COACH BROWN TAKES PART IN SPECIAL PANEL

COACH GREG BROWN: I had wonderful opportunity to be a part of a panel discussion for the path2d1 seminar last weekend here in Orlando.  The organization’s mission:

"Our purpose is to improve the economic viability of targeted communities by increasing the population of college-educated student-athletes. Student-athletes that focus on academics early in their high school years increase the probability that they will become college-bound citizens even if an athletic opportunity doesn’t materialize."

I have learned that success however you define it involves the books you read, the places you visit and the people you meet.  The seminar was an opportunity to meet wonderful people in our community and learn myself.  Aubrey Perry who organized the event, the panellists—Doc Rivers, Boston Celtics; Ricky Stokes, Washington Redskins; Joe Logan, Montreal Expos; plus others all shared their thoughts and experiences for the student-athletes, parents and various community leaders.

One of my biggest “takeaways” in the pages of notes I took—resilience, perseverance.  It was a part of all the panellists lives and their advice.  We all face adversity, we all have things to overcome.  The turning point is when we understand that life is hard, expect adversity and work your plan.  Doc Rivers advice sums the day best—“finish the race”.

CELEBRATING OUR CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A BBQ PARTY!!!

Greetings Knight Fans!!

It’s your Senior Knight Ashia Kelly, once more, bringing you a message from off the court.  This past Sunday, our team celebrated our 2010-2011 C-USA Championship with other sports at our Athletic Director Keith Tribble’s house. This was a very gratifying event for our team. I really enjoyed the cookout because it gave our team the chance to glance back over the previous year’s success and take those emotions and excitement back into preparing for our upcoming season.

During the cookout, each team got a chance to sing karaoke. I absolutely loved this activity because it gave each team a chance to bring some fun and laughter to the celebration. I look forward to having continued success this year and building more tradition for our program. See you Knight Fans!!

Swishes,

Senior Ashia Kelly #11

Checkout all the photos from the party: http://on.fb.me/pCuLA7

COACH BROWN SPEAKS OF THE PAT SUMMITT INFLUENCE

The following was written by Shannon J. Owens of the Orlando Sentinel:

There's a popular quote some coaches use to inspire their peers and players on the topic of influence: "Be a fountain, not a drain."

I don't know who created the phrase, but I know it's a philosophy legendary women's basketball coach Pat Summitt has modeled her life after. She has, by far, one of the most brilliant minds in all of college sports, and an even bigger heart.

So when she recently announced she was battling dementia, I wasn't surprised to learn the ripples created from this weighty revelation stretched all the way from Knoxville to Orlando.

"I got chills," said Greg Brown, UCF women's basketball associate head coach. "I know that's a tough one to just simply will yourself through…now if anybody is going to will themselves through, there's no doubt that it would be Pat."

Brown isn't just speaking about an icon of his sport. He's speaking about his mentor.

In a rare string of luck, 40-year-old Brown has worked for both the winningest women's and men's basketball college coaches in Summitt, of the University of Tennessee, and Don Meyer, formerly of David Lipscomb University, also in Tennessee.

After his parents, he calls Summitt one of the greatest influences in his life. Which, of course, means Brown knows Summitt well enough not to call her with condolences.
Summitt doesn't entertain pity.

With that in mind, I don't think it'd be right to romanticize the odds of Summitt beating this ugly condition despite my own wishful thinking. Instead, her announcement calls for a time of reflection on the widespread impact she's had on this game so far, and hopefully, will continue to have.

Beyond the numerous titles and victories, Summitt's true greatness resides in her ability to connect with people. Brown knows this firsthand.

He built a relationship with Summitt when they met during a summer camp run by Meyer years ago. Summitt and Meyer are good friends.

Brown, then just a young high school girls basketball coach, sought her opinion on how to break into the college coaching ranks. She didn't just give him lip service. About one month after their brief conversation, she offered him a job as a graduate assistant.

