WBB news - Printable Version
+- The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board)
+-- Forum: C-House! (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-4.html)
+--- Forum: The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-5.html)
+--- Thread: WBB news (/thread-26136.html)
+- The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board)
+-- Forum: C-House! (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-4.html)
+--- Forum: The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-5.html)
+--- Thread: WBB news (/thread-26136.html)
RE: WBB news - chimera - 04-15-2026
(04-15-2026, 09:01 AM)crackpot Wrote:(04-15-2026, 07:32 AM)81alum Wrote: I would really like to know, in more detail, what it is that drove our players away. From many years of watching Kate in chalk talks it was always clear that she was not exactly a "people-person." In fact she snapped at me once when I asked what I thought was an innocent question. But she has good qualities too. Extremely bright, hard working, very competitive, and she understood the Stanford experience better than anyone else could. And there was this--as bad as Kate was with people, she did get better, and she was always more outgoing than Tara ever was. So I had high hopes for her. The last few years of chalk talks showed her developing a better PR skill set, for example.
So what on earth went wrong? If we want to understand how to fix what is broken, we need to know how it broke. Was there genuine abuse of some sort? Was she just overly demanding and harsh for today's generation of players? Did she lose their basketball respect? Was it disagreements about player utilization? Or did our players just decide that being on a more competitive team was more important than the Stanford connection?
All that said, I do think the underlying structural problems are probably insurmountable if our standard is to compete as we did in the prior era. But clearly there is more going on than that. It would help to know what specifically made the players decide as they did if we are trying to figure out a better coaching fit for our program.
EDIT: and if you want a great "people person" to lead the program, it is absolutely obvious to the chalk talk fans who that would be: Tempie. Also a good recruiter. I don't know if our players liked her and if she was part of the problem, though. Nor does she have the resume that many on this board would expect to see. But she is not exactly a Tara protege the way Kate or Katy or Erica or Jeanette--all former players--were. She and Heather are the most "outside" on the staff, and she is by far and away the best communicator.
I still shudder thinking about those KP-led chalk talks.
After watching Tara coach for nearly four decades, it was obvious that Tara, while naturally shy, does love people. I never got the same feeling from KP ever--it always seemed forced. Even when greeting the donors pre-game, it looks like she's trying to "gear up" to do so. I appreciate that she has tried and hoped/wished that my take on her personality was wrong. I'm heartbroken to learn that what my gut was telling me is likely true.
Tara, while the GOAT, learned from her mistakes. She was not too humble to ask for outside help when necessary (e.g., repairing the culture of the team after the 22-23 season, or learning the Princeton Offense when the personnel coming in would likely work best using it). And Tara could, undoubtedly, be tough as nails when it came to coaching, but players always knew she cared for them. And different players need different approaches. E.g., she could yell at Wiggins her freshman year, but she knew she couldn't do that with most freshman.
All that time sitting on the bench next to her after pulling the rug out from under U$C in 2017, you'd think KP would see the train that was coming in NIL, portal, etc., and start planning for that. Or at least ask for help in planning for that. Heck, Cori Close perfected it in the same time, and she had all of the HC duties, too. Maybe she was too busy working on her canned press conference spiel?
I also keep thinking about that Maya Angelou quote: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
From the stands, it looked like this year's team was as close as any I have seen. I had hoped (and even sometimes assumed) that is because they were facing challenges we knew nothing about. I guess they did, but it saddens me to hear that it was the HC.
This is a very good post. My observations dovetail with yours.
RE: WBB news - crackpot - 04-15-2026
(04-15-2026, 09:09 AM)chimera Wrote:(04-15-2026, 09:01 AM)crackpot Wrote:(04-15-2026, 07:32 AM)81alum Wrote: I would really like to know, in more detail, what it is that drove our players away. From many years of watching Kate in chalk talks it was always clear that she was not exactly a "people-person." In fact she snapped at me once when I asked what I thought was an innocent question. But she has good qualities too. Extremely bright, hard working, very competitive, and she understood the Stanford experience better than anyone else could. And there was this--as bad as Kate was with people, she did get better, and she was always more outgoing than Tara ever was. So I had high hopes for her. The last few years of chalk talks showed her developing a better PR skill set, for example.
So what on earth went wrong? If we want to understand how to fix what is broken, we need to know how it broke. Was there genuine abuse of some sort? Was she just overly demanding and harsh for today's generation of players? Did she lose their basketball respect? Was it disagreements about player utilization? Or did our players just decide that being on a more competitive team was more important than the Stanford connection?
All that said, I do think the underlying structural problems are probably insurmountable if our standard is to compete as we did in the prior era. But clearly there is more going on than that. It would help to know what specifically made the players decide as they did if we are trying to figure out a better coaching fit for our program.
