All Entries Tagged With: "Jeff Walz"

Jeff Walz Lands Another Elite Class

By Sonja Sykes

University of Louisville women’s basketball coach Jeff Walz has received four commitments for the 2009-2010 season. Most recruiting analysts agree that Walz has landed a top 20 class for a second year in a row

Nikki Burton — She’s a 5-foot-11 point guard out of West Charlotte, NC, with a top 10 ranking by the recruiting experts. She can dish, drive, hit the boards and drill the three.

Ashley Raines — A 6-foot-3 forward/center out of Warren East High School here in Kentucky is considered by most to be the front runner for player of the year. She was the state’s top junior, averaging 27 points and 11 boards last season. She runs the court extremely well and potent in the paint.

Rachel Story — Was so excited about being a Lady Card that she faxed her commitment in at 12:01 AM on signing day. Previously a verbal to Marquette, Story is a 5-foot-7 guard who has decent shooting range and his a speed demon up and down the court, with or without the ball.

Asia Taylor – a 6-foot-1 wing player out of Columbus that is considered in the running for Ohio player of the year. She is ranked in the top 30 by several recruiting experts. She will remind Lady Card fans of Angel McCoughtry with her talent, quickness, shot and full court presence.

These four will hit the campus as Candyce Bingham and Angel leave, and should be immediate contributors to a team that is rapidly emerging as one of the Big East powerhouses. There is some speculation that Walz may also bring in a highly ranked junior college player to join the fold. Who, when and what position she’ll play isn’t confirmed yet. Logic would dictate that it could be a post player.

Welcome to the Ville, Asia, Ashley, Rachel and Nikki! We’re glad to have you in the Lady Cards, and hope you have healthy and very successful senior seasons.

November 13, 2008 | Sonja Sykes | Comments 1

A Few Softball Questions For Jeff Walz

Our intrepid reporter was not armed with any deep probing questions but she did gain some interesting insights into the mindset of Jeff Walz, coach of the University of Louisville women’s basketball team. She interviewed him a few weeks before Chauntise Wright was injured.

By Sonja Sykes

You’ve been the Lady Cards head coach for 20 months now. How are things going?

Our time in Louisville has been a very fast but exciting time. So much has happened in such a short period that my staff and I are trying hard to make sure we enjoy every moment. I am very fortunate to work for a great athletic department with Tom Jurich and Julie Hermann. They have both made this a very smooth transition.

What’s the biggest challenge about being a head coach?

The hardest thing are the months May through September. During the season, the daily schedule is pretty much set and you know when your next trip is, who your next opponent is and you prepare. The other months consist of lots of speaking engagements, RECRUITING and many nights spent out in the community. I have loved every minute of my time here and once I get adjusted, I know it will become easier.

Where are you in regards to your career?

I am very excited where I am at this point. I have had the opportunity to work at Western Kentucky, Nebraska, Minnesota and Maryland as an assistant before becoming the head coach at Louisville. I know that my time at those four schools and winning a National Championship at Maryland helped me get ready for this job.

If you weren’t coaching basketball, what would you be doing?

If I was not coaching basketball I would be a teacher. My undergraduate degree is in Secondary Education with and emphasis in Business Education and I have a Masters Degree in Education from Western Kentucky.

Do you get pre-game nerves, and if so, how do you overcome them?

I really don’t get pre-game nerves as a coach. I used to more so as a player but have learned to relax more before the games as a coach. I have a great staff and we prepare as hard as anyone to make sure our players are ready for game day. When the players are prepared, it allows a coach to focus more on the game instead of being nervous.

November 10, 2008 | Sonja Sykes | Comments 0

Tar Heels All Day Long

Much at stake Card fans.

Saturday will be a long day whether Louisville wins, splits or loses two games against North Carolina. Carolina fans have all but marked both games down in the win columns. Can’t blame them because the University of Louisville has had to make up ground in recent years, getting the men’s and women’s teams competitive.

The challenges are immense but Tom Jurich hires people like Rick Pitino and Jeff Walz because they relish such opportunities. Take on the best, means more, even more satisfying, if you beat them in front of their fans.

Men must defeat the nation’s No. 1 team, a team with a 32-2 record to make the Final Four. A real shot at a third national championship beckons for the first time in two decades. The surprising trip in 2005 was a major achievement, but nobody gave U of L any chance.

However, the Cards are a serious contender this time around; they’re close, they can almost taste it.

Got to get past North Carolina first.

Women must get past a No. 3-ranked team with a 30-2 record to make the Elite Eight. Would be the first time ever to get that far. This is all new to them. Perennial powers UConn and Rutgers can attest to their toughness, however.

It would be too easy to say they’re a year away. That would be a mistake, next year is a mirage, not yet real. The next level is staring the women in the face.

Got to get past North Carolina.

March 28, 2008 | Charlie | Comments 6