The MidMajors

Gary Redus Press Conference Breakdown | Coaching Changes, NIL & Transfer Portal

• Tacarra Barnes & Courtney Lumpkin

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0:00 | 1:13:45

In this episode of The MidMajors Podcast, Tacarra and Courtney react to the recent press conference from Gary Redus and break down what it reveals about coaching culture, team dynamics, and the current state of women’s college basketball.

We dive into coaching transitions, the impact of NIL and the transfer portal, and how today’s players are changing the way programs operate. From leadership and accountability to fan reactions and social media, this is an unfiltered conversation about the realities behind the game.

If you’re into women’s college basketball, coaching strategy, NIL, and transfer portal discussions, this episode is for you.

🎯 What We Discuss

• Fan reactions, criticism, and social media culture in sports
• Loyalty, support, and navigating online communities
• Coaching transitions and their impact on team culture
• The evolving role of assistant coaches
• NIL and how it’s influencing programs and funding
• Transfer portal trends and player movement
• Generational differences in players and coaching styles
• Building trust, respect, and buy-in within teams

SPEAKER_04

Ooh, y'all was mad. It's okay. Let's talk about it. Welcome to the Mid Majors podcast where the real hoop talk happens unfiltered and unapologetic. I am one of your hosts, Takara, and with me I got my girl Courtney, and we are the Mid Majors. I'ma say this again. Welcome to the Mid Majors Podcast where the real hoop talk happens, unfiltered and unapologetic. Cause honey, ooh, y'all was mad. Ooh. Y'all was so mad at us.

SPEAKER_07

I feel like we need a vibe check. What's going on in them comments?

SPEAKER_04

Do you feel like do you really feel like it was like a we need a vibe check? Or do you feel like it was like for me? Because I'll be honest, like, I didn't really, I read like some, I didn't read them all.

SPEAKER_07

I didn't read them all either.

SPEAKER_04

I read a couple. Because it's just like, at the end of the day, the way I see this, right? It's like, one, when you're like elevating, you get what I'm saying? Like, it's gonna be good, it's gonna be bad, it's gonna be ugly. So, like for me, the way I see it, I see it just like basketball. Like, either when you're they love you, sometimes they hate you, if that makes sense. So for me, it's just more like I don't take anything personal, like whatsoever. Now, some of it I did laugh. Like, I'm gonna be honest. So, like, one, I don't know who it was. They was like, well, we got called trashy, which I was like, oh, spicy. And then it was y'all two make me sick.

SPEAKER_07

I guess I'm trying to figure out what I'm gonna I want to go through the comments because I don't what are they what are they mad about?

SPEAKER_04

Uh the shade. We're we're reaching.

SPEAKER_07

What are what are they mad about? What am I what are we reaching for?

SPEAKER_04

We're reaching. We read to it. We're reaching at Kim Moki. They some people didn't see it shady, which they're entitled to feel that way. End of the day, the best comment, like I said, that we have received for this show is like we say what we see. Right? It's we have our opinion. Everybody else can have their opinion too. We say what we see. We saw it a certain way, you can see it a certain way, which is fine. Like, and like we said before too, it's like some of y'all mad, y'all mad, some of y'all been mad, some of you stay mad, but keep coming back to watch the show. I make that make sense, which is fine. Like you said, like y'all, we love, I I love y'all anyway. Even though the person who called me trashy, I love you anyway. Because I've been a lot of things and trashy ain't one. I to I'll tell you that. I consider myself to be, you know, whatever, not that. But um, it's just funny to me because like it's a wave, is what I'm learning with this. It's like sometimes people are gonna be, oh my god, you guys are so great. Some of the like, you guys stop, you guys are shooting she. You guys are the worst show, you guys are clout chasing, you guys are just trying to do this reviews, you're using this reviews.

SPEAKER_07

If I wanted to get views, I could. We both like honestly, we could. We could. Because we could also if we wanted to clout chase, we could. We could. Y'all don't know who we know, right? We know a lot of people, y'all. We know a lot of people. Um that too. So, yeah, I mean, I guess I I would have to like go back and uh like the one I'm looking at right now, unsubbed. I'm gonna do it. Like, have you ever seen that meme? Oh, damn. You ever see have you ever seen that video where he's like he's like reading the like um the comments and he's like saying it exactly how it's like written.

SPEAKER_04

Like, so it's like I'll be I'll be doing that too. That's how I did what the one was like, y'all's sick. That's how I did it too. That that's I've I've literally it's so funny because I like literally sent that to my friends and like we've been like rolling like all day long. But it's like that's fine too. If you want to unsub, uh-sub. Like, that's fine. It's it's it's not it, it's gonna be that way. I'm totally fine with that. If you, you know, like I said, I do, but you know what?

SPEAKER_07

Like, I'll I'll be honest with you. That shit get that shit. I don't like that shit.

SPEAKER_04

You don't like what?

SPEAKER_07

I don't like that shit. Well don't you? Either you loyal or you not. I think that it's just I be wanting I be wanting a loyal, like loyalty. You get what I'm saying? They're there. I know they are, and I I ain't talking to those people. You know what I'm saying? Like, those people know, like those people know. I I I don't like that. Like, I just be like, okay, you if you unsubbed, don't bring your ass back. That's how I feel. Now, that that's really how I feel. I feel you. I am so big on that. Like, then don't don't don't you bring your ass back here if you unsubbed. Okay. You know what I'm saying? Like, where's the loyalty? If you down, you down. If you said you was a mid-ranger, you a mid-ranger. Unfiltered and unapologetic. Okay? That's that's true too. If if if you are the type that gets in your feelings about stuff, this then this show ain't for you. You know what I'm saying? This show is not for you. Um, but at the same time, like, I want to respect everybody's perspectives and and stuff like that. You know what I mean? Um, just don't get disrespectful or anything like that. You know what I'm saying? I don't like that. I don't like that. Yeah. What was disrespectful? Trashy? I'm just saying, like, don't, yeah, like don't call me no names. Take your ass somewhere else then.

SPEAKER_04

Well, I do have a little something because you know, I legit, I don't hold anybody here. I want you to always be free. So, just really quick before we go any further. Um give me one second, because I do have a little something for you guys. I do have some transfer portal papers for you to sign because I get it. And it's some that's relationships, that's how relationships work. So I do have some portal papers. If you want it, just let me know. We can get it signed, we can move on, and you are free to go. We won't block you from going elsewhere, we won't block you at all. We will let you go free. Go ahead and free yourself, like Fantasia said. The car is so petty.

SPEAKER_07

Oh my gosh. No, you didn't. I did. I here I am. I'm like, I'm like, where is the loyalty? And you like, I mean, like, instead of dying and bust out with the with the transfer portal paper.

SPEAKER_04

Because it is what it is. And that's the thing, and I'm gonna go ahead and say this too. We're not gonna get in no habit. I'm not finna be addressing everybody. Like, and that's another thing too. If you ever expect, if y'all ever expect us to go back and forth with y'all, I'm definitely not going to do that. Like, that's not happening. I'm too busy throughout the day. Like, I'm that's definitely not gonna happen. But you know, the way I see it is it's like people that's one thing I learned about the internet. I watch a lot of podcasters, like the internet will switch up on you quick. It's like I see it all the time. It could be like somebody could do something or somebody does something, it's somebody in the comments. They like, I never really liked her anyway. I always knew it was something off about her. What did you know was off about her?

unknown

Right.

