Alrighty! It has been quite a few weeks since the end of college basketball season, but not too far from that national championship game that college basketball is an irrelevant topic!
Most conversations around the water cooler entail the latest head coach firings, and more importantly, who will be the replacement.
Over here at Ohio University, Saul and Company are gearing up for the 2015-16 season, or as I am referring to as "Chapter 2" of #SaulBall! Coach heads back out this weekend for another round of recruiting and then we have some "rest" until July! We shall see what Coach's recruiting schedule look like given Little Miss Kemp's due date (June 26, 2015).
Before Coach heads out, I figure I might as well sit down and ask him a few questions about Ohio Men's Basketball!
What was the highlight of the 2014-15 basketball season?
The two things I will remember about our first team at Ohio would be the Akron and Buffalo home games. We were able to give our fans a glimpse of the excitement of the future. The Buffalo game, in particular, came down to the last possession and our senior forward Maurice Ndour dunked the basketball with one second left on the clock sending the crown into a frenzy. We have the best fans in the MAC. I cannot wait until next year!
What was your favorite road trip of the season?
Outside of the conference road win at Ball State, I would have to go with the Hawaii trip. It is hard to beat Waikiki Beach for the holidays! In addition to spending Christmas with family in Hawaii, we had a nice win against DePaul of the Big East Conference, and a game against our good friend Tim Miles, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. It is hard to beat Waikiki Beach for the holidays!
This year you wrote again for the College ChalkTalk National Coaches' Diary Series. Are you disappointed to see the series discontinued?
It was a great experience writing for Chris Di Sano and College ChalkTalk. I enjoyed contributing to the site and hope the coaching fraternity enjoyed my entries. It would have been nice to continue writing, but college coaching will definitely keep me busy!
What was the most disappointing loss?
Since all losses are disappointing, I will go with the final loss of the season. We were coming off of a convincing win against Miami Ohio, and played at Western Michigan in the MAC tournament. I truly believe our guys played winning basketball for 30 minutes in that game. Unfortunately we came up short, but it was good to end the season in competitive fashion. It will certainly bode well for the future of Bobcat Basketball.
What are your thoughts about the Badgers?
I have been a Badger fan since I was about three. They are my hometown team. It has been a great experience to watch them play in two straight Final Four games. Simply put, the championship game was a battle of two great teams and two great coaches. Go Badgers!
The season is over, what is on your plate now?
We have turned over a large portion of our roster and are excited about the future. We have some talented players, and are excited about our freshman. We are spending a lot of time with our team, and they are responding well. Other than that, we have one more recruiting weekend, so we will be able to see plenty of potential Bobcats. I have plenty to keep me busy while we wait on Little Miss Kemp!
What do Ohio fans have to look forward to next season?
The Ohio fan base will be proud of the progress we will make next year. We will be hard working, and we will play together. Like our past teams, we will focus on emphasizing the winning elements of the game. Turnover margin, rebound margin, field goal percentage, and free throw margin will be our focus. We must get better in all of those categories. We cannot wait to get started with our new look Bobcats!
Good morning! I have yet another Coaches Corner with a dear friend of mine, Ashley Jones, and we are family. Ok, so my family married into her boyrfriend's family but it is all the same, right! Here's the background, Myle's older brother is married to one of my first cousin's and I am enamored with the entire McKay family! And well, Ashley fits in all so well, so I love her too!
How did you and Myles meet? Myles has a cousin Shelby who is one of my closest friends. Back in middle school I was at her mother's house for a birthday party where I met Myles, but it wasn’t until sophomore year in high school that we really shared an interest for one another.
How do you two make each other better?
It's funny because Myles and I are a lot alike so when it comes to simple day to day stuff we are like a team. Besides that though, Myles is very organized and efficient and he keeps me on top of things with finances. I think I make him better on a more personal level by being his peace and reminding him to always be positive! We are best friends so we keep it very real with each other… good or bad.
What made you decide to move to Poland with Myles this year?
We were just at a point in our relationship that moving in together was going to make us stronger as a unit. Honestly, I had nothing to lose and everything to gain by coming to Poland with my family. We have our son Matthew with us, who’s 8, and its been great just doing things as a family. Matthew has adjusted to life here pretty well! Now, don't get me wrong, he definitely misses home, but he is in school here and he is learning Polish. He also gets to experience things that a lot of children don’t, for example, we took him to Auschwitz nazi concentration camp to teach him about the Jewish Holocaust.
Prior to your move to Poland, you were working as a flight attendant. How did that job come about?
Yes, before coming to Poland I was a flight attendant. That
job was awesome! I was working for Northwestern Mutual, a life insurance
company, in Milwaukee and I was extremely bored! It was just not the right job
for my personality, so I began looking around and I just applied for the flight
attendant position with US Airways and within a month I was in phoenix. It was
one of the best decisions I made because I got to see places I have never been
and I was happy again with work. I love to travel and so far I think the best experience
thus far with that was Hawaii. I have been to places here in Europe, but Hawaii
was so peaceful and beautiful. The only downside was because I was there for
work, I was there alone and not with friends or family.
Are the ladies anything like what we see on Basketball Wives?
Haha, the ladies that I have come in contact with are nothing like the Basketball Wives! Its a little bit different here in Europe because we rely on each other a bit more than in the states. We share which grocery stores to go to, we have game nights, and most activities we include each other. I believe I am building actual friendships here and there is no drama! :)
What is your most memorable basketball experience?
My most memorable basketball experience is most recently being able to experience the emotion that comes with actually being at the games. It's different than watching on TV or even talking to Myles on the phone afterward. Seeing Myles’ face after a win or Matthew's amazement at watching his dad work is truly unforgettable.
With each of these Coaches Corner features, I get even more giddy! Maybe it is because I have known these ladies for years - well for as long as I have been a coach's significant other. I almost feel like we are traveling down this journey together - from staff at NDSU to new adventures! This is such a sisterhood that I embrace wholeheartedly. Andrea is such an amazing woman, mother, wife, and business woman that all can respect and admire. The University of Minnesota-Crookston (UMC) fans are fortunate to have Andrea as their First Lady of Men's Basketball.
How has the first few months of being the First Lady of
Golden Eagles basketball been going?
It was a little scary at first because I was leaving my job
as an interventional radiology technologist of 14 years to pursue a job that
would fit our new lifestyle as a wife of a Head Coach. Once we got to Crookston
I was fortunate enough to find a full-time job as a legal assistant at a local
law firm office. We are meeting a lot of
wonderful new people and adjusting to our new house, jobs, and daycare.
What has been your best experience thus far?
Besides the moment when Dan received the call that he would be the
new Head Coach at UMC I would say the week of Thanksgiving when Dan’s family
came to visit and we all road tripped to the UMC vs. NDSU game in Fargo. It was
fun to be back in Fargo where this journey all started. Although UMC fell short
by only 1 point, it was a fun game and great see old friends.
Any fun outings and/or family events with the MBB staff or another staff at Crookston.
We hosted our first team meal at our house in September. It was fun to have all 17 guys over for ribs, chicken, mashed potatoes, and all the fixings. It’s amazing how much athletes can eat! We also had Thanksgiving dinner at our house with Dans’s parents, sister, and the Men’s Basketball Coaches.
Tell us a little about that the Coach Weisse ”courtship tactics,” lol? How did you meet? And, how did he propose?
We met on Match.com and 11 months later we were engaged. When he proposed, he had flowers delivered to my shipping store, Goin’ Postal, but there was no name on the flowers. I thought they were delivered by mistake. My business partners were in on it and they played it off very well. When I got home I found more flowers and a matching card. Then I realized what was going on. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course I said yes and the next day he went recruiting for 9 days. Lol!
And four years later you are the proud parents of two little ones – Makenna and Ethan. Have they adjusted well to living in Crookston?
Ethan wasn’t quite two when we moved so he really didn’t know any different. Makenna knew we were moving, but her first response was, “ We don’t have any balloons.” Referencing the movie “UP” we had just seen 20 times. They have adjusted really well. They are both at the Catholic Sunrise Center and it only took a couple of days for them to get used to their new daycare. As Makenna would say, “Mom, its school not daycare”.
