[81alum]

Maybe I've missed it, but has KP gotten in anyone's face? She seems pretty reserved to me. There were times when Tara would just go off on players. Walking many paces onto the court to discipline Kiki in last year's tourney and having stern words with Cam for silly fouls are both examples that come to mind (and both were star players).   

I understand coaches have different styles. I always admired Tara's blend of being both a disciplinarian and a good natured coach. I just haven't seen too many mild-mannered coaches succeed (Wooden, others?). Practically all successful coaches have a fiery side to them. I just wonder if KP has that. That's why I'm asking - I just haven't observed it myself.

Based on all those chalk talks over the years I always felt that Kate might be too harsh for Stanford.  While she was not really hot tempered, I did always feel that she was more hot tempered than Tara.  I asked a stupid question once and got my head bitten off.  Whatever else you want to say about Kate and any of her defects--being too gentle is not one of them.  She softened some in recent years as I think she learned the need, and the fact that she learned to develop more tools in her relational tool box seemed to me a mark in her favor.  Tara had to do this too, by the way, and was interviewed several times about it.

My use of the word "fiery" was meant to be more on the emotional/inspirational side. That could include both anger and praise, but there's more of an emotional element to it. When you say "harsh", "hot tempered", and "softened", that sounds more like she uses mean words, but doesn't necessarily show emotion. Does she get emotional (not just negative, but positive too) at the games?  Again, I don't go to the games live and they don't show her much on the tube, so I just don't know.

I'll start watching more carefully.  She does get up and out of her chair more often than Tara used to, but I think all the coaches are still imitating Tara's demeanor, which was mainly to sit on the bench with a stiff upper lip.  It was always such a contrast when someone like Mulkey came, who was always standing and shouting, often over the line, while Tara sat in her chair almost the whole time, standing up only occasionally to talk to the point guard during interludes like an opposing free throw attempt, or to ask an official for an explanation.  The contrast made the opposing coach look like an angry child, and I think it generally worked in Tara's favor, since when she DID talk to an official she came across as a concerned professional.  As far as inspiring players during a game--I think Tara could give some doozies of halftime talks, but I don't remember more than Xs and Os on the sideline.  

I sit opposite the bench, though.  (I can read some of the notes the TV broadcasters use, but alas, don't get near our coaches who are across the way.)  There are some Cardboarders who sit right behind the bench and can hear the conversations.  Maybe one of them will chime in with observations about Kate and Tara and their communication style to players when on the sidelines, whether they differ, etc....

[81alum]

Maybe I've missed it, but has KP gotten in anyone's face? She seems pretty reserved to me. There were times when Tara would just go off on players. Walking many paces onto the court to discipline Kiki in last year's tourney and having stern words with Cam for silly fouls are both examples that come to mind (and both were star players).   

I understand coaches have different styles. I always admired Tara's blend of being both a disciplinarian and a good natured coach. I just haven't seen too many mild-mannered coaches succeed (Wooden, others?). Practically all successful coaches have a fiery side to them. I just wonder if KP has that. That's why I'm asking - I just haven't observed it myself.

Based on all those chalk talks over the years I always felt that Kate might be too harsh for Stanford.  While she was not really hot tempered, I did always feel that she was more hot tempered than Tara.  I asked a stupid question once and got my head bitten off.  Whatever else you want to say about Kate and any of her defects--being too gentle is not one of them.  She softened some in recent years as I think she learned the need, and the fact that she learned to develop more tools in her relational tool box seemed to me a mark in her favor.  Tara had to do this too, by the way, and was interviewed several times about it.

My use of the word "fiery" was meant to be more on the emotional/inspirational side. That could include both anger and praise, but there's more of an emotional element to it. When you say "harsh", "hot tempered", and "softened", that sounds more like she uses mean words, but doesn't necessarily show emotion. Does she get emotional (not just negative, but positive too) at the games?  Again, I don't go to the games live and they don't show her much on the tube, so I just don't know.

I'll start watching more carefully.  She does get up and out of her chair more often than Tara used to, but I think all the coaches are still imitating Tara's demeanor, which was mainly to sit on the bench with a stiff upper lip.  It was always such a contrast when someone like Mulkey came, who was always standing and shouting, often over the line, while Tara sat in her chair almost the whole time, standing up only occasionally to talk to the point guard during interludes like an opposing free throw attempt, or to ask an official for an explanation.  The contrast made the opposing coach look like an angry child, and I think it generally worked in Tara's favor, since when she DID talk to an official she came across as a concerned professional.  As far as inspiring players during a game--I think Tara could give some doozies of halftime talks, but I don't remember more than Xs and Os on the sideline.  

I sit opposite the bench, though.  (I can read some of the notes the TV broadcasters use, but alas, don't get near our coaches who are across the way.)  There are some Cardboarders who sit right behind the bench and can hear the conversations.  Maybe one of them will chime in with observations about Kate and Tara and their communication style to players when on the sidelines, whether they differ, etc....