SPEAKER_07

What did you know was off about her? I don't know. Sometimes it'd be like, so like this comment here, so somebody says, I mean, they were recruiters and not coaches, and not coaches on the floor. I gathered they will, and see, I appreciate this is my thing. So somebody says, I didn't hear it that way. So it's like, okay, if you didn't hear it that way, explain why. You get what I'm saying? I'll I I just be wanting to know. You know what I'm saying? Like, let like what is it? You know, because it is like a dialogue of like, okay, this is what you feel, this is how I feel, and that's fine. You get what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_04

And you know, and that's the thing too. I didn't mean to cut you off. So, like, I can just use this example as far as like, okay, I'll use marriage, for example, just because whatever. So, like, me and my husband, we could have a conversation, we could be talking about something. I heard something totally different than what he said, but it could be two different things. I he could be a man, I could be a woman, I could be in my feelings, I heard it a certain way. Yeah, but I'm like, okay, explain to me why you said that. Oh, let me tell you how I took it. And like, oh no, you took it that way. I did not take it that way. You should never should that's just exactly you know what I'm saying? So it's like when you have dialogue like that, like, but you know what I'm saying? If that makes sense, that's how you do it. Right, no, it absolutely does.

SPEAKER_07

And and I guess that's my thing. It's like I much rather like just like say how you feel. Yeah, like just say how you feel. Just you didn't hear it that way. Why? Why got you? You get what I'm saying? Um that that's what, like, so like even like this person says, I didn't, I mean they were recruiters and not coaches on the floor. I gathered they will be missed, but they weren't essential pieces to the product on the floor, other than getting them. I didn't see it shady, just dumbed down enough for the media she's addressing. She's making sure they get the story right.

SPEAKER_04

There's a lot of sides, there's always a lot of sides to a story. That's just period. Not saying that there is one, you know what I'm saying, but that's nor here nor there. But I mean, like I said, for me, I don't take any of this stuff personal. Like, you can y'all can be mad at me. Like I said, y'all be mad at me. If you go, like I say, like I always say, I got teammates who've been mad at the coach since we left, and that was 12 years ago. Yeah, that's that's real. Like, for me, you know, like I said, I give you transfer portals, and that is what it is. But like, I don't take this stuff personal. Like, that's so funny because I'm like the complete opposite.

SPEAKER_07

Are you?

SPEAKER_04

Girl.

SPEAKER_07

Not take it, but I I'm not like personal. You was like pissed off? Not personal. No, I just get like I'm more of the type that's just like got you.

SPEAKER_03

I'm done. Got you.

SPEAKER_07

I'm not, I mean, I'm not taking it personal, I'm not doing it, whatever, but I'm just got you.

SPEAKER_03

Done.

SPEAKER_07

I don't want I don't want no flip-flopping, like flip-flopping stuff.

SPEAKER_04

Like I for me though, I think that that's the internet and I think that's social media. It it really when it truly is, they'll turn on your ass so fast so fast, it's so crazy. You could be you could be like literally up here today, and then the next day, like you say one thing wrong, or somebody, it it happens literally all the time. Like, I think that that comes with it. So, like for me, like I look at other people, right? I just look at other people and where they are where they're at and what they have to deal with. Like certain people that I follow, and I'm just like, mmm, like it comes with it. But the way I see it too, if you if you want to be great, if you want to elevate and you want to take things to the next level, you gotta deal with the good, the bad, and the ugly. So I eat whatever. You get what I'm saying? So like I eat whatever. But for me, it's just like if you if you unsub, okay. Like, I hope you find what you're looking for. Because like I said, if you I I've said this before on the show before, I know that I am not for everyone. I know that about myself. And that is okay, because everybody ain't for me.

SPEAKER_07

And I think that and it's so funny, y'all, because we always say this that me and Takara are yin-gang yang. We're that's completely different in that way. And me being more of a people pleaser type of thing. You know what I'm saying? Like, I don't want to be making people upset. I ain't trying to hurt nobody's feelings. I don't want to hurt nobody's feelings or nothing like that. That's that's really how I am, you know what I mean? Um something I be trying to get out of, but to my core, that is who I am. You know what I mean? That's who I am. I think sometimes I just be like, well, hold on now. Like, I'm the type that's like wants the last word. Like, do it. What? Do it, especially if I'm trying to, if I'm like making my point, like you know what I'm saying? Like, it depends. Like, if if it's a point that needs to be made, you get what I'm saying, and you're not you're not catching it, you know what I'm saying? I guess but you're still coming at me with stuff, then I'm gonna keep coming with stuff, like until you understand. I can get like that sometimes. So for me, it's easier for me to go, I'm done. You get what I'm saying? Like if I don't have the the care in it, you get what I'm saying? Yes, but I think I care so much about our podcast. Um, I care so much about the people that have supported us so far. Yeah. Um, that I'll be honest, uh, because I said I'm a people pleaser in that way, the people that have supported us so far, they kind of hold a special place in terms of this podcast and how far we've gotten. You know what I'm saying? For sure, for sure. Not saying that we haven't worked our ass off to get here. You get what I'm saying? Um, but the people that have been like locked in with us from like day one um and stuff like that or whatever, um, I think it's just that where it's just like, oh man, I'm sorry you felt that way. Like, you know what I mean? It's and and I think that's where we differ. Like, you know what I'm saying? That's where we differ. Um, so it just takes some some time to get get used to, like, for me at least. Like, yeah.

SPEAKER_04

We definitely are, yeah. Because for me, I straight up to sh if this was your first time being disappointed by me, baby, you're gonna be disappointed even more times after this. Like, it ain't and I can't, you know what I'm saying? I can't, I can't promise, I can't tell you I ain't gonna come on here and piss you off. You know, but that just is what it is to me. Like, I think that that's just life. Like, not everybody's gonna be happy. Not everybody's not gonna agree with what you say. Y'all might love me today, y'all might hate me tomorrow. I am okay with that. That does not bother me whatsoever. Like me, I just, I've just never been a people pleaser. And that's why if we think about too, when I had talked about like last episode, how when I wanted to get into coaching, I saw what people was on and I saw what you kind of had to do. You get and I said immediately, that is not for me because I know my personality is just not going to work.

SPEAKER_07

So I'm just you're not necessarily the person that's playing the game. No.

SPEAKER_04

You're not playing no game. No, I'm not playing. And and to that point too, to that point too, I don't play, and I for me, I'm consistent with that. So for like me, it's like I don't have to play even with the YouTube game, about I we've never once had a conversation. Well, let's talk about this because this is gonna get more views. Right. I don't play, I don't, I don't play that game. You get what I'm saying? Just because you gotta, like Mary J, you gotta take me as I am. So it's just like, I just don't, that's not games that I play. I'm not with the rah-rah with that. Like I said, if it's a lot of games that I could play. Because I mean, end of the day, I have sources. Could I come on here and say who my sources are, what my no, because why? I don't play that game. And my relationship with people is more important than anything that I got. Anything, anything that's on here. Facts. You feel me? You feel what I'm saying? So it's just like for me, it's just it is what it is, girl. Like, like I said, you gotta give them their transfer portal. Sometimes it just don't work out. And then that's okay. That's just you can, and I and like I always say this too, like, even you know, you you can y'all can call me whatever y'all want to play. Y'all can call me whatever y'all want to call. Y'all can play whatever games y'all want to play. I don't take anything personal. Oh, or the only thing I don't play with, I do not play with my husband. I I don't play with that. My marriage and my husband, I I don't play about that. That's the only thing where okay, you know what I'm saying? That's the only thing, but you can say whatever you want to say about me because like I said, I've been to a place before in my life where I have said worse things to myself than anybody can ever say to me. And that's just the real as real as it gets. But anywho, um, so should we watch Gary's press conference? Yeah, let's get into it. Do you have anything else you want to say with that? Nah. Yeah, for real. That was it. So um, like I said, that was it. So if you want your transfer portals, just let me know. We'll make sure you get to the right place, we'll make sure you get to the right location.

SPEAKER_07

I'm not. See, Takara still cares a little. I'm wherever you land is where you land.

SPEAKER_04

I don't know. Yeah, so whatever. But best of but best wishing you the best if you did unsub. If you're not if you don't like us anymore, wishing you the best. I will say that always. Dang. Welcome to the mid babies where the real who talk happens, unfiltered and unapologetic. But anywho, so let's get to this because this was requested that we watch. And I got right to the part, I went to the part where Gary starts talking, where he starts doing his thing. Also, too, before I do want to address somebody asked us to talk about um our perspective of postseason play, about the WBI, uh, the women's basketball invitational, which when I played it, because I've played in both. I've played in the WNIT, I've played in the WBI, and I played in the preseason WNIT. So um make sure we get to that because somebody wanted to talk about that. So make sure I don't forget.