Tell us a little about Makenna and Ethan.
Makenna (Kenna Bear) will be 4 in January and is Daddy’s little princess. She acts so much older then she really is. She negotiates everything and has a very good memory. Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself that she is not even 4 yet. She loves gymnastics, playing with her dolls, playing dress up and singing. Dan taught her the Star Spangled Banner when she was a little over 2 years old! She just started ice-skating lessons and is doing very well.
Ethan turned 2 in August and he is all boy! He keeps us on our toes that’s for sure. He like trucks, car tools and anything sports. He’s our little clown, his favorite outfit is a pull up and snow boots! He loves going to games and cheering with Mom. His current phrase is “Box out!”
And with your move to Crookston came some new experiences and roles for yourself. You recently became an Independent Team BeachBody Coach. What is BeachBody?
If you have ever heard of Insanity or P90x, this is the company that produces those workout videos. They also have the best daily source of dense nutrition on the market called Shakeology, plus a lot of other great products.
I used to be a really active person. Softball, rollerblading, lifting weights, playing golf, hiking, biking. You name it, I did it (or at least would try it). I even ran a marathon! Which I’m sure I don’t think that I will ever do that again. That’s when a full time job, owning a shipping store, and kids just kind of took over. After having Ethan, I really wanted to start exercising again, but I felt like I never had the time. Excuses, I know. Well, right before we moved to Crookston, Dan’s brother asked if I would be interested in joining BeachBody. I said yes right away. I saw this as an opportunity for motivation and accountability that I needed. This was the perfect time to incorporate working out into my daily routine. Once I started, I realized what a great opportunity it was to help others and pay it forward.
How do you help others lose weight?
Once someone decides they want to change their lifestyle by getting healthy and fit, I will help them pick out a program that is tailored to their specific goals along with Shakeology. From there, they get support and accountability from me as well as others in the group. It is a lot of fun! What’s great about this is that a person has the opportunity to do whatever they want with the program. Whether they become a coach and pay it forward or to stay as a customer. It is great either way.
Has Coach Weisse jumped on the bandwagon?
He was actually drinking Shakeology before I was. I just never knew there was so much more to it and that you can get paid to work out and help others at the same time!
Last question – what advice do you have for “new” coach’s wives and those that are engaged to coaches?
1. You will need “me time” every once in a while! While the coaching husband can be gone for long periods of time, that leaves you to take care of the kids, the house, work, any issues that could possibly happen, like shoveling a foot of snow while being pregnant. I make sure to get a work out in even if it turns into a family affair. So when he is home make sure to take the time to get a coffee, a glass of wine with friends, or even a quick workout and give yourself a break, you’ve earned it!
2. Find a reliable babysitter. Date nights are very important, even if it is just to Wal-Mart for Black Friday shopping for an hour.
3. When they are on the road recruiting, or on a road trip sometimes it does get a bit overwhelming, but at the end of every season you will look back, think about all the ups and downs, wins, loses and say, “That was awesome! I can’t wait for next season!”
Interested in BeachBody? Please check out Andrea's website for more information.
I have been giddy for weeks about my interview with Stephanie Richman, wife to the new Head Coach of Bison Basketball, David Richman! I have been dear friends with Stephanie for about 5 years, and I can truly say she is my role model! Like honestly, I want to grow up and be just like her! She is a wonderful mother, friend, wife, and she is a workout enthusiast! Oh, and she has the best personal style and interior decorating that any lady would envy! But, you can't envy her because she is just too darn sweet, so you try to duplicate.
How has the first few months of being the First Lady of Bison basketball been going?
The first few months as First Lady of Bison basketball has been filled with a lot of different emotions. Excitement is the first emotion that comes to mind. David has been waiting to take the reign at North Dakota State University (NDSU) and for his dream to come true has truly been exciting. The day we told the girls that daddy was going to be the new head coach at NDSU was priceless. Their faces were filled with so much excitement! Lots of screams of joy were screeched and happy dances were danced. They proudly told everyone (strangers included) that their daddy was the new head coach.
