Indiana University Athletics
Women's basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack Quotes
9/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | General
Sept. 20, 2006
Women's basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack
On what the new facility will do for the Indiana women's basketball program:
"I have been at a university where facilities mattered. At Michigan State, both basketball programs shared one facility. The men's team was just coming off of their third national title, and we were still sharing the same facilities. After that year, Michigan State was able to build a new facility, the Berkowitz Complex. After that facility was built, Michigan State women's basketball was in the national title game. It wasn't because the recruiting effort changed, it was because of the facility change. A new facility allows us to get our kids in there and work on our craft.
Coach (Kelvin) Sampson is a fantastic spokesperson for what we are trying to do at Indiana. We are trying to blaze a trail. I've watched him for many years and know what he did at Oklahoma. Oklahoma women's basketball was ready to cancel its women's basketball, but Kelvin stepped up with his vision and demanded better facilities. That allowed both coaches to build their craft. As you know, Oklahoma has been in the top 10 in the nation for the last five years. Facilities matter. Kids want what they want and need what they need. We have to work to keep up with the Joneses as they say and even surpass them.
The time is definitely now. Look where we are standing. This place (Indiana Memorial Union) is beautiful. This place is going to attract great students from around the world. If we are going to continue to attract the best student-athletes, we are going to have to have facilities that match the Union, Kelley School of Business and the Jacobs School of Music."
