuals and personalities). In Tia Jackson, you have someone who first and foremost is a recruiting specialist, and a darn good one both at Duke and elsewhere, who has been in college coaching for 24 years. She brings in the "how Duke works" expertise, as well, from the most successful era in team history. In Winston Gandy, you have a young, dynamic specialist in player development. Although he brings only three years of women's college experience to the table, he also brings an equivalent amount of NBA experience. In Cunningham, you get someone used to shouldering the day-to-day administrative burdens of running a big-time women's college basketball program. Kara herself seems quite capable of the Xs and Os, but Cunningham and Jackson are used to helping there, too. Diverse skills designed to complement each other (and hopefully compliment, too).

Seems like some pretty good management decisions from our rookie coach.

It seems like one of Coach Lawson's requests coming in was to have a sizable budget for assistants, as this staff likely did not come cheap. If I recall Coach Cut did the same thing when he came to Duke - you can't win if you are underpaying assistants and can't attract the best.

[CameronBornAndBred]

It seems like one of Coach Lawson's requests coming in was to have a sizable budget for assistants, as this staff likely did not come cheap. If I recall Coach Cut did the same thing when he came to Duke - you can't win if you are underpaying assistants and can't attract the best.

Curious as to where you read this. While I agree that talented people don't move for cheap, it's not the best time in the athletic world to be asking for cash.
Plus, one of the new hires was unemployed, not like Duke has to pony up lots to lure her away from a job.

Cut's situation IMO was far different. He was a culture changer at Duke, starting with the fact that they need to pay more for a football staff. (A money making sport.)

[CrazyNotCrazie]

Curious as to where you read this. While I agree that talented people don't move for cheap, it's not the best time in the athletic world to be asking for cash.
Plus, one of the new hires was unemployed, not like Duke has to pony up lots to lure her away from a job.

I didn't read it - just assumed. Two of the three left decent jobs. Perhaps they were being threatened with pay cuts where they were, but one would think they asked for some kind of bump to come to Duke. I could be wrong.

[accfanfrom1970]

Interesting being from Virginia and outside Richmond, two of the assistants - and Jeff Capel - have a connection to VCU.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I didn't read it - just assumed. Two of the three left decent jobs. Perhaps they were being threatened with pay cuts where they were, but one would think they asked for some kind of bump to come to Duke. I could be wrong.

Ahh, gotcha. I'm doubting anyone got much of a raise to come to Duke, but I guess it's possible. Not because it is Duke, but it just feels like the way wrong time to ask for $. Especially with the likelihood that White's office knows there will not be fans in the stands this year, and are probably just hoping beyond hope there is even a team on the court.
Perhaps, though, they were assured that once the pandemic passes things will weigh in their favor if they are successful.

[heyman25]

Pardon me if this link has already been shared.Nan King was one of the many factors in the selection of Kara Lawson. Fascinating story with groundbreaking achievements of Kara Lawson.
https://theundefeated.com/features/k...ketball-coach/