GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The first woman to coach a men's pro
team doesn't see herself as a pioneer or a publicity stunt, just a
basketball coach.
Stephanie Ready, who helped break ground as an assistant for the
Coppin State men's team the past two years, was picked for the same
job Wednesday by the Greenville Groove of the NBA's minor league,
the National Basketball Development League.
"I don't want to put out this idea I built up this master plan
to be a pioneer," Ready said. "I've happened to be afforded
certain opportunities, for whatever that's worth."
The league, with eight teams throughout the Southeast, begins
Nov. 16.
Ready, 25, spent the past two years as assistant to Fang
Mitchell at Coppin State. She would run practices, track offenses
and knock on the doors of high school recruits.
But it was a time-out at St. John's Alumni Hall in December 1999
that took Ready's breath away. She was a few steps behind the other
Coppin State coaches and glanced up at the game clock.
"The photographers were all men, the people on the scorers
table were all men. Even the trainers and doctors were men," she
said. "There was not another woman around. For that split second,
it hit me. It was pretty amazing, but it was pretty sad, too."
Ready hopes her presence shows others that women can coach men's
basketball, as Bernadette Mattox did at Kentucky for three seasons
in the 1990s with Rick Pitino.
Ready and NBDL leaders also don't worry about those who'll see
the hire as a public relations move for a start-up league for
20-and-older players.
"I don't think the NBDL is constrained by folks who are going
to be skeptics," said Karl Hicks, the league's senior director of
basketball operations. "We want to be a league that breaks old
paradigms and provides opportunities."
Spend five minutes with Ready, a four-year starter for Coppin
State's women's team, and there are few questions about her
credentials, Hicks said.
"Her understanding of the game and ability to teach are off the
charts," he said.
The league looked for qualified female coaching candidates and
found several others along with Ready, Hicks said. While no other
female hires are on the horizon, Hicks said it's always a
possibility.
If there are those who'll doubt, Ready says she'll have an
answer.
There were gawks at Coppin State from players and fans when
Mitchell brought her on from her position as volleyball coach. She
also faced critics when Mitchell sent her out recruiting. But when
Ready proved that she was prepared, people's confidence and respect
increased.
She found some Coppin State prospects were from single-parent
homes. "Many of those were women. When I walked in, they felt 100
percent better," said Ready, a native of Takoma Park, Md.
Ready joined in the screaming instructions typical of assistant
coaches during games. As her skill improved, she said, Mitchell
gave her more and more responsibilities such as preparing pregame
reports and handling individual workouts.
Mitchell also had long talks with Ready about her unique
position and how to handle critics.
Mitchell was on vacation and unavailable for comment, Coppin's
athletic office said.
Groove coach Milton Barnes understood Ready's position because
he was 22 when he began his coaching career at Kent. Barnes said
Ready was praised by Mitchell and was equally impressive when he
interviewed her.
"She'll be right there with me, running practices, deciding
game strategy," said Barnes, also the Groove's general manager.
Ready and Barnes soon will begin work, such as putting together
a roster. The Groove will have its first game Nov. 16 against the
North Charleston Lowgators on ESPN2.
Can Ready work her way up to an NBA staff one day?
"Why not?" Hicks said. "One of the missions of the league is
to grow talent, in the coaching ranks, in the officiating ranks. If
her talent is recognized, yeah, it is possible."
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