SPEAKER_07

Okay.

SPEAKER_04

But let's get into this. Let's let's walk, let's see what Gary got going on. Because y'all said y'all like these. Some people said they really like they really enjoyed these. So here we go.

SPEAKER_02

How y'all doing out there? This is exciting. Uh God never said that the journey would be easy, but he did say that the arrival would be worthwhile. And this moment is just that. I would like to start.

SPEAKER_04

I ain't gonna lie, that light hit me. That was powerful.

SPEAKER_07

I felt that's why. When I first watched it, I did. I said, I said, I said, amen.

unknown

I felt that.

SPEAKER_07

I said amen.

SPEAKER_02

Start by thanking President Tate, Kelly Zinn for entrusting me with the future of Rutgers Women's Basketball. It is truly a privilege and an honor to stand before you today, and I want you to know that I recognize that and will work diligently to re-establish Rutgers Women's Basketball amongst the nation's elite. Many of the head coaches here have already reached out to welcome me uh and our family to the banks. I can't wait to meet you all, uh, work with you all, and learn the many great things about this great place. There are a couple people that I've already started to work with who've been so helpful this past week. Brittany, Fout, Hassim, Aaron, all of y'all. Thank you. Thank you so much. Uh, I would like to recognize my family who's here with me today, my beautiful wife, Tiffany Reedas. Uh, none of this is possible without your support. Uh, your love, your understanding, your taking care of everything while I run around to coach basketball.

SPEAKER_04

You always gotta thank the wife, honey. You have to you you always gotta thank the wife, baby. Okay, and the mother of your kid, okay? Oh, you always gotta do that.

SPEAKER_07

He said all that you do without running around playing basketball. I know that's right. Acknowledge it.

SPEAKER_04

Acknowledge it, acknowledge that, honey. I like it. Basketball.

SPEAKER_02

Our six-year-old son, Gio. There he is. He is the most excited about all of this easily. Our four-year-old daughter, Ella, who I'm trying to convince to play basketball one day so I can coach her, but right now, no, that's right. She's she's more in the stuffies and superheroes. Uh I had more family who planned on being here today. My parents and one of my sisters uh planned on being here, but bad weather, cancel flights, uh, and all of the crazy travel things affecting everyone right now uh held them from being here. But I know that they're home watching, I know that they're proud, and I'm pretty sure that my mom is still crying. She's been crying all week. Other people here today, Carl Reed.

SPEAKER_04

I love to see the black man win. I'm sorry. I know.

SPEAKER_07

I know. And I was hold on, I was like sad. Like, what do you mean his parents couldn't make it his sister?

SPEAKER_04

I'm telling I I I love to see it. But go ahead.

SPEAKER_02

My friend, my agent, Max Nikwasa, my friend of almost 20 years, and my former teammate. Uh, it's so important to have a great circle to keep you grounded, to hold you accountable, and they've all played a huge role in this journey. Thank you for rearranging your schedules and being here to share in this moment. Thank you to the people who have helped along the way, the colleagues, the players, the supporters. Uh, thank you. Thank you to everyone who gave me an opportunity. Scott Groninger, Craig Roden, Stephanie White, Toyelle Wilson, Kim Mulkey. Thank you. Thank you to everybody who believed in me. Uh, to the ones who've poured into me, who've mentored me, told me I was good enough, helped so much during this transition. Uh, a few special people that I would like to just mention. Bob Starkey, Coach Yo, Joni Taylor, Sharika Wright, again with all of my heart. Thank you. Uh, a lot of people have asked what my goals are for this program and how I plan on turning things around. And two things come to mind. First, I have to change the attitude about Rutgers Women's Basketball. I grew up on Rutgers Women's Basketball.

SPEAKER_07

Because uh there are a lot of And I feel like that sh that's gonna be hard to do, but not.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07

You know what I mean? Like I feel like he can bring that back though. Because um one of my teammates in high school, uh Maya McCuse's on my wall. Maya McCurdy, she went to Rutgers and played for Vivian Stringer, and she played on that team when they made it to the what was it, when they beat Duke Vivian Stringer. Or whatever. And shoot, that was when they was in school, them four years. Ruckers was up there. Vivian Stringer and Rutgers was up there.

SPEAKER_04

No, it's a it's a you know, so you I told you, you know that uh that's my homegirl's aunt. Yes, you did see that. I forgot about that. But um, I mean, I get what you're coming from on that too, because I I feel you, because like it could be like a new, it's been a while, if it makes sense. So it could be like a new generation, and it really could be like a he brought this back. So ask me, it really is like a situation of showing what you made of, if it makes sense. You can come turn this around and get this back even better. You know what I'm saying? Like, you done did something.

SPEAKER_07

It's a big basketball community up there. He could definitely do that, you know, for sure.

SPEAKER_02

A lot of people who forgot the storied history. Teresa Grantz, the the Coyle twins, Sue Wix, C. Vivian Stringer, all of the CVS kids. Uh, we have to bridge that gap and respect the past in order to embrace the future. Uh, the second thing is, and when I say this, I'm speaking directly to every high-level athlete, high-level high school player in the state and in the tri-state area, especially, specifically New Jersey, because you are our first priority. We will recruit the best players in the country and work relentlessly to build, hold on, let me get down, to build a championship level roster. But locking down home is priority one. High school, AAU coaches, players, parents, our campus is open, and this is your standing invite. Again, thank you to all who played a role in this journey. We know that we have work to do. We get it, and I can't wait to get started. Fans, both past and present, students, alumni, everybody in the area. Get your season tickets now. Period. Because soon, I'm telling you, it won't be a lot of them available. We're gonna turn it around.

SPEAKER_05

You better come through and be confident for your new job.

SPEAKER_07

That's what I'm talking about, black man. That's what I'm talking about. Okay.

SPEAKER_05

Make me want to go get a ticket.

SPEAKER_07

Okay, I need to go check out a records game.

SPEAKER_05

Make me go get a ticket.

SPEAKER_02

We're gonna do it quick. Everyone wants to support a winner, and we plan on doing just that. The love and support our family has received has truly been overwhelming. I don't take it for granted, and I promise to make you all proud. In closing, I have one simple question. Are you ready? Thank you.

SPEAKER_04

Oh, I need who helped him with this speech? I need one. Of course. Good point. I was gonna say, because I need a little BR person, whoever, you know, the prep. Okay, but anyway. Hey, I love that. It was out, it was awesome. Let's keep going. Because it ain't over.

SPEAKER_07

Now, pause real quick. Now, I will say he has such good vibes. Yeah. I feel like he's a good. I don't obviously I don't know this man. I ain't never been coached by this man, but he seems like he seems like a like he would be a great like head coach. But also like he's he he's very much and what makes him what I feel like what is gonna make him a great coach on top of like all the other skills he has is that he is such in tune with the player today.

SPEAKER_04

And that matters, and that matters so much. And that because if you think about it, like you know how we talk about just like the we always with the this new generation, this new he understands that new generation he's hip. You get what I'm saying? Like he's hip, he knows what's the trends, you get what I'm saying? Like that stuff matters, like that stuff absolutely matters, and also too, like he's coming at a good time too, because if you think about it, just with like a lot of those older people, but besides like a few, they've struggled adjusting to this NIL culture because it ain't the same, it ain't the same game no more.

