Just a week after being hired as the new head coach of the Southwestern women's basketball team, Lori Morris sat down with SouthwesternPirates.com for a question-and-answer session. She answers questions ranging from her experience as an assistant coach at the Division I-level to her coaching philosophies.
What is that appealed to you about taking the head coaching position at Southwestern?
I have heard so many good things about Southwestern. It's in a great area. It's an excellent school with a great reputation. I like Texas and have recruited here, so all were factors in my decision.
You have been both a head and assistant coach during your career. What are the differences between the two positions?
There is such a huge difference between being a head coach and an assistant coach. As a head coach, you have a staff, but the ultimate decision lies with you. It's your call to create the culture and establish the parameters and vision for the team. I'm excited to do that here at Southwestern. I missed having those duties in recent years. It's going to be a fun opportunity again to develop a program. I'm excited about that.
Before joining the Pirate family, you spent the last seven years as an assistant coach at the Division I level, including the last two at Air Force. What experiences from those schools can you bring to Southwestern?
Well, gaining recruiting experience has been huge for me. In my last job, at the Academy, I was recruiting student-athletes who were expected to give back five years of service following graduation, and you had to help recruits and families understand the value in that opportunity. I think the biggest thing here is establishing relationships that help prospective student-athletes and their families understand that there is the same kind of value in a Southwestern education, just a different method of contribution. Another thing that is going to help me is having been exposed to a variety of basketball programs and coaching styles. I have experienced how other coaches have organized their programs and implemented their visions and I'm excited to do that here.
What are your impressions of the student-athletes on the Southwestern women's basketball team?
They are excited about the upcoming year. I know they were very close to each other last year and I know that means a lot to them. They seem invested in the program. I'm ready to get to work with them.
You were a successful point guard as a collegiate player at San Diego. What characteristics did you possess that helped you as a floor leader?
I think every player has their strengths and brings certain gifts to a team. For me, I had really good vision. I didn't realize it until I became a coach and started teaching players how to see the court. I wasn't an exceptional athlete, but I had good lateral movement and hand-eye coordination. You could call it determined or stubborn too, but I loved the game and I was constantly working on my skill development. I got after it and was competitive. I was competitive for the team though. I didn't want to let my teammates down.
How would your former players describe you as a coach?
I would say intense, knowledgeable and caring. I pushed them and I believed in them.
Let's transition to your on-court coaching style. What is the best way to describe how you want your team to play on offense?
I prefer uptempo basketball. It's more fun to play. I allow more freedom for players in the offense. It requires more teaching, but I love motion offense. I like teaching kids how to play. One of the reasons I like running motion offense is having conversations with my student-athletes about their strengths or weaknesses. Players naturally want to do something that they are successful at, so within the offense they gear themselves to doing something they are good at without you having to dictate it.
How does your defensive style translate on the court?
Defensively, I am much more structured. I have specific expectations and there is a definite defensive system in place. I want to play man-to-man with high pressure on defense.
What type of student-athlete are you looking for to fit in your program?
I think that my system will adapt to the players I bring in each year. I'm looking for student-athletes who have a skill set or a characteristic that we can maximize within what we do. I'm not looking for a specific size or type of player, but rather someone that can bring something to the program.
How do you want opposing players and coaches to describe your team following a game?
I want them to think we are hard-nosed, scrappy and play tough defense. I hope they think we are hard to keep up with on the offensive end of the floor.