Duke Women's Basketball Coach Handle Hard Better
Being a coach is not an easy job. No matter what type of sport you're coaching, it comes with many challenges. However, Duke Women's Basketball Coach, Joanne P. McCallie, has shown that she can handle hardship with grace.
Who is Joanne P. McCallie?
Joanne P. McCallie, also known as Coach P, is the current head coach for Duke Women's Basketball. She has been coaching for over 20 years and has an impressive track record.
Before coaching at Duke, she coached at Michigan State for seven years, where she led the Spartans to five NCAA tournament appearances and a national championship game in 2005. She then went on to coach at Duke, where she has led the Blue Devils to the NCAA tournament every year since 2008.
Handling Hardship
Despite her success, Coach P has faced many challenges throughout her coaching career. One of the most significant challenges she faced was in 2017.
During the 2016-2017 season, the Blue Devils had a rough start, losing several games in a row. This was unusual for the team, and many fans were beginning to lose faith. However, things took a turn for the worse when one of the players, Kyra Lambert, suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Instead of giving up, Coach P rallied her team and led them to an eight-game winning streak. This incredible feat proved that she could handle hardship with grace and professionalism.
Leading with Empathy
One of the things that set Coach P apart from other coaches is her ability to lead with empathy. She understands that being a student-athlete can be tough, and she does everything she can to support her players.
For example, during the 2017-2018 season, one of her players, Erin Mathias, was dealing with a personal issue. Instead of ignoring the problem, Coach P gave Mathias time off to deal with it. This gesture showed Mathias that her coach cared about her well-being, not just her athletic performance.
Staying Positive
Another quality that sets Coach P apart from other coaches is her positivity. She always tries to see the good in any situation and encourages her players to do the same.
During the 2018-2019 season, the Blue Devils were struggling once again. However, instead of getting down on her players or herself, Coach P kept a positive attitude and reminded her team that they were capable of great things.
Her positivity paid off, and the Blue Devils ended up winning their final four games of the season.
Conclusion
Coach P has shown time and time again that she can handle hardship with grace. Her ability to lead with empathy, stay positive, and rally her team during tough times has earned her the respect of her players and fans alike. She truly is an inspiration to anyone who wants to be a coach or a leader.