SPEAKER_07

That's so true. And you know what? This is a great point because I think this is what like I think when we talk about Kim Moki's interview, I think, and this is it from watching his thing. I think what made me more most upset is that and people are saying, even people, somebody, so somebody in the comments they said we were reading it, they were we were reading into it too much, right? I remember one of the things that I said in that video, it was just like it sounds like she's downplaying their role. Like that's what it sounded like to me. Like, you know what I mean? They were just scouting coaches, and granted, that could be the case, but I feel like all of those roles are so important. I think I just I I think for me, I think it it just struck a nerve with me. Cause I'm just like, bro, like all of those coaches are important. There have been assistant coaches that have pulled me off the brink. Do you hear me? Yeah, you know what I mean? Like, and if it wasn't for those assistant coaches, like it, I mean, I've been coached by assistant coaches that have pulled me through some stuff. You know what I'm saying? Pulled me through slumps, pulled me through attitudes, pulled me through you get what I'm saying? Gave me that motivation, get all of that stuff. You know what I'm saying? Um, and recruiting coach or not, whatever your role was, I think all of them are important to the greater good of the whole team. Yeah. So for him, I think like just hearing him talk right now, he he very much gave me that. Yeah. Gave me that buffer for those girls. You know what I'm saying? Somebody that maybe like understood them at their level and where they're at. Because I've had a coach like that. You get what I'm saying? That genuinely, when I would come out and I would be, especially during AAU, like, and y'all, y'all need to go back and watch our older videos because we talk in depth about our playing time, you know, our the who we play for, how we play, all these things. Yeah. But when I was coming up in AAU, I had to really work hard to get my position. You know what I mean? Our team, all our girls on our AAU team went D1. Every single one of them. Same. We all went D1. And um, I had to work to get that spot to get playing time. But on that journey, it was tough. You go in for five minutes and pull you out, don't know what you did. You do one thing, they pull you out, you know what I'm saying? Or and the next person goes in there and they do the exact same thing and then they stay in there for five more plays. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? That's a mental thing that you gotta kind of overcome. When I would come out, my dad would be on the end. Now he ain't say much. Now all he would say to me was, You just be ready when your name is called. I don't tell you. You know what I'm saying? Like, just stay ready. But I had another assistant coach that was like, he would it That's so funny. He was a great buffer. We some OGs. Great, great coach, great, great coach. Won the state championship for girls last year at Winwoods at my high school. But he was such a great buffer for me. Oh my gosh. Like when I would come out, he could he could tell that I was upset. But he would just be like, Courtney. He's like, just stay cool. You know what I'm saying? Next time you go out there, do X, Y, and Z. All right. Stay ready. You got it. Like, and just like you got it, you got it. You know what to do. We work on this all the time. Blah, blah, blah. But could I say, like, oh, he was just a he was just a coach that talked to the girls on the team. You know what I'm saying? No. Yeah. They're all equally important. And I think that's what that's what triggered me. I'm like, I don't care if you're a scouting coach. I don't care if you get the the water, if you the manager, I don't care. I I need the water. Thank you for bringing my water, manager. You are equally as important. Like, you know what I'm saying? That's that's me though. Not everybody has that perspective, right? Right. But that's me. And I went on this whole long tangent just because I don't know this man. No. He gives me really great vibes. Like he's somebody that I would want to play for.

SPEAKER_04

So for me, it wasn't that part, like the recruiter part. For me, it was the I'll let this person go past the balls, and then I'll let this person go stand by this person. For me, it was that. That was that too.

SPEAKER_07

That too. I mean, it's still, it still was the the downplaying of their role. Got you. Right? Got you. Like you're a scouting coach, and then you're good enough to just go past them the ball. Like that's all you're good for is recruiting the talent and passing them the ball. Nothing.

SPEAKER_04

So when you went to when you went to Moorhead, who got you there?

SPEAKER_07

Who got me there? So we had so my first two years, I've obviously I had a different coaching staff. Right. So my first two years, I loved our coaching staff, Val. I felt like that coaching staff and the way they recruited, they understood their players. Yes. They knew how to talk to them. They knew what would get them going. You know what I'm saying? Like, um, and I I loved them all. And then when we had our new coaching staff, you know what? I liked our assistant coaches. I just didn't necessarily click with the head coach too much. You know what I'm saying? I felt like the head coach at the time, he was new, so he's trying to prove his, you know what I mean? Like, and I understand that, you know. But at the same time, that's what the assistant coaches are there for. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, you have to let them fill in where you're not the strongest. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_04

So, in your practices, who ran the practice? Because, like, my my now, my freshman year, my head assistant, she ran the practices. The assistants usually they ran the practices. The head coach wasn't involved. Sometimes it's like that. You get what I'm saying? Like it was just talking, like, sometimes it's like that. Um, I'll tell you a story about me when I was a freshman. My assistant coach, the my recruitment coordinator, that's who sold me, that's who got me there. And my freshman year, they would bump heads because she would want me to play. She would come out, say, like, Takar is just better than this. She has to be out there. So that's when I became to, they put me at the four. I played a post player and I'm 5'6 because it was at the end of the day, like she got to be out there. Definitely. So that was a that if so I'm thankful for my recruiter slash assistant coach because that's who kept me at that school.

SPEAKER_07

Exactly. So, but but her role was important though, right?

SPEAKER_04

No, she was like, if I had, if I spent time with someone when I was there, if you know you had the, I'ma call it what it is, you have your players on a team who you gonna keep happy. I was kept happy by her. If that makes sense. Like, that's who kept me happy.

SPEAKER_07

But um, all that too and to piggyback off of that, and I know, I'm so sorry.

SPEAKER_04

No, you cool.

SPEAKER_07

Y'all can fast forward. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you can fast forward, and I'm trying to like get it. I love this conversation when you were talking. Um, and I think another thing that kind of triggered me to I think, and I think it was more personal because I went through a coaching change. Yeah. You know what I mean? Where I really cared for my coaches.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07

You know what I mean? Like I I loved them. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like they were, like, I loved my coaches that that recruited me, that when I got there, like loved them. And it was very, very hard to lose that that that support system. You know what I mean? Like, uh just knowing how hard college basketball is and college sports is.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07

You always need those people to kind of like push you through and you know what I mean? Yeah. So I I think too, I'm I'm thinking about the girls. Um, and I'm just like, you know, when we talked about video, I'm just like, why couldn't you just let them finish the season? You know, I think I'm coming. I understand. Him, I understand why not.

SPEAKER_04

But you know, the other one. But to your point, when you talk about the players, right? So I've I've went I went through a lot of assistant changes. And you literally could be in practice one day and you could come back tomorrow and they're gone. No goodbye, no explanation. That that can happen too. And that doesn't, and you feel like you deserve answers, and you feel like of well, what happened? Like, did you just quit on? You know what I'm saying? Did you just quit or how did it go? But in this case, it's it's totally different. You know, obviously they got better good, but you guys, right? But if we're just talking about as far as from a player standpoint, like I've been there where I've lost, you know, a coach, and I'm just like, damn, like, but I I mean, if I keep it above though, the most important ones was all was right there. Like, we can't, you know what I'm saying? I will say that. But right, you it it'd be like, damn, I liked her. Like, what happened?

SPEAKER_07

I know, and I think, yeah, it's just seeing him talk right now. I'm just like, okay, this is it, it was like a full circle moment.

SPEAKER_04

It made you emotional. I'm emotional watching.

SPEAKER_07

I'm loving to see it. I'm loving to see it. Okay.

SPEAKER_04

Go ahead, go ahead.

unknown

Okay.

SPEAKER_10

Hey Gary, welcome to Rutgers. Dom Sabino, Big Ten Plus. Uh, you mentioned your affinity for Rutgers and the memories. Why Rutgers and why now?

SPEAKER_02

It's the people. I think for me, it's always the people. I think my relationship with with Kelly and with President Tate, it made it a no-brainer for me.

SPEAKER_04

And we knew that information, y'all, for the FYI people. We we we knew that. We knew about the relationship. Oh yeah. We we knew that. That's we knew that for the FYI. We need to do better research. We we've been though.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

We we knew.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

FYI to you too.

SPEAKER_02

I think that I've seen them work. I I've seen them uh and the investment that they're gonna put into women's basketball was something that I couldn't turn down. And for me, Rutgers, it would be kind of why not.

