Tia Jackson Press Conference Quotes
April 6, 2007
Athletic Director Todd Turner Opening Statement:
"This is a great moment for the University of Washington Athletic Department. I am delighted that you are here in joining with us today. We have some special guests I would like to welcome before I introduce Tia Jackson. Her family has traveled from Maryland to be with us today. Her mother Barbara is here, her father William, and her brothers Ryan and Dric. Welcome! Welcome to the Husky family, purple is a wonderful color and we are delighted to have you with us today.
"Also, before I make the introduction, I would like to say thank you to different people who have helped us throughout this process of finding our new head coach. Our advisory committee was led by our Senior Associate Athletic Director Marie Tuite. Marie, thank you! I'd also like to thank those that served on that group: Lorenzo Romar was on the committee, Jeff Compher, Scott Barnes who are both from the Department of Athletics, Kit Rainey who is a member of our Fast Break group, Don Bernard represented the Tyee group. We had two of our former players. Rhonda Smith was very helpful, and graduating senior Cameo Hicks was also very helpful. So, thank you to all those involved.
"When we went about the search for our new head coach, there were some characteristics that we targeted as being critical to their success and to the success of the University of Washington. I want to tell you about those characteristics, so that you can see how Tia fit into those remarkable things that we expect from coaches at our great University. First we looked at character. We wanted someone who had an uncompromising commitment to NCAA compliance, to personal integrity and to the values of our institution. We wanted someone who was willing to prioritize our institutional values, her personal integrity, sportsmanship, and the welfare of our student athletes. We found that in Tia Jackson.
"We found a person of intelligence, and wisdom beyond her years. Someone who has incredible self-confidence, as you shall see when you hear from her momentarily. We wanted someone who had a commitment to the values and the mission of the University of Washington. Someone who is interested in developing the total person in our student athletes. In fact, the whole team is with us here today. We wanted someone who could recruit student-athletes to our university, who could not only graduate with a degree, but would thrive here and who could compete in the Pac-10. Someone who has experience in recruiting top-quality people, whose experiences at highly successful universities, Stanford and Duke, contributed to her ability to do that. The important quality of any head coach is the ability to provide leadership and to organize. This is one organized young woman. She gave me a 29-page plan for how our program will succeed.
"We found someone with a clear vision for our future, someone with the ability to organize all of the responsibilities that go along with being a head coach. Someone with a proven network of contacts to help her in recruiting. And to help her in attracting a staff and putting together a team of people to lead us to unmeasured success. We wanted someone who is committed to discipline, who is a great listener. I found that to be one of Tia's strongest qualities. The ability to be patient, listen and respond thoughtfully. In recruiting, and in leading young people, I think that is one of the most important qualities a person can have. Our new coach is certainly one who is a great listener.
"We wanted a warrior, a competitive person. Tia has a passion for the game that is infectious. She has a desire to compete, successfully, against the very best. She will get a chance to do that in the Pac-10. She is an energetic and tireless worker. One of the things that you have to do to be a head coach is communicate with people. To share your vision, and to be able to bring people together. Someone who has an understanding of the recruiting process, and who can effectively communicate what Washington is all about. Tia has proved to be an exceptional communicator. Head Coaches have got to be able to promote themselves in the community, and promote themselves in the world of basketball. To reach out in the community, and through participation in camps and clinics, bring the Huskies back to Hec Ed. Tia has the passion, and a plan to make it work.
"Lastly, we wanted someone who is going to be the head coach of the University of Washington women's basketball team, to have the training to be able to get the job done. She has more than the training needed to get the job done, she has the training to get the job done in an incredible way. Her resume is like a storybook of success, particularly in the game of women's basketball. A very fine player at the University of Iowa, she spent time in the inaugural days of the WNBA, before injuries cut her career short. Then she moved on to coaching. Coaching students at places like Stanford, and most recently, Duke University. Also, another school in our conference, UCLA, where she learned some of the challenges that exist in recruiting on the West Coast. She also brings with her some absolutely phenomenal referrals. Even though she has not been a head coach in her own right, she has tutored under some of the greatest names in women's basketball. C. Vivian Stringer was her coach at Iowa, she played for Cheryl Miller of the WNBA. She tutored under Tara Vanderveer at Stanford, and Gail Goestenkors, most recently, at Duke. So, how could we do anything other than bring a young woman with this kind of resume, this kind of talent, this kind of energy, vision and drive, to our university. It is with a great deal of pleasure to introduce the head coach, of the women's basketball Huskies, Tia Jackson."
Tia Jackson Opening Statement:
"I'll tell you what, Husky Athletics rocks! I've been here two days, and I have had just the most unbelievable experience. My hat goes off to Todd, thank you so much. Marie, President Emmert, I have had a phenomenal experience her in the last two days. I can't imagine what the future looks like. I think it is going to be exceptional, it is going to be fun, it is going to be exciting. I'm so happy to be sitting here, before you guys, before my players, before my family. I can't tell you how excited I am, just to be back in the Pac-10. I feel like it is my homecoming. I have coached six of my 11 years in the Pac-10, at UCLA and Stanford. And, I feel like I am coming home. And, what better place than the University of Washington. Thank you guys so much for this wonderful opportunity, I am just going to have great excitement, great energy, I can't wait to reach out to these young ladies, to reach out to the community, and to reach out to everyone who is going to be involved in the success that is going to be U-dub women's basketball."
Was there one particular quality that Tia had more than the other candidates?
Todd Turner: "You know, when you are hiring a coach at our level, you look first at people who have head coaching experience. Tia just kept jumping up the list. The more I talked with people who worked with her, the more I learned about her background, where she had been, it was clear to me that this woman doesn't need to be a head coach to be successful at the University of Washington, she is ready. We sat with her, and had a chance to visit a couple of times in Cleveland, at the Final Four. Cameo was there, and had dinner with us. We all agreed, if we could talk her into coming to Washington, it would be a great thing for us. She has an infectious passion about what we are about at the University of Washington. She just leapt over everybody."
