Current And Former Players Comment On Tia Jackson
April 6, 2007
Current Husky point guard Emily Florence
"From what we've seen we really like her and we're really excited to get started. She's fun, laid back, really easy to talk to but at the same time you know what she wants. She wants discipline. She can be serious and I'm just excited to start playing with her. Sometimes change is good and is needed. I thought we did have a fairly good season last year. We did go to the NCAA tournament. Coach Jackson seems great for this program and she has everything we're looking for. So I'm definitely looking at this as a positive thing and hopefully we're going to have a great season with her. "
Current Husky guard Dominique Banks
"I think we just have to stay together and just have trust and whatever we do is going to be for the betterment of our team. Coach Jackson believes in us and truthfully as an individual on this team I believe she's going to bring everything Todd Turner talked about and I'm excited about her."
Former Husky player Kayla Burt
"I haven't actually had the chance to meet her but from what I heard today in the press conference and what I've read, and seen she seems like a great quality coach. She'll bring a lot of excitement and passion to the program and I'm excited for these girls who get to play under her. I just look forward to what is going to happen and the change at the University of Washington. I had the opportunity to play under June when there was great crowd attendance and great players. During the Mendiola years and back when Loree Payne played, we were averaging almost 5,000 fans a game and I think that was great for the program. I think we can continue to see that here and I think a coach like Tia can definitely bring that in. The last couple of years we've kind of lacked a little bit of support and I think there are a lot of people here who are looking forward to the progress in the program."
Former Husky guard Cameo Hicks
"I love (Tia Jackson). I had the opportunity to go to dinner with her in Clevland and I had a great time with her, she's a great listener. She really cares about people and helping the girls, like she was saying, so she has the resume to do it and I know she has the knowledge and capabilities. I'm excited that the girls have her as their coach. It's a great opportunity for them. I think they're going to have a great rest of their careers at Washington
Former Husky player Rhonda Smith
"I think that Tia really is the shot in the arm that the program needed. With her knowledge of the West Coast in terms of recruiting players, she still has contacts as far as high school coaches and AAU coaches. I think they'll welcome her back to the program, or welcome her back to the West Coast. It will just be exciting to see the dominance hopefully of
Former Husky player Melissa Erickson
"I think that Coach Jackson is a great fit for UW. I was able to work a camp that she was running at Stanford a few years back and she has a lot of energy, she has great relationships, as she said, with her players. I know that is something a lot of these players are looking forward to. She obviously has worked under some of the greatest coaches and I think she's an incredible fit. I'm really excited about her here and what she brings and I look forward to watching the games and getting involved in the team as much as I can."
Current Husky forward Heidi McNeill
"I'm really excited to have Tia come coach us she seems very upbeat, energetic and positive. I think she's going to be a great fit for the program so I'm excited."
Current Husky guard Stefanie Clark
"I like her style and I'm excited. I like how she stresses defense and that's exciting. It makes me think that our games are going to be more intense so I'm looking forward to that. She has a very approachable demeanor about her which is encouraging."