SPEAKER_17

Congratulations, coach. Marvin Chambers before putting on sports media. Coach, you talked about a few things, but what is your immediate vision for Rutgers, basketball, and what is your benchmark to be successful?

SPEAKER_02

I think a lot of people can gauge success a lot of different ways. I think for me is Rutgers needs to be relevant again. And again, I think that we have to change the attitude around the entire program. I think that it comes from yes, winning games, and we're gonna do that, and we plan to do that. But I think that making Rutgers relevant again in the media, in the digital media space, amongst recruits, amongst everybody in the country, people need to be talking about rutgers. And I think that's what I plan on doing immediately. And that's kind of the benchmark of success for me right away.

SPEAKER_20

Gary, Kevin Parrington turned from the Asbury Park Press. You mentioned bringing home players from New Jersey. Have you got a chance to check out the Red Band Catholics, St. John Vianney's top schools and top players? And what have you thought so far?

SPEAKER_04

Damn, he just got there. What you mean he got a chance? Woo! Dang, I just flew in today.

SPEAKER_05

They be wanting you to, and that's why he had to go. That right there, that's why he couldn't. I mean now that that's the proof and the pudding. So that that one having to move on, I understand. Because baby. Okay. That's why he had to go ahead and go on to Jersey, homie.

SPEAKER_04

Go ahead. That's why. I get that.

SPEAKER_02

Being at all the schools that I've been at, I've recruited nationally. And I think this is one of the regions that I frequented the most. So I've seen all the best schools. I've seen all the best players. And I'm impressed. I I've recruited a lot of these players to the schools that I've been at. So I'm excited to not have to take a long flight. I'm excited to be able to drive to the games now and be able to go see the players that I need to see and keep them home.

SPEAKER_04

That's an amazing, phenomenal answer.

SPEAKER_07

That is a phenomenal answer.

SPEAKER_04

Phenomenal answer.

SPEAKER_07

Phenomenal answer. Phenomenal. I already know I am so excited to watch Rutgers next year.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07

I feel motivated. I cannot wait to see what they cook up.

SPEAKER_04

I'm ready to see the portal.

SPEAKER_07

I mean, yeah.

SPEAKER_04

I'm ready to see who they get. You get what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_07

Because I mean because they've already had a couple players enter from Rutgers.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. But you know, so the T on that, from what I hear, just with a player, all the players, is we're starting to see players now do the whole little. So apparently that's kind of like a whole getting an offer over here. So I can get an offer here, if it makes sense. Shopping around. I got this type of money coming in. What you mean? What you mean? What you mean? So, like now with the transfer portal, from what I've heard, it's like now kids will put their name in the portal and still could possibly stay to see what they could get if it makes sense this early. Okay You get what I'm saying? This early, because it's early. You get what I'm saying? Which is a good move from a business side. But I think that comes with it.

SPEAKER_07

But it's like also- How does that work with like the other team though?

SPEAKER_04

What you mean?

SPEAKER_07

Like, so say I'm playing for I'm Okay, I'm at Moorhead, right? Okay. And I don't know if I'm gonna stay or go. Okay. I'm gonna put my name in the portal anyway. Okay. Do you still practice at the Moorhead facilities and stuff?

SPEAKER_04

I think it's all about does Moorhead want to keep you there? Do they want you back?

SPEAKER_07

Let's my gosh. It is like they like salespeople now.

SPEAKER_04

Let me tell you, do you know? Do you know? Like, people have now, people have roster budgets. No facts. It's a roster budget now.

SPEAKER_07

Let me tell you this story. I have a friend that used to uh coach or whatever, and um her her kids and my kids, we're all like friends or whatever. And they sh uh her son had a birthday party and we're in the elevator, and this older couple gets on older couple gets on the uh elevator and they had on like Porsche, uh Porsche like sports jackets and stuff like that. Yeah. And she's in the elevator. She's like, we don't know these people, you know what I'm saying? We just on our way to the pool. But it was like an opportunity, and she would just like, oh, like I see y'all have on Porsche like sports coats, like where are you going? You know, oh, we're going to this Porsche convention, like, you know, blah, blah, blah. We flew into town, you know, whatever, whatever. She's like, Oh, okay. She said, Are y'all trying to um sponsor any players at such and such? I coach at, you know, this university, you know what I mean? Like, so if you're open to it, like, you know, and I'm just like, when we when they got, and they were like, oh no, like we're okay. Like, and they asked like where she coached at, and she, you know, whatever. And they're like, no, we're okay, blah, blah. So when we got out the over there, I said, girl, I said, y'all like salespeople. She said, girl, it's constant. Yeah. She said, it's constant. Like you always, she's like, you're always trying to find money, get money. Oh, you know what I mean? Because you have to have it. Like, you know what I mean? But it was just a fact that like she didn't know these people, but she had to be like, oh, not be like, but it's just almost like, hey, like, are y'all trying to like give to like the university? Like, are you trying you giving them?

SPEAKER_04

You know that they host like vendor. Some of these univers hosts like bender events for to fund this NIL. They've had to build whole departments. I mean, Tennessee Tech State sending me something in the mail, and I'd be like, I'm giving already over here. We done started another club. How many clubs we got? We got the we got the the legacy club, we got the quarterback club, we got the talent club. Baby, we got about 65 clubs. But you know what I'm saying? But it's like, but I'ma say this though, like I told you, these mid-major programs with these people having these big rosters, like, we're gonna have to figure something out. And they better be nice to these alumni because they need us now more than ever. You better be they need us now.

SPEAKER_03

But uh would you absolutely?

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Okay.

SPEAKER_00

Hi, coach, Nikki Guest on NJ Sports. Um, what have you learned from your time at LSU that best practices that you're gonna bring here to records?

SPEAKER_02

I think what I've not only just learned at LSU, but every stop along the way. I've been in those championship moments. I've seen the hard conversations that lead to excellence. Uh, I've seen what it takes to prepare a team to not just win games, but but win those big games and take the next steps and win championships. Uh, and I think those are the moments that you really can't duplicate. And those are the moments that that I've been learning from and and journaling and recording and kind of keeping it up here for when it was my moment. And now I get to put it into practice, and and that's what I'm most excited about.

SPEAKER_04

Stay ready so you ain't gotta get ready, okay? Don't don't get caught sleep uh sleeping, okay.

SPEAKER_08

Hey hey Gary, Steve Politti from NJ.com. I've got I've got a two-parter for you. I'm curious first, what kind of style of play do you anticipate your team's running?

SPEAKER_02

I want to play fast. I want to play fast. I want to get the ball movement. I really want to space the floor, uh and and not so much run set after set after set. I really want to teach ball movement, player movement. Stephanie White, uh, one of my mentors and one of my old bosses at Vanderbilt, she did a really good job of it, and she now coaches with the Indiana Fever, and that's something that I want to duplicate. Um, not do it exactly like it, but I want to play fast. I want to get really good players, give them space, and let them be the really good players that they are.

SPEAKER_04

I forget. He was at Bandy when I lived in Nashville. I forget because I like went to like I think again. Yeah, I remember.

SPEAKER_08

Uh and just to follow up to that, uh Kim Mulkie had about Starkey, an experienced assistant coach on her staff. Do you foresee the need for someone with some experience? Uh given the fact you don't have any yourself as a head coach?

SPEAKER_02

I think that when Kim Malkey became a head coach, she didn't have Bob Starkey on her staff. So I do want to bring in some experience on my staff. But I want to bring in some people that I trust. I want to bring in some people who I feel can help me do the job and do the task at hand uh and be successful. I I've you know seen hopefully Kim Monkey doesn't do any more interviews in the near future uh to name my staff, but I'm excited about the staff that that I'm I'm gonna bring in.

SPEAKER_11

Amen.

SPEAKER_07

I missed that part.

SPEAKER_04

Hold on. Let's hold on. I'm gonna go back just to just a tad.

SPEAKER_02

You know, you read into it too much. Kim Monkey done do any more interviews in the near future uh to to name my staff, but I'm excited about the staff that that I'm I'm gonna bring in.

SPEAKER_05

Amen. Not the amen.

SPEAKER_04

Y'all think so?

SPEAKER_07

No. Amen. She said amen. Yeah. She said amen. Like what? Let me stop. I'm reaching. Let me bring myself back. So just with that. She probably does. It's no, it's it's no shade. No shade.

SPEAKER_04

With that, that tells me as far as like tea was clocked. You know how the kids say, like, you clocking my tea? Like, putting my business out there if it makes sense. Quit putting my business out there. Like, you get what I'm saying?

unknown

Really? Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Really? Yeah. You don't think that's reach? No. No. No. I think that I think that it was played off very well to get the laugh in. Like he laughed about it, but when sis chimed in with the A-man, nah, we we serious. I agree. Yeah. That was that was we're serious. Like the A-man is crazy. The A-man was crazy.

SPEAKER_07

Because that ad lib wasn't even necessary.

SPEAKER_04

It was not. It was not necessary. You can remain. It was late. It was like unnecessary. We support you 100%. You know what I'm saying? Um, it was a quick little let's slide that in there. You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_05

Let's slide that in there with a little laugh.

SPEAKER_07

I ain't mad at it. She was like, I ain't gonna let you stand out here long. Amen.

SPEAKER_04

Amen. Yeah, amen. But yeah, yeah. So stop the interviews. Stop it, is how I kind of took that.

SPEAKER_07

No, same. Like, same. Let me make let me make my own announcements.

SPEAKER_04

Let me make my own announcements. Yeah. Period. And there's no I'm a head coach. That's how it should be. It should be people, and like I said, I'll say this again, with the whole us not asking players about their next plans. That's not my that's not my part for me to do that. You're that's a moment that you're supposed to have. You know what? You know what I can't stand? I can't stand for somebody to do like a uh a pregnancy announcement and you got somebody in the comments. Oh, the cat's out the bag. I'm so happy I can tell people now. Shut up. Shut up, bruh. That burnt that makes my blood boil. Like, okay, you knew. You get what I'm saying? Like, okay, you you didn't have to tell us that you knew, bruh. You get what I'm saying? Like, let them have their moment. Like, so for me, the A-man reassures me that we were not wrong and what we saw and how we saw things. That told me, okay, that was confirmation for me, as far as we're like, it was laughed off, it was done very well, tastefully, very tastefully. But to me, with the A-man was confirmation.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah, amen. Oh, and did you see it look? Did you see her face when she said it?

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07

I feel like she was like, Amen. Amen.

SPEAKER_04

Right, right. Like doubling down, amen. Amen. Like, she been waiting to say that.

SPEAKER_07

That was so, it was so late though. I think that's why, like, it's like, hold on, he has said what he said, and she's like, you know what?

unknown

Amen.

SPEAKER_04

Amen. That was a double down. That was a double down.

SPEAKER_09

Gary Ryan Dunning from the New York Post. Um, you mentioned uh when this program was humming, they were recruiting top players in the nation based on you can go to the WNBA over there, or you could go deep in March up there. Can you still recruit at a high level on those two selling points in the NIL world, or is it just about the NIL?

SPEAKER_02

It's both. It's both. Again, I think you have to bring up the history when you bring up Rutgers. And I think that you have to sell that to student athletes.

SPEAKER_04

So I hate to pause it, but less like what we talked about, right? That is good for me. Cause like for me, I think that I would all like I always talk about what my program has done. I always talk about us. Like that, like even when I gave my speech to the kids, like I had to let y'all know where y'all was at. You get what I'm saying? Like, we got the most winners program. That stuff should be that's how you take pride in your jersey. You know what I'm saying? So I think that's a good selling point. Like, because but it's like these kids are so young, they don't know what we know about what you know what I'm saying. How that was the when when we see Vivian Stringer in the AU game, and we was A, A, A. No, that was real. That was real. Like hey, Vivian Stringer here, bro. Vivian Stringer here. Ruckers was like the Bibby and Stringer here.

SPEAKER_07

Hold on, and Ruckers had the oh my god, she she recruited the best athletes. Oh yeah. Vivian Stringer had the oh man. Oh you talk about you talk about athletes?

SPEAKER_04

Oh yeah. Athletes. Oh yeah. Like you hear me? She was one of them ones, like, hey, Vivian Stringer here. Man, what? I think my I think my mama still got pictures of her on the camera because like my mama was the photographer mom, so she would just take pictures of people. And I think she took a couple, like, hey, you know, but we know that.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, parents, so that they understand. A lot of the parents still know what Rutgers was. You get what I'm saying? Uh, a lot of student athletes, you have to teach them, and that's what I plan on doing. I I think that in the NIL era, yes, like a lot of the kids are concerned about NIL, but they're still concerned about relationships. Relationships are still really important, and that's what I plan on doing. That's what I feel like I'm one of the best at, and I don't plan on stopping doing that.

SPEAKER_15

Hey, Coach, uh, just kind of erotic, maybe. Excuse me, today is Vivian Stringer's birthday.

SPEAKER_02

Happy birthday, Coach Stringer.

SPEAKER_15

Uh, my question is what kind of team are you walking into and have you had time to assess the kids?

SPEAKER_02

I've had time to assess. I watched a lot of film. I met with them last week. It's a team that, and I told them this, there has to be a different attitude. There has to be a change in attitude. The the attitude has to change to one where they expect success and where you expect to win, and where you expect to work hard. And you don't just win, you have to prepare to win. And I think that that is what we're walking into, and that's what we want to change, and that's the exciting thing. Uh, the fact that you get to do these things and you get to to kind of shape the team in a way uh to be successful. Uh that there just has to be a little bit more toughness, there has to be a little bit more grit. And I think that those are the things that that we're excited to to build with.

SPEAKER_04

That is like so, like, that's what all the coaches come do. Like, we gotta change, we gotta change it to a winning culture. We gotta change the attitude. Yeah, yeah. They then they tell you your record when they they they tell you what your record was before they got there. I think, well, you y'all was seven and twenty-one last year. And they and they drilled that in your head when you get there to let you know you didn't do you really didn't do nothing.

SPEAKER_07

Y'all wasn't shit until I got here. And I'm just joking.

SPEAKER_05

They let you know that. That's I've been there before.

SPEAKER_04

I have been there before. They let us know. We I let me tell you something. I knew what the record was every day of my life. I still know it to this day. I can't tell you no other record for the rest of my college career, but I can tell you what that record was my freshman year when I had the old coach because I heard it every day. And that's real. That's real. That's real.

SPEAKER_07

See, our old coach, he came our our our new coach that came to coach us, he was inheriting inheriting a good team already with a good record and like good players. Like, you know what I'm saying? So I could imagine that conversation being different, like if you didn't have like the winning record, like you know what I mean.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, but and also too, like if they had a winner when he wouldn't be there.

SPEAKER_07

That's true. That is very true.

SPEAKER_04

We wouldn't be doing this right now. That's very true. If the culture didn't need to be changed, if it didn't need a change, if we if toughness was questioned, this man would not be on this stage right now. So true.

SPEAKER_19

Absolutely. Just on the process, this obviously was a quick process happening in the span of a week. Uh, how many other candidates did you talk to and how quickly did you zero in on Gary as your you know main target?

SPEAKER_11

Yeah, so uh we started with about eight candidates that we were most closely looking at and and vetted them, uh, communicated with about half of that list, uh, and obviously really quickly uh said uh said to ourselves, Gary is the right person for this job. Um there was one offer and you're seeing him sitting here. Kelly wasting them people's time.

SPEAKER_07

Okay, you wasting in people's time. You know, she made she was just like, no, there was one offer made sitting here. She knew no. I can't I came ready to get him as a coach. Period. I I didn't I didn't like BS him or nothing. Yeah, this is a number, and then he's like, he's sitting right here.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. But you know, really though, like he was next up. He really was. He was he was just he was next up. Like he really was. There's no telling what other opportunities that he probably could have had or coming up to have. You know what I'm saying? He he was just he was next up, and that's how it be too. Like, people, I don't think that people realize, well, one, I'm gonna go ahead and lay this out here. Not everybody wants to be a head coach. Yes, that that's the truth. It's like just like with our job, not everybody wants to be a manager. I see them responsibilities that come with it. I I'm good. Not everybody wants that, but also, too, when it comes to that, you get the them list, everybody knows who's next up. Everybody knows who that next guy is. Everybody, you know what I'm saying? And he was that.

SPEAKER_07

I agree.

SPEAKER_19

Is that and just uh you addressed this in your opening remarks, but was there any pause at all on your end? Gary has never been a head coach. I know you've been asked this probably a lot, but was there any pause on your end about that aspect of him taking over this program?

SPEAKER_11

There wasn't, you know, and again, I think you can look at the the history of college sports all across the country. Sometimes people uh make a hire with someone who was a previous head coach and it doesn't work out. Um other times they they take a chance on an assistant, and you recognize then that that was their first big step towards being one of the greatest out there. And I have full belief and confidence in him. You're seeing a little bit here today as to why that's the case. The biggest thing for me was in that very first conversation, it was so abundantly clear that he had prepared for this. He knew exactly what he was seeking to achieve, how he was gonna get there, and he wanted this job. And I think it's really important that aside from the preparation and the ability to be effective in it, is that we have people here who want to be at Rutgers and who look at what we're capable of and say, we can absolutely accomplish that there. Uh and you're gonna see me continue to seek that from people, not just as coaches, but also our administration. That has to be a piece of it. And in that very first conversation, I hung up the phone and said to myself, this guy is not only prepared for this job, but he wants this job and knows that he can be successful in it.

SPEAKER_16

I notice, right? I noticed. Christian Dyer with Scarlet Nation. Uh Kelly, this one's for you. Alignment is a big buzz term today in college sports. How important was alignment and your comfort and your familiarity with coach and also President Tay having the familiarity and knowing and understanding the inner workings of that program?

SPEAKER_11

Yeah, it was a huge plus. You know, I I think you all have probably been able to see this, you know, externally. Uh leading up to this opportunity, you always kind of think about, you know, who you're gonna hire, people that you're looking at. I've been watching him for years. Um, and when you have the opportunity of the known versus the unknown to know their work ethic, to know how they work with people, to know what they're capable of, what are their strengths, and all of those things, there's certainly a comfort factor in that. Um, but uh as far as the alignment is concerned, I also knew that he was going to work really, really well with me, with President Tate and the team that I've assembled because I watched him do it previously. And so there were just so many factors and and the pace at which it moved um was really a product of how overwhelmingly positive I felt about making this decision.

SPEAKER_04

How long you think they knew they was gonna hire him?

SPEAKER_07

How long when did when did they fire? I feel like they knew when they made up their mind that they were gonna let the previous coach go.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. They they you you can tell they knew who they wanted. Already. Already, already, already. But like I said, previous relationships, it matters from the previous spot. That's why you gotta be good to people in certain spaces.

SPEAKER_07

She came from LSU, right?

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_14

Coach, over here. This is John over here from Sheikh Game. Um, you spoke briefly about kind of the identity you want to build, but what are some of those non-negotiables you plan to actually uh implement throughout the season? And what are some of those things that you know as supporters we can see and um connect with as well?

SPEAKER_02

I think that you're gonna see a tough team. I think that you're gonna see a team that plays really hard. You're gonna we're gonna be talented because we're gonna have to be talented to win games right away. Uh, but you're gonna see a talented, tough team, a team that doesn't quit, a team that keeps going, a team that competes every single night. That is the change that you're gonna see right away.

SPEAKER_18

Alec Krathemel from the night report on on three sports. Gary, you talked about already your ability to build relationships, something you've long been praised for. I guess what is the edge that separates you and some who are elite in that category from some who may not be?

SPEAKER_02

I'm just myself, honestly. Uh I try to be as genuine as I possibly can be. I try to approach recruiting, coaching, mentoring, all of those things the same way. I I I want to get to know you while you get to know me. I think it's very simple to form a bond and and form a relationship when it's coming natural. Like I try not to force it, I try not to, you know, do too much. I'm just me.

SPEAKER_04

I'm just so that's the same point that I'm making earlier with this show. Like, I'm just me. Like I'm not for everybody, like, and I feel that. Like, I'm just me. Like, either you take me or you don't. Like, I'm gonna be me regardless. I'm I'm confident in me. He that's a confident man. I'm confident in me. I know what I I I'm securing myself, I know who I am, I know what I can do. You get what I'm saying? Like, I feel I feel that. I feel that message.

SPEAKER_02

It's me, and it's worked out for me. So I just kind of keep doing that.

SPEAKER_08

Gary, I got a wardrobe question for you. We noticed from afar that you were um quite a snazzy dresser on the sidelines. Is that something you're gonna bring? And do you have to abandon all of your purple clothes? How does this work for you at this point?

SPEAKER_02

I love red. My high school was red, but uh yeah, I'm gonna I'm gonna keep it up a little bit. Uh my wife is kind of my stylist.

SPEAKER_04

That man got that that head coach money. He might come out three-piece custom. I can't can't wait to see it.

SPEAKER_07

Okay.

SPEAKER_04

So she's gonna make sure that I'm you know, I wonder if he's gonna do like dress up, or is he gonna do like he I think that he he, you know, on the sideline, he the he the designer, he the the little you get a bag and you might show out.

SPEAKER_07

You know, it's like now, you know, because like when we was growing up, like coaches had to dress up. Oh fact they was dressed up, you know what I mean? Head coaches, assistant coaches, everything. But now, you know, they can put on a sweatsuit and a t-shirt and whatever. So um, but yeah, I I see him stepping because they always step at Ella's shoes. So I don't yeah But you know the first thing we like to do, you know we like to get glasses and then put some put some you know we like to put that's the way because like I don't like I only wear my glasses at night, like when it's about the time to go to bed. I don't like I'm not a glasses person, like I don't know.

SPEAKER_04

But when I when I'm feeling like money, you know, occasionally I put mine on when I step out, you know. I put my the ones that I got my contacts on with no, you know, the no frames, I throw them on. But you know, some people, you know, some people we get he might stay up with a little bit.

SPEAKER_07

We ain't talking about we ain't talking about no regular glasses.

SPEAKER_04

Nah, we talking about with a with a little look, you know what I'm saying? I got you.

SPEAKER_02

And and dressing for the job. So I'm gonna keep it up. I'm gonna keep it up. I I probably no purple. Uh, but I like to mix the colors up. I like to mix it up a little bit, so we'll see.

SPEAKER_19

Hey Gary, how are you? Uh hopefully you can help me get a connection at Balenciaga as well. Um, see, and kids like that too.

SPEAKER_04

He got on Balenciaga. Kids like that.

SPEAKER_07

Okay. No, seriously.

SPEAKER_04

Coach G B dressing. We're gonna be we're gonna be the flash team.

SPEAKER_07

They ready.

SPEAKER_19

You know how resources is an important deal here when you're trying to find players in the transfer portal and your conversations with Kelly. Just what is your understanding of the resources you're gonna have to work with and understanding what it takes to build a top team from your time at LSU? How close is that going to be?

SPEAKER_04

For me, the way I see it is how much money they're gonna give you to pay these kids. That's how I took that question. Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_02

I think not on I I'm not the only one who understands that. Kelly understands that too. Uh, and I honestly wouldn't be here if it wasn't that alignment like we just talked about. Uh, she's committed to to winning at Rutgers in everything. She's very competitive. She is very competitive. President Tate is very competitive. They expect winners. Uh, and I think that they're gonna put me in the position to win. And so now it's up to me to do it.

SPEAKER_12

Edge Rice on the banks. Um, just how do you get into the changing the mentality of the entire program? What is the process behind that?

