Wednesday, May 9, 2007
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
On the surface, the numbers do not match-up. Three seasons, only 14 conference victories, one postseason appearance and one lucrative contract extension.
After three losing campaigns, the Kansas Athletics Department reportedly agreed last month to extend the contract of women’s basketball coach Bonnie Henrickson. She was already one of the highest-paid women’s coaches in the Big 12 Conference, but Henrickson’s new deal is rumored to include a pay raise.
The casual onlooker might see failure in an overall record of 30 victories and 39 losses during the coach’s tenure at Kansas, and a glance at the record books reveals Henrickson’s only postseason appearance resulted in a quick second-round exit from the 2006 WNIT.
But listening to the post-game comments of the Jayhawks’ opponents this season screams of the progress Kansas has made under the coach.
“Kansas has a good young group,” Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said after escaping Allen Fieldhouse with a narrow seven-point victory. “They play very hard.”
“They are so aggressive on defense,” Nebraska guard Kiera Hardy said one week later. “We had to earn every bucket.”
“They were gutsy,” Kansas State coach Deb Patterson said after being upset by Kansas. “The difference was the young freshmen.”
Kansas women’s basketball is on the right track and its opponents can attest to that.
Henrickson left a successful Virginia Tech program to take the reigns at Kansas in 2004. The previous season the Jayhawks won only two conference games and suffered through the late-season retirement of coach Marian Washington.
In her first season at Kansas, Henrickson brought in a small recruiting class that included now senior forwards Jamie Boyd and Taylor McIntosh. McIntosh found a spot in the starting lineup right away and has developed into an above-average rebounder and defender.
Henrickson landed guard Shaquina Mosley from Central Arizona Community College the next season. By the end of her career at Kansas, the soon-to-be graduated Mosley established herself as one of the most exciting and versatile players in the Big 12.
Heading into the 2006-2007 season expectations were low. The team lost its three best players to graduation and would rely on contributions from a seven-player freshman class.
pullquote
They were gutsy. The difference was the young freshmen.
-Kansas State coach Deb Patterson
The success of the incoming class was a testament to Henrickson’s skill as a motivator and coach. Forward Danielle McCray shed 20 pounds and became one of the team’s best scorers. Guards Sade Morris and Kelly Kohn fought through bouts of inconsistency and helped the team defeat heavily favored Oklahoma State in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament.
Henrickson recently took the next step to solidify the program: securing commitments from three highly regarded prospects. Center Krysten Boogaard, forward Nicollette Smith and guard Chakeitha Weldon should each fill a distinct need on the young team.
“They fit in great,” Kohn said at the team’s postseason awards banquet. “They all add so many great things.”
Boogaard could give Kansas the post presence it has lacked since the departure of All-Big 12 Conference center Crystal Kemp. Smith provides an outside shooting touch that could spread opposing defenses to give McIntosh and McCray scoring opportunities. Henrickson said Weldon possessed “Shaq Mosley-like athleticism”.
College coaches are constantly judged on the quality and potential impact of their recruiting classes. If the new contract is any indication, Henrickson’s superiors think she has earned a passing grade.
Kansan sportswriter Asher Fusco can be contacted at afusco@kansan.com.
— Edited by James Pinick
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