EDIT: and if you want a great "people person" to lead the program, it is absolutely obvious to the chalk talk fans who that would be: Tempie. Also a good recruiter. I don't know if our players liked her and if she was part of the problem, though. Nor does she have the resume that many on this board would expect to see. But she is not exactly a Tara protege the way Kate or Katy or Erica or Jeanette--all former players--were. She and Heather are the most "outside" on the staff, and she is by far and away the best communicator.
I still shudder thinking about those KP-led chalk talks.
After watching Tara coach for nearly four decades, it was obvious that Tara, while naturally shy, does love people. I never got the same feeling from KP ever--it always seemed forced. Even when greeting the donors pre-game, it looks like she's trying to "gear up" to do so. I appreciate that she has tried and hoped/wished that my take on her personality was wrong. I'm heartbroken to learn that what my gut was telling me is likely true.
Tara, while the GOAT, learned from her mistakes. She was not too humble to ask for outside help when necessary (e.g., repairing the culture of the team after the 22-23 season, or learning the Princeton Offense when the personnel coming in would likely work best using it). And Tara could, undoubtedly, be tough as nails when it came to coaching, but players always knew she cared for them. And different players need different approaches. E.g., she could yell at Wiggins her freshman year, but she knew she couldn't do that with most freshman.
All that time sitting on the bench next to her after pulling the rug out from under U$C in 2017, you'd think KP would see the train that was coming in NIL, portal, etc., and start planning for that. Or at least ask for help in planning for that. Heck, Cori Close perfected it in the same time, and she had all of the HC duties, too. Maybe she was too busy working on her canned press conference spiel?
I also keep thinking about that Maya Angelou quote: "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
From the stands, it looked like this year's team was as close as any I have seen. I had hoped (and even sometimes assumed) that is because they were facing challenges we knew nothing about. I guess they did, but it saddens me to hear that it was the HC.
This is a very good post. My observations dovetail with yours.
I feel like we're meeting up at a good friend's funeral. :(
RE: WBB news - 2006alum - 04-15-2026
Nunu to Maryland.
Maybe we should join the Pac-9 because at this point we're just a feeder to actually good programs.
RE: WBB news - Card10Fan - 04-15-2026
To everyone whose argument to our underachieving has been well we don’t have as much talent as years last. Quit the contrary!
All the transfer so far minus MAS have been wanted at top programs. Minus Columbia all programs that played in March Madness this year.
RE: WBB news - BobK - 04-15-2026
The AD slept thru this sadly. Something should have been done to assure those on the team.
RE: WBB news - JohnR34231 - 04-15-2026
(04-15-2026, 11:25 AM)BobK Wrote: The AD slept thru this sadly. Something should have been done to assure those on the team.
When someone supposedly complained to HR. I wonder if it went any farther.
RE: WBB news - crackpot - 04-15-2026
(04-15-2026, 11:06 AM)Card10Fan Wrote: To everyone whose argument to our underachieving has been well we don’t have as much talent as years last. Quit the contrary!
All the transfer so far minus MAS have been wanted at top programs. Minus Columbia all programs that played in March Madness this year.
Well, Columbia did finish their season with a win (WBIT).
RE: WBB news - petersalas - 04-15-2026
At this point, we’ve lost almost everyone that entered the portal. All I want is to keep those that have not entered plus the incoming 3 players. If we can get anyone from the portal, that would be welcomed. I know people say to pull season tickets or donations (if that’s the right way to put it), but I don’t agree. I wish I could donate, but I’m not there financially and can’t. I will however continue supporting the team and the program. We’ve met Alex and Hailee, plus have gotten to chat with Shay, Nora, Kennedy, as well as some of their parents, and there’s no way I will stop supporting them. I’ve been a fan since 1997 and my loyalty will never change. I actually just opened a bank account because one of the debit card options is a Stanford card. There’s been ups and downs and the downs seem to be really bad, but I choose to remain optimistic that things will get better.
katebru552 - katebru552 - 04-15-2026
Inside information from mid season: Heather and Bird have a great relationship with the players, Tempie and Katy not so much.
RE: WBB news - crackpot - 04-15-2026
(04-15-2026, 11:58 AM)petersalas Wrote: At this point, we’ve lost almost everyone that entered the portal. All I want is to keep those that have not entered plus the incoming 3 players. If we can get anyone from the portal, that would be welcomed. I know people say to pull season tickets or donations (if that’s the right way to put it), but I don’t agree. I wish I could donate, but I’m not there financially and can’t. I will however continue supporting the team and the program. We’ve met Alex and Hailee, plus have gotten to chat with Shay, Nora, Kennedy, as well as some of their parents, and there’s no way I will stop supporting them. I’ve been a fan since 1997 and my loyalty will never change. I actually just opened a bank account because one of the debit card options is a Stanford card. There’s been ups and downs and the downs seem to be really bad, but I choose to remain optimistic that things will get better.
