Amy Williams taking the whole gang with her
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Or so Amy Williams surmised when loading up her staff and taking them with her to Lincoln this week. Throughout the season and especially during the WNIT, Williams brought up the amount of expertise and elbow grease being supplied by her assistants while the Coyotes were plowing through a series of games against strong competition.
“The best staff in the nation” was a phrase she used several times. She always seemed to be aware it was a pretty gaudy claim but the essential point was that she loved working with this group. It’s apparent they got along, had complementary talents, and the players liked them.
Williams greets Nebraska, Coyotes begin search
To that end, she is bringing all four along with her. Tom Goehle, Chuck Love, Tandem Mays and Amanda Hart are all part of the Husker staff now.
The transfer of staff can be a sensitive topic on both ends. Assistants that were part of the previous staff may think they can catch on with the incoming coach. Head coaches may, in turn, feel pressured to retain a popular holdover at the expense of the staff they had the last place they worked.
This is the best way to do it. I’m guessing the general sourness surrounding the Husker program this season made it an easier decision, but if you feel like you have a great staff in place – and that seemed obvious the last two seasons within the women’s basketball program at USD – take them with you. Courage of your convictions, etc., etc.
It means the next coach is going to have their own clean slate without deliberation at USD. The only remaining discomfort is going to be on the part of the players who are going to be dealing with a lot of new faces all at once. But that's the biz.