I think that it was a great feeling and probably a little bit more special because of the length of time that had passed before we won, but I think more importantly, it was just a great feeling because this team had such strong leadership and they had great chemistry.
I want to keep coaching as long as I can. I love teaching and working with student athletes and I love being at the University of Tennessee.
I'd wake up in the morning and I would think, 'Where am I?' I'd have to gather myself.
I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.
I think I can help others just by my example.
I've got a great staff and great support system, and I'm going to stick my neck out and do what I always do.
I haven't ever really had a goal to break that record or catch John Wooden.
I think basketball has changed tremendously and for the better. I think that obviously the game is better. I think the skill of the players are better, the strength, the overall athleticism, the teamwork involved. I think coaching is better. We have more exposure for our game than ever. You know, our sport has grown significantly in really the last five years. It's pretty amazing.
I've always put great emphasis on the academics and getting your degree. It's important because basketball is short term. The long term is what are you gonna do after college and after you no longer can bounce the ball.
I think helped our players in terms of being able to fight through some adversity along the way.
I never ask Candace Parker if she was thinking about leaving because I never had any reason to believe she would. I just kept the focus on the team and on Candace and the role she played for us.
I just think they were just a team that really enjoyed the process and allowed our coaching staff to enjoy the process.
I really felt like we had to have a go to player.
I think sometimes for me that sounds like almost being selfish. I am not about personal records.
Actually, when I saw it in USA Today, I just, Candace Parker was, we were warming up in practice and she was underneath the basket shooting and I just said, 'Hey Candace! I enjoyed what I read in the paper today about your decision [to stay].' She just started laughing and I did too. So I haven't discussed it with her.
I think the most important thing I thought is, I thought about recruiting and what we need in recruiting.
I am about helping each and every student athlete that selects to wear the orange, you know, be successful at Tennessee individually and as a team. That type of record is certainly not anything that I have aspirations to reach.