"One thing I learned is when Pat says something, there's no wasted words," he said. "If she says I'm going to give you a call, she means I'm going to give you a call."

Read the entire article: http://thesent.nl/r478fE

COACH WILLIAMS REPORTS ON FIRST WEEK OF FALL WORKOUTS

COACH JOI WILLIAMS: We have just completed the first week of our fall basketball workouts and I'm pleased with our team -- it was a great effort and our staff believes we improved which is all that we can ask for at this point.  It wasn't an easy week.  Along with strength training and conditioning and a full work load of classes, our workouts were more difficult than in past seasons -- especially for the first week.

While we certainly are working on the fundamental parts of the game from ball handling, passing, dribbling and shooting, we are also looking to advance our motion offense development this year and we have jumped immediately into working on cutting, screening and reading the defense.  One of the most difficult things for a player to learn is to cut based on the positioning of her defensive player.  Most players grow up offensively watching the ball. So this week we introduced the down screen and the cuts off the down screen.  We worked 2-on-1 Down Screen without the ball (to help them with recognition) and 2-on-1 Down Screen with the ball (to help them with timing).  Teaching players to "think" is an ongoing process and the mental demands we make on them also takes away from them physically -- so it was a very tough week.

But we responded well!  Most notably our freshman showed some toughness getting through the week.  Bryeasha Blair, Andrea Hines, Meghan Keough and Stephanie Taylor really did a nice job with so much new stuff being thrown at them.  And of course, our returning players did a wonderful job of helping them get through everything.  Right now we are getting some great leadership especially from Aisha Kelly and Aisha Patrick.

Now the goal is to put together another great week -- and keep that string going!

Practice Pics from August 25, 2011: http://on.fb.me/pTl9qV

KAYLI CHECKS IN AFTER DAY ONE OF FALL WORKOUTS

KAYLI KEOUGH: The day's finally here!  Today the UCF women's basketball team started preseason workouts.  We started with weights at 7 a.m. followed by some conditioning.  Afterwards we started individual workouts with our coaches. The team divides into groups of three or four and will do different drills that will eventually build on one another to get us ready for practices and ultimately games.  It felt great being out there with the team officially again! Can't wait for what this season has in store!

FIRST TEAM MEETING MARKS BEGINNING OF LAST JOURNEY AT UCF FOR SENIORS

AISHA PATRICK: The team came together for a welcome back dinner with great food and great company from all the coaching staff last night at Coach Brown’s house. It was good to finally have all of our coaches and support staff together as a family. The environment was full of laughter and conversations on how our summer has been with the freshman being brought into our family.

The summer is now over. It is now time for us to put together everything we have worked hard for during the summer and show what type of identity we want our program to have.  As a senior I am excited for the journey we are about to take. Our coaches showed us that they are prepared and we are ready for whatever challenges they throw our way. I am overwhelmed with the opportunity that our program has to be a top 25 team. I’m confident that with our coaches’ guidance and our work ethic as players we can do great things.

The look on everyone’s face was determination and awareness. It’s clear to say that we are all ready to take one step at a time on a journey that I will forever remember -- being that this will be my last one with UCF women’s basketball. I have the sense of urgency that there is not a next year. The time is NOW!!

GO Knights!

Love PATTY J

Check out photos from the evening: http://on.fb.me/oWGLFR

UCF ASSISTANT COACHES GATHER

COACH BOB STARKEY: My wife Sherie and I enjoyed a wonderful afternoon yesterday at the home of our Directory of Athletics, Keith Tribble.  To start the school year he had all the assistant coaches at UCF over for food and friendship.  Along with the rest of our staff, we spent the afternoon talking to the other assistant coaches.  For me, it was a great time to meet so many of the other assistants with this being my first year at UCF.  One of the things I have heard constantly is the measures that Mr. Tribble and his staff go towards creating a family atmosphere at UCF.