I remember talking to Nicole, Saul Phillips' wife, before David had even gotten the job, and telling her I didn’t feel like a lot would change from him being the Associate Head Coach to the Head Coach. She said “Oh honey, things will change!” and boy was she right. One of the biggest changes is all the random people that come up to David to congratulate him or just want to make small talk. I will later ask him, “Do you know that person?” Most often, he says no and to me that is crazy! I’m adjusting to him being in the spotlight. About a week after being named head coach he received an envelope at work from Cass County Jail. He opened it up to find a beautifully hand sketched drawing of him and the girls that came from the front page of the forum that week. I have to admit it was a little creepy at first but after doing some research it was just an inmate using his talents.
Another adjustment for me is all the NDSU functions we now attend. It has been so much fun meeting NDSU supporters, fans, and staff. Many new friendships have been formed from these functions. Hey, it also allows David and I the opportunity to have more “date nights” which has been great. That’s always a plus because combining the time commitment college coaching entails and adding 4 little kids on top of that, date nights become few and far in-between.
I will admit a few tears have been shed along the way also. College coaching is a very selfish occupation that pulls David away from family. He’s not home every night to tuck the girls into bed; he’s had to miss school functions and birthdays; and not always home for family dinners and holidays. There are days you just break but then you pick yourself back up and remind yourself of all the great things college coaching has to offered for our family.
What has been the best experience thus far?
I would have to say the day David was named head coach; him calling me and telling me he got the job and bringing all the girls to his press conference. It was something we will never forget and was truly special for us all.
I see you guys recently did a staff trip to Iowa. How did that come about?
Our staff trip to Iowa for the NDSU vs. Iowa State football game was a blast! Basically David told me they were going to make it a “staff re-treat” weekend. Well, after hearing that, I just took it into my own hands and invited all us ladies to come along. He thought that was a great idea, as did all of the assistants. Family is very important to David and I. It is our goal to extend that into our staff because we are a “Bison Family” - it is who we are. We are looking forward to many more Bison Family get-togethers!
How was the game?
The atmosphere was absolutely amazing! It is so fun to see the following that Bison Nation gets. It was 80+ degrees and super hot so by the end of the game we were all a hot sweaty mess, but the outcome was all worth it!
It seems like the “new” staff is doing well, including the wives, fiances and girlfriends! And, lots of newly engaged folks right? Are you helping the girls plan their weddings?
The new staff and their families are so much fun to be around. We all get along great! I told the ladies I feel like we have known each other for years. We are each others' back bones and support system, which is so important to have in this profession.
We are so excited for Jayden and Katie, and Josh and Halie! They both got engaged about a week apart. I look forward to helping out in any way they want me to. I have already gotten a sneak peek at Katie’s wedding shoes. They look fab!! Brynlie is going to be the flower girl in Jayden and Katie’s wedding. Shh…she doesn’t know yet but I can’t wait to see her face when they ask her :)
Talking about weddings and marriage, how long have you and David been married?
David and I have been married for 9 years….man where has the time gone?!?!
Tell us a little about that courtship? How did you meet? And, how did he propose?
David claims I was the one to make the first move but I like to disagree with him! We didn’t officially meet until we were both at NDSU, but our connections go back to North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS). He remembers seeing me on my campus visit his last year at NDSCS. I made the decision to play basketball at NDSCS and his dad was the Athletic Director at the time. David would come to some of our games and that’s when I started to notice him. Two years later at Reeb’s Sports Bar I casually went up to him and introduced myself, making the connection that I knew his dad. Ok…so I guess I probably did make the first move but "shh" we won’t let David think that! I like to play hard to get! I guess the old saying goes “and the rest was history!”
The proposal: We got engaged on a recruiting trip….pretty fitting huh? David had asked me to fly down to Orlando with him during their July recruiting period. I spent the first full day by myself in the hotel room while he watched AAU games, day two continued like that and by this time I thought to myself “well this stinks!” I was getting a little irritated! Later that night we went out for supper and he took me on a little walk at Disney’s Boardwalk. It was beautiful scenery for a late night stroll. David pulled me aside down under a bridge and got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was a moment that will never be forgotten! I even remember what I was wearing. We were able to enjoy the rest of the trip together relaxing and site seeing.
Ok, so a lot has happened for the Richman Crew in the last 9 years. You now have 4 daughters! Tell us a little about each of them
Yes a lot has happened in the past 9 years! Nine years and four beautiful blue-eyed girls later!! Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would have 4 girls ages 7, 5, and twin 3-year-olds by the age of 30. We feel so blessed and wouldn’t change it for anything!
-Miss Mallorie is a 1st grader already! She loves school and anything that involves singing and dancing. Drama is her middle name! She takes after her momma and likes to worry a lot. She is a rule follower. Last year the teacher told the class they should be in bed by 8 and if it was a minute past then, she would be in tears. She likes to please, make others feel good, and has the biggest heart.
-Miss Brynlie is 5 and is starting to finally enjoy her last year of preschool. She really enjoys staying at home with mommy most days. When asked what she wants to be when she grows up she states “a mommy!” That fits her to a T. She is our mother hen of the group. Having twin sisters is so much fun for her because there is always someone to play house with. It is guaranteed if one doesn't want to be her baby the other one will. Brynlie is also our responsible one. I can ask her to get the twins dressed and in the suburban and there is no question it will get done. Don’t ask her to take a picture with Thundar, NDSU mascot, because that will not happen - she is not a fan!
-Kenlie and Ellie just turned 3 in September. Can we say BUSY?!?! These two little blonde’s are sure to steal anyone’s heart. Not sure if it’s because they are twins or just because they are so darn cute, but anytime we are out people just gravitate to them. There is no sign of shyness here as they will talk anyone’s ear off (especially Kenlie). David tells her to catch her breath all the time. I would say that Kenlie is more of the momma’s girl and needier, but just as I say that they switch personalities. They are best of friends! When one is in trouble the other one is right there to bail her out. If one gets hurt the other is right there for hugs and kisses. They love to go..go..go! Ask them about Thundar and Kenlie will bravely stick out her hand for a high-five but with an unsure look on her face and Ellie immediately clings to me with tears rolling down her face. You would think as much as they see him they would think Thundar is their best friend, but he is rather large!
And what about you, where do you enjoy shopping the most?
Gap is my go to store! I seem to always walk out of there with something in my hand. I do enjoy treating myself to a nice pair of Lululemon yoga pants or something nice from anthropology, Banana Republic or Hot Momma.
Ok, so a few more questions…How do you balance being a coach’s wife, mother, pharmacist, sister, runner and so much more?
I get this question a lot. My answer is “you just do it!” I do it without really thinking about it and everything seems to fall into place. We are really fortunate to have both families close. They are here to help anytime we need it. David may not be home every night but when he is home he is in full blown parent and hubby mode. He’s an amazing daddy whether it’s wrestling around with the girls; helping Mallorie with homework; or wearing the hat of our main laundry man and dishwasher. It makes my job a lot easier with help from him.
I feel blessed to be able to work two days a week as a pharmacist and have the rest of the week at home with the girls. It’s a perfect balance for me. It gives me my much needed adult interaction, but that special time with our girls as well. They grow up way too fast the way it is.
Working out is one of my top priorities and is something I do to start my day off. Many days that means I may only get six hours of sleep, but it’s my stress reliever and a must do on my list. Having four active little ones keeps me motivated to stay young and fit.
Any marathons in your near future? (May I boast Stephanie ranked top 20 area runners in her age group for the 2013 Fargo Marathon! Yes, this girl can run!)
Running a full marathon has always been something on my bucket list. I love challenges and if I commit to something I am in it 100%. My training runs went really well but the day of the marathon was a rough one. It got really humid and the sun beating down draining all my energy. I swore I would never run another marathon after the pain I felt, but I am a competitor (just as David). I know my run could have been better so to answer your question….yes, I probably will do another marathon but nothing on paper yet.
Last question-what advice to you have for “new” coach’s wives and those that are engaged to coaches?
1.-As a former college athlete myself, I understand the time and commitment it takes to be a college coach. You have to learn to become independent because your husband will not always be home to help with supper, bedtime, fix the drain when it’s plugged, etc.
2-Find a good support group. Having people that understand your husband’s job isn’t the typical 8-5 is paramount. Having that support from family, friends, co-workers and other coach's wives is so important in living a happy life as a coach’s wife.
3-It’s ok to break down and cry when you have had a long day and are on day four or five of your husband or fiance not being home to only realize they have a recruiting trip planned for the day they return home. A good cry is good therapy and brings me back to #2.
4- Be their #1 fan on and off the court! There will be days he comes home after losing a close game, getting the call that one of their recruits has committed to another program, being told one of their players will be out for the rest of the season due to an injury, and dealing with decisions 18-23 year-olds are making. These are the times they need you the most to pick them up and tell them it will be ok
I hope all of Bison Nation is heading to the men's basketball kick-off game tonight at 7pm (CST) vs Minot State. If you go, say "hello" to Stephanie and the girls. I haven't seen her in a few months, but speak with her at least once a week! Hoping we have another reunion at this year's Final Four!
In today's post, I had the opportunity to sit down with Coach Kemp, Assistant Basketball Coach at Ohio University, to learn a little about his transition from Toledo to Ohio, and how the 2014-15 MBB is progressing thus far.
Enjoy!
In your last BBB interview (The Madness Never Stops), you were wrapping up your first season at Toledo. Now, you are in your first year at Ohio. Was the transition from Toledo to Ohio challenging?
Challenging, but a good challenge. Moving jobs twice in 10 months has been a lot of work to get accustomed to new surroundings, but it has been fun. Fun because I enjoy building relationships with the players. This group of players have been enjoyable to be around. In addition, the transition to Ohio has been pretty easy because I worked with this staff at NDSU.
We see that this summer was a little crazy with the transition
with Coach Phillips, how do you feel going into the 2014-15 MBB season? I
feel that we have been able to assemble a roster that we can win with.
The players have been attentive and willing to learn, and they are a
group that has already experienced success in their careers. I really
like our young guys as well. If we can keep everything positive the sky
is the limit for this group.
Are you ready for a vacation?
Absolutely. I was actually just commenting to my brother that I haven’t been back to Madison (hometown) in almost two years now. I guess moving will do that to you. Although Madison is nice, I think a warm weather vacation is long overdue. However, we will be traveling to Hawaii in Christmas for the Diamond Head Classic -working trip for me; vacation for Michelyn.
Any comical events occur during recent practices?
Nothing too crazy, but Wadly Mompremier is a funny guy. Also our most improved player to this point. He is making great strides every day...
Oh! There was the time that Treg Setty tripped over his own feet trying to run to the sideline. That video pretty much went viral in Bobcat land and we had fun with it.
We've got some great personalities on the team so it is easy to have fun.
How are the guys doing in practice?
Just like any team at the beginning of the year, particularly a team with a new coaching staff; we have had some growing pains but they come to work every day and play extremely hard. We are a week out from our first competition, and two weeks from our regular season opener. It is important that we continue to improve over these next two weeks.
Which games are you most looking forward to?
I am really looking forward to the tournament in Hawaii. The Diamond Head Classic will be a lot of fun, and it will be great to compete against the likes of George Washington, Wichita State, and Nebraska. It would be great to play against our former boss Tim Miles. We all had some great times at North Dakota State, and his team would be a challenge. They have built a winner quickly in Lincoln.
Yes! It was a great experience last year and I will be writing five entries for them this year. Chris DiSano of College Chalktalk was gracious enough to invite me back. I am hoping to add to their video series this year, in addition to guest bloggers for a few entries. It should be fun!
I hear your wife made you buy green pants, any word if we can see you adorned in a green jacket?
That is a possibility! I do know however, the green pants will not be worn during a game even though I think I look good in Green…Go BOBCATS!
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