HOME
| After more than five seasons together players and coach have stronger bond |
|
|
|
| Written by Trevor Harris, The Shorthorn staff | ||||||
| Thursday, 05 November 2009 06:44 PM | ||||||
 Guard LaTosha Duffey, left, guard Tamara Simmons, center, and forward Shalyn Martin all played together under head coach Samantha Morrow at Mansfield Summitt High School and reunited at UTA. (The Shorthorn: Stephanie Goddard) For most athletes, the relationship between player and coach has to be special, but for three women’s basketball players and head coach Samantha Morrow, that bond extends deeper than most. Senior LaTosha Duffey and juniors Shalyn Martin and Tamara Simmons all played together under Morrow at Mansfield Summit High School and reunited at UTA. Morrow took the women’s head coach job in the 2006-2007 summer. Hiring the three players former coach brought them joy. “I didn’t know coach Morrow was going to be my coach until my senior year in high school, but when I found out it was bittersweet,” Martin said. “Of course you want to get away and experience new things, but then again it made the transition from high school basketball to college basketball much easier.” Martin and Simmons have played under coach Morrow for six seasons and Duffey five. The women describe their coach as passionate. Morrow said that even though the bar is raised higher in collegiate ball, she still has the same fire in the way she coaches. “They kind of knew what to expect from me when they came here, although it’s different from what it was in high school,” she said. “They know what I’m passionate about and they know my moods and my coaching style.” On the basketball court, the chemistry correlates with the women’s experience. Duffey said the time playing together shows. “We have great chemistry on the court because we have been playing for so many years,” Duffey said. “Sometimes I know what Tam’s [Tamara] going to do before she even does it.” Simmons said they have proved what they’re capable of in their time with Morrow. Simmons knows that she and the other women can be depended on in the game. “Coach also knows what we can do,” Simmons said. “Because when we are together we are great on the floor.” The women compared Morrow to a mother figure due to her constant coaching that isn’t confined to the court. Morrow said because she knows what the women can do in the classroom, she constantly checked on them. “I think my expectations of them are probably a little bit higher because I’ve known them and their families for so long,” she said. “With some students you just don’t know how they act when you walk into a program, but with these kids I know what they are capable of.” Duffey said their bond will undoubtedly last after college. “We know that we can come to coach Morrow after we graduate because she will always be there for us,” she said. CorrectionAn earlier version of this story had incorrect information. This version has been amended with the correct information.Views: 803 | E-mail
Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6 |
||||||
| Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 January 2010 01:33 PM ) | ||||||
Comments (2)
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Copyright © 2005 - 2010 The Shorthorn.