SPEAKER_02

Can you repeat that?

SPEAKER_12

What is the process of changing the mentality of the entire program? As you said before, you want to change it into that winning mentality. How do you do that on like a day-to-day basis?

SPEAKER_02

Just what you said, day by day. You do it every day, you demand it every day, you instill it every day. It's it's an everyday thing here, and I think that's the thing. You can't look too far ahead, you look at the day, and you want to win that day, and you want to be tough that day, and you want to look to win and compete that day, and that's what I want to do. Every single day, you have to bring in like-minded people. You the players have to be like-minded, uh, and you have to do it. You you have to do it every single day. You don't give them a a different option. Uh the option is to win.

SPEAKER_06

Period.

SPEAKER_02

The option is to play hard, the option is to be tough. Period. And when there's no other option, pause it gets that's the stuff that I'd be talking about.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07

When I say you gotta remember that one time we was on live, and I was like, you gotta treat them like your kids. Facts. You can't give them too much. The only option is for you to make this time.

SPEAKER_04

Facts.

SPEAKER_07

The only option is for you to play hard. That's the only option. Right either you do it or you don't, and you can just sit on the bench. So I love that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Facts. It's it gets pretty easy to do it.

SPEAKER_01

Coach Richie O'Leary from the Night Report slash Andre Sports. Um, it was reported that you uh took the job sight unseen over the phone. Now that you've had a couple days to see the facilities between Jersey Mics, APC, what do you kind of think about everything?

SPEAKER_02

Me and Kelly were just talking about that. The facilities are amazing. Uh you, of course, you can get on the internet and you can see pictures and you can see videos, but it doesn't really do it justice. Uh I've been at really good institutions, but these facilities are amazing. Uh, if you can't get recruits to to come and Play in these facilities and be spend every day in these facilities, then I don't know what you're doing. But these are amazing. Everything that I've seen, campus is so clean, everything looks so new, everything looks so fresh. And I think that when you when you have trust and when you've built those relationships, I trust Kelly. I trust President Tate. And I trust that they wouldn't tell me something or bring me to a place that wasn't beautiful. So when they tell me about the facilities and when they tell me about the people, you know, I didn't need to come up here. I didn't need to do it. I trust them and I trust the vision here at Rutgers. So it was really easy for me to go ahead and make that decision.

SPEAKER_07

Coach. And you was just like, Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

I want to say FaceTime a little sight and nothing. He said, I ain't seen nothing. Yeah, he you could, he got, he got a whole lot of support. He do, yeah. He got a whole lot of support.

SPEAKER_15

Your dad obviously was a great baseball player. I assume you played the game at some point.

SPEAKER_02

I played one year when I was eight. I wasn't that good, so I stopped playing. Uh baseball just never really was my thing. I don't I don't know. Maybe my son will play. I don't know, but yes. Uh I was really a basketball player from the very beginning. I I didn't play other sports. I played basketball. My sister, she played all the other sports, but I I stuck to what I was good at.

SPEAKER_15

Let me cheat here. Why was baseball or basketball so appealing?

SPEAKER_02

Uh I don't know. I grew up on basketball. My sister played basketball. I so I grew up around women's basketball. So a lot of times people ask, why do I coach? Or why is women's basketball so appealing to me? And it's what I grew up around. Ever since I was their age, uh I was going to practices, I was, you know, outside in the backyard playing with my sister, I was watching her play. Uh and I fell in love with it. I I don't know exactly when I fell in love with it, but it's always been basketball for me.

SPEAKER_04

First of all.

SPEAKER_07

I like that little outro that they did with the little R.

SPEAKER_04

That was nice. That was nice. That was good. We gotta figure that out. That was nice. Uh first of all, uh Kelly, Kelly paid. Oh girl, you was you was researching. Kelly, Kelly, Kelly paid.

SPEAKER_07

She paid.

SPEAKER_04

Kelly paid. Kelly's paid. You ain't gotta say no more.

SPEAKER_07

She paid.

SPEAKER_04

What a nice little, what a nice little that two that two and a half percent don't look like our two and a half percent.

SPEAKER_05

You know, you know, you know your two and a half increase every year.

SPEAKER_07

We talked about that on another show, didn't we?

SPEAKER_05

That girl. Hey, that two and a half percent. I don't know. It looked like it might be. I don't know, but I can tell you it don't look like mine. Maybe I should have gotten to administration.

SPEAKER_04

I don't know. I was playing. Okay, I was playing. Human resources something.

SPEAKER_05

I should have been an A D. Something. I should have been A man. Baby. That part. Baby. Oh, honey. I said, ooh, ooh, with the annual increases.

SPEAKER_04

Ooh, ooh. Okay. Um, well, um, it's public records. Yes. I bet you they paid him a nice little bag. That big 10 money. That's what she said.

SPEAKER_07

She said, I made him an offer, and he said, I offer your.

SPEAKER_04

I made him offer she should have put a little sauce on it. I made him an offer he couldn't refuse. Couldn't refuse. And that's why he's sitting right here.

SPEAKER_07

That's y'all would have she needs to be the WNBA conventioner.

SPEAKER_05

Oh, okay. Something. We're gonna see, but honey, that uh baby. Big bank take little bank.

SPEAKER_04

Uh I said, Hey, I was just looking up her name. Like, for her, and I was like, oh, oh, oh, okay. Um, amazing press conference. It was amazing. Amazing. You can tell that he feels supported. You can tell that he's in the right place. Like, God is so good. I am wishing that black king the best. Um I'ma check him out. Like I said, I I think that they're gonna go and do a good job. I can't wait to see who who else he brings with them. I think he's gonna I think he got like a little swag to him. I think that they're gonna be like a dope coaching staff that you know I'm saying, who ain't gonna have to put their foot down a lot that you gonna wanna play hard for. You get what I'm saying? Right. So, and I think that that matters too. So I think it ain't gonna be a good thing. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. But I and I think that that I think that these days, that whole dictatorship stuff, it don't work with this generation. Yeah. So it doesn't work. So, you know what I'm saying? So you gotta be cool. Like you do. You gotta be cool.

SPEAKER_07

Some of the breakbounders talked about that, like having to adjust the way like they used to coach, right? Yeah. When we were coming up, and then they have this newer generation. And have you have to let them tick tock a little bit. Facts. They need to TikTok a little bit, they need an eight-step, eight-step choreograph routine to get buckets. And hey, yeah, TikTok, tick, go ahead.

SPEAKER_04

It's different now. It's just it's like even looking at like looking at some of these players' Instagrams, the stuff that they be posting, it's like, baby, I would when I tell you we're gonna be kicked off the team, that would have been a I'm a uh you I know you know, because you know they know your class schedule. That class that class done at 2.10, they calling you at 2.11, telling you to come to that office. That's a fact. That's facts. They waiting on you to get out.

SPEAKER_07

You know what the you know what it really be though? Yeah, it'd be like they they luxurious summer vacations that I'd be like, man, girl, time to fly out the country and to two or three, four, five, six countries. I'm trying to tell you, live a life, baby. Like the babies is paid.

SPEAKER_04

The babies is busy.

SPEAKER_07

You had time to go on vacation. I don't think I went on one vacation like when I played in college until like my senior year and we went to Panama City for spring wedding. That's what you said.

SPEAKER_04

That that's it. Yeah, baby, like people didn't have cars like that. I had a car we all paled into mine. Yep. I I had shout out to the centra. Shout out to the centra. I had a niece centra, we all paled in that little small thing, and baby, we was on the road, okay? We we made it. We made it work, and we made it work, and we all work. We all you got your two dollars for gas. Everybody give gas. I'm driving, whatever. So I had the community car, but anywho, um, wishing him the best. I think it was great. I think that he was well prepared. I think that he's ready to go. I'm looking forward to see what they do. Same. Um, I'm looking forward to seeing what they do. Same. But uh, y'all have a good night. Bye guys. How about y'all?