looking for her nexl move, junior guard Ashley Dixon ovoids o b lock ot a game against Ouachita Baptist University Jan . 23. The Lady Bisons losl the game wilh a score of 46-53. ·Jonathan lindsay New coach enforces intensity The school year brought transition for more than one athletic team as the baseball and men's basketball teams both lost coaches and the women's basketball team gained two. Instead of reporting to Jerry Moore field, Shane Fullerton, former head baseball coach, went to the Rhodes Field House, as the assistant women's basketball coach each morning where he shared a space with Tim Kirby, head women's basketball coach and former assistanr men's basketball coach. "The transition [from baseball to basketball] was a big one, but it was exciting," Fullerton said. "Everything about it was positive." Fullerton, who coached the baseball team for nine years, switched to basketball after Kirby approached him about the possibility. "[Kirby] came in my office looking for an as– sistant, and at first I didn't know ifhewas serious," Fullerton said. "Getcing to work with him was a big aetraction to the job. Thete hasn't been a day where I've woken up in the morning and haven't said, 'Man 1 can't wait to go to work today.'" Ki rby said he hired Fullerton because of his previous experience in coaching. "He's somebody we felt like had a good back– ground in basketball as well as having the head coaching experience," Kirby said. "That brings a lot of things we need here, recruiting, dealing with players, organization skills. It's probably the best decision I've made [as coach]." Fullerton said his hther was a basketball coach when he grew up so the switch from baseball was more like a return to basketball. Although thete were differences in the twO sports, Fullerton said he still felt comfortable in his position. "Coaching isstill coaching," Fullcnon said. "The same principles are at work in both sports." 1110ugh he didn't switch sports, Kitby said he still had to adjust to coaching women. "Coaching [women] has been fun," Kirby said. "We're enjoying it. I haven't changed a whole lot from what ' did with the guys. We're treating them all the same. I think we've had a year where we've learned a whole lot, coaches and players." Kitby said having the same practices as the men helped the program. "We try and make [the ptactices] intense, try and make them as competitive as possible," Kirby said. "We joke around that if people scout the guys and want them to see them play, they can watch the [women] play because we try and run the same things offensively and have the same defensive mentality. It's one of the things we feel has been successful for the [womenl." Junior guard Jana Pearson said the new coach ing staff helped the team both mentally and physically. "The coaches did amazing," Pearson said. "Sometimes they pushed the team like we were boys, but I think we needed it. They helped us improve mentally; from hoping we could win to knowing we could." The Lady Bisons ended the season with a 12-16 overall record and had a 4- 12 Gulf South Conference record. "[The season] didn't goquite as well as we hoped, but we saw a lot ofimprovemem," Pearson. "It may not have been in the record books, but I think we rook a big step in the right direction." Kirby said although the team lost many close games, such as the Jan. 19 Christian Brothers game with a final score of 63-66 or the Jan. 28 Henderson State game with a final score of 72-73, he and Fullerton were pleased with how the team did. "We won four out of five [games] at one time, and that was a major plus for our program," Kirby said. "We figured out some things in those games we weren't doing earlier. It's been a good experience." -Austin light ondCynthioNoo h
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