How many candidates did you have actual discussions with?
Todd Turner: "Face to face discussions? Three or four."
How would you characterize the style of play you hope to bring to the basketball team next year?
Tia Jackson: "The young ladies asked me that today, so I am well prepared for this question. I think that we are really going to be an up-tempo style team. They possess a quality in them that I have seen on tape, and while coaching at UCLA I saw a lot of these older ones play. They have the energy, they have the passion, and they have the fight in them to be an up-tempo style of team. We are going to do a lot that starts with our defense, which will be kind of a catalyst into our offense. We are going to tap into them individually to see what their strengths are. I have not worked with them individually, and I cannot wait to get my hands on you. Once I get a feel and a pulse on these young ladies, we are going to be a fun and exciting team to watch."
How do you plan to bring more exposure to the program?
Tia Jackson: "I think that one of the things that Todd kind of referenced to is getting out into the community. Extending my love for the community of Seattle and the surrounding communities. I think that there is going to be some excitement brought back into Bank of America Arena. I think the more they see my face, the more they see my young ladies' faces, they are just going to want to be a part of that. I'm very passionate about bringing out the best in the young ladies, and to make sure that everyone around sees that this is a great upcoming. I'm just really looking forward to stepping out into the community, and getting to know everyone around here, especially you Terry, because you have so many wonderful questions. I'm really excited."
What are some of the highlights of your 29-page plan that you have there?
Tia Jackson: "Lets start with page 1! I think that is going to start with my one-on-one time with the young ladies. With that said, I am grateful that this is a quarter school, because I will be able to get back and make the transition from Duke to here, and get to know them one-on-one. I think one of the greatest things I have learned from Coach Goestenkors is just getting to know each player individually. Because every person is not stimulated and motivated the same way. Hopefully, we will all come together. That is going to be one of the biggest challenges at first, and I'm looking forward to it."
There have been a number of high-profile positions opening after this season. Were you approached by any of those universities?
Tia Jackson: "Not by any other university that was quality for me."
What would you say your biggest strength is?
Tia Jackson: "Energy. I think I bring a passion for the game, a passion for learning, I don't think that I am perfect. I bring a passion for just getting the best out of my players. I think one of my strengths is building relationships. I think that I am really good at getting to know the best thing about each person. That is with recruiting, that is with the team, my staff, that is with everyone in this athletic department. I think it is important to step out there and develop relationships, and I think I am really good at that."
What are you doing to keep your incoming recruits?
Tia Jackson: "I've got to talk to these young ladies. And, I got a chance to talk to my team today to make sure that they are in contact with them as well. We are going to stay together, we are going to be a tight group. That is going to start with the leadership on this team, to embrace these young ladies coming in. I'm hoping I can get out to New Zealand and see one of our foreigners. Whatever I can do to connect with them and their parents or whoever there support group is."
What is the biggest lesson you have learned from all of the coaches you have had?
Tia Jackson: "One big lesson? I think each teacher that I have had, coaches or people that I have worked around, they all brought something so different. I can say that from one I have learned how to develop relationships, one I have learned how to break down film. I was just thinking the other day that I thank god for Tara Vanderveer, because she taught me how to break down video. Very well, I might add. I'm very fortunate to have the resume that I do. Because from Coach Stringer who was a mother figure for me, and I hope to be. I know I look young, so I'll be a big sister for now. But, eventually becoming a mother figure for these young ladies, and a mentor. I've learned so many things, Cheryl Miller taught me how to motivate. She has done so much for this women's basketball world. I can say that I've tapped into each one, individually, and it is not just one big thing that has built my resume and turned me into the demanding coach I am going to be."
How much time have you had to evaluate your team?
Tia Jackson: "This will be short and sweet. I haven't had time. No, I've seen a lot of them play already, because of my Pac-10 history. But they were young, a lot of you are so young. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on some videotape. I brought an extra bag, to take some things back with me. So, I'm really looking forward to just tapping into that."
What is your timeline for getting situated and acclimated here?
Tia Jackson: "Indefinitely. I think you can never learn too much about a place. I think that right when I'm getting too comfortable, there is going to be something that is going to turn my head. I think the sooner I get back here, I can't give you a time right now, the sooner I get back here the better. I have a dog I have take care of, so I am human. I just think that there is no real timeline. My biggest thing is to connect with my kids, and with the incoming freshmen."
There was an opening at Duke. What is your reaction that it appears that you were not considered for that opening?
Tia Jackson: "I look at it differently. I just thought there was a better opportunity for me here. Like I have said, this is really a homecoming for me. As much as I love the ACC, I love Duke, I love my players. It wasn't that I wasn't an option for them, I don't know that it was the best option for me."
Do you plan to go inside more, or have more of a perimeter game?
Tia Jackson: "Like I alluded to, I really have to get to know these young ladies better. That is going to start with watching as much film as I can between now and the time I get back here. Developing relationships over the phone, and when I get here, one on one time. If our strength is guard play, which it could very well be, then I don't think I am going to pound the ball in as much. I love our posts, though, love you. But whatever our strength is, I will tap into it."
Do you have a timeline for getting your staff together? Do you plan on bringing former Huskies to your staff?
Tia Jackson: "Yes to all of the above. Yes I am looking at former Huskies. Is there a timeline? I'm in no rush. I'm going to go about this properly. I want to surround myself with good people, and I feel like there is a tremendous support group here. I want to make sure that I bring in the right staff that will compliment the University of Washington Athletic Department."