I'm struggling with this right now. I don't want to support this coach, but I do want to support these players. Stanford tends to recruit stellar young women. I can count on one hand how many players I've been happy to see graduate and/or transfer to a new school.
RE: WBB news - paloalto - 04-15-2026
If there is a new coach I expect it almost certainly will be a female and that's fine with me. I don't believe Tara ever had a male assistant coach at Stanford (correct me if I'm wrong). If Tara is on the search committee to find a new coach she will guide it in the direction of a female coach.
I don't have strong feelings about WBB. If there is a coaching change I would like the HC to bring in a complete new staff and start fresh.
RE: WBB news - 2006alum - 04-15-2026
(04-15-2026, 02:03 PM)crackpot Wrote:Same. I don't see how I can compel myself to spend a lot of money to drive down from the city to watch our program hit new modern lows of mediocrity all season with the full knowledge "NCAAs or bust" is effectively a deferred termination.(04-15-2026, 11:58 AM)petersalas Wrote: At this point, we’ve lost almost everyone that entered the portal. All I want is to keep those that have not entered plus the incoming 3 players. If we can get anyone from the portal, that would be welcomed. I know people say to pull season tickets or donations (if that’s the right way to put it), but I don’t agree. I wish I could donate, but I’m not there financially and can’t. I will however continue supporting the team and the program. We’ve met Alex and Hailee, plus have gotten to chat with Shay, Nora, Kennedy, as well as some of their parents, and there’s no way I will stop supporting them. I’ve been a fan since 1997 and my loyalty will never change. I actually just opened a bank account because one of the debit card options is a Stanford card. There’s been ups and downs and the downs seem to be really bad, but I choose to remain optimistic that things will get better.
I'm struggling with this right now. I don't want to support this coach, but I do want to support these players. Stanford tends to recruit stellar young women. I can count on one hand how many players I've been happy to see graduate and/or transfer to a new school.
Rip that bandaid now and I will be forever grateful to the women who take on the task of building our once great program back from the ground up.
RE: WBB news - Jskass - 04-15-2026
Have they considered McCall interim and if she does well promote her?
RE: WBB news - petersalas - 04-15-2026
Ryann Bennett commits to USC.
RE: WBB news - 2006alum - 04-15-2026
(04-15-2026, 04:46 PM)petersalas Wrote: Ryann Bennett commits to USC.
Unless you're desperate for playing time and a Stanford degree, I can't imagine how anyone given that option would pick us.
RE: WBB news - Card10Fan - 04-15-2026
(04-15-2026, 04:57 PM)2006alum Wrote:(04-15-2026, 04:46 PM)petersalas Wrote: Ryann Bennett commits to USC.
Unless you're desperate for playing time and a Stanford degree, I can't imagine how anyone given that option would pick us.
Did ANYONE really think we were going to beat out USC (who might by the Natty favorite next year with Juju back) for a transfer? No chance. The roster with our 3 incoming recruits is at 8. Are we gonna get to 10 players? IDK. I'm not sure we even find 2 in the portal.
RE: WBB news - petersalas - 04-15-2026
Well, this is the WBB thread and she was between Stanford and USC :), that’s why I posted it. Also, I did say I’d be optimistic and hopeful things will get better.
(04-15-2026, 04:57 PM)2006alum Wrote:(04-15-2026, 04:46 PM)petersalas Wrote: Ryann Bennett commits to USC.
Unless you're desperate for playing time and a Stanford degree, I can't imagine how anyone given that option would pick us.
RE: WBB news - Jskass - 04-15-2026
What will finally get the AD to take action? This is so so so sad.
RE: WBB news - here4WBB - 04-15-2026
(04-15-2026, 06:39 PM)Jskass Wrote: What will finally get the AD to take action? This is so so so sad.
Agreed. I am very discouraged by the lack of response from the AD office. I'm reading the silence as a decision that KP will have another year as HC. I don't know how we possibly expect transfers to join a sinking ship.
RE: WBB news - KenCard - 04-15-2026
(04-15-2026, 02:38 PM)paloalto Wrote: If there is a new coach I expect it almost certainly will be a female and that's fine with me. I don't believe Tara ever had a male assistant coach at Stanford (correct me if I'm wrong). If Tara is on the search committee to find a new coach she will guide it in the direction of a female coach.
I don't have strong feelings about WBB. If there is a coaching change I would like the HC to bring in a complete new staff and start fresh.
I took a shot at finding Stanford's hiring policy and came up with:
"1.7.4 Equal Employment Opportunity, Non-Discrimination, and Affirmative Action Policy
2. Protection against Discrimination
(a) Stanford University does not discriminate on the basis of race,..., gender,..." (The list is much longer than I saw when I looked it up years ago.)
Also, I personally, would prefer hiring the best coach, instead of the best female coach, for any coaching position.