The itsBIGGERthantheball podcast with Coach Kyle Adams

Question. Who tows the tow truck??

Welcome back to the itsBIGGERthantheball podcast! We are glad to be back with you regarding a very important topic many in the athletic ecosystem are not discussing. 

This week we are talking about the mental wellness of coaches. Coaches are navigating tons of pressures and challenges stemming from the pandemic, job insecurity, family, and the changing landscape of college athletics with no one to really talk to. We want this episode to help start the much-needed conversation and inspire action regarding the mental health and wellness of today's coaches and leaders.

If this episode resonated with you and you find yourself overwhelmed and pressured and want to connect, please schedule some time with us using the link below. 

https://calendly.com/event_types/26966549/edit?return_to=%2Fevent_types%2Fuser%2Fme

Be sure to connect with Coach Adams & itsBIGGERthantheball www.itsbiggerthantheball.com [email protected] Social Media https://facebook.com/itsbiggerthantheball https://instagram.com/coachka20 https://twitter.com/coachka20 https://youtube.com/itsbiggerthantheball

 

 

  Welcome back for Season 4 of the itsBIGGERthantheball podcast, we are excited to welcome Coach Buelah Osueke.

Affectionately referred to as "Coach B", Osueke served for 8 years as the Head Girls Basketball Coach at West Catholic Preparatory High School in the ultra-competitive Philadelphia Catholic League.

After an 0-18 season in her inaugural campaign, Coach B holds an overall record of 80-72 which includes a 2020 Philadelphia Catholic League basketball championship (First for black coach), a 2021 PIAA Class 3A state crown (First for a black female coach, first in program history), and six PIAA District 12 titles.

In this episode we will discuss:

>Coach B's transition from Houston to Philly

>Building a championship basketball program from the ground up

>The Philadelphia Catholic League

>Leading a team through tragedy 

>Stepping away from the sidelines

>Creating Pilar Training, and much more!!!

Follow Coach B and Pilar Training

https://twitter.com/coachbosueke

https://www.instagram.com/coachbosueke/

https://www.instagram.com/pilrtraining/

http://pilrtraining.com/

Be sure to connect with Coach Adams & itsBIGGERthantheball www.itsbiggerthantheball.com [email protected] Social Media https://facebook.com/itsbiggerthantheball https://instagram.com/coachka20 https://twitter.com/coachka20 https://youtube.com/itsbiggerthantheball

 

 

 

 

 

This week we continue our HERstorical HIDDEN FIGURES series with members of C. Vivian Stringer's Cheyney State teams spanning from 1972-1980.

As the predecessors to the 82 and 84 NCAA Final Four teams, these ladies while competing in the AIAW, set the stage for Coach Stringer and Cheyney State's ascension to powerhouse status competing for NCAA National Championships. 

Our guests are Pat Walker, Debbie DeJarnette, Drucilla Smith, Sharon Wilcher, and Mara Willis. We are also joined by members of the 82 team NCAA Final Four team Debra Walker and Yolanda Laney.

Be sure to connect with Coach Adams & itsBIGGERthantheball www.itsbiggerthantheball.com [email protected] * Social Media https://facebook.com/itsbiggerthantheball https://instagram.com/coachka20 https://twitter.com/coachka20 https://youtube.com/itsbiggerthantheball

 

Monique A. J. Smith of Seeds of Empowerment and A Chat in the Garden as she speaks with five women who have been coached and mentored by Coach Kyle Adams.

Her panelists are Cheyney University alumnae Kia Whitley Duncan, India Marie Cross, Destiny Mcfarlane and North Carolina Central University graduates Monique Whaley-Briggs and Morgan Jones.

They will discuss Coach Kyle's commitment to supporting and developing women in and towards leadership, his concerns on the barriers in achieving this goal, and who are some of the champions who have shaped this passion in him.

To learn more about Monique AJ Smith,        check out her website https://seedsofempowerment.info/

Follow Kia Whitley Duncan https://www.instagram.com/_rastaaa/

https://twitter.com/DopeRasta

Follow India Marie Cross https://www.instagram.com/indiamariecross/ 

Follow Destiny Mcfarlane https://www.instagram.com/dess_me25/  

https://twitter.com/Just_Des25

Follow Monique Whaley Briggs https://www.instagram.com/mowhaleybriggs/  https://twitter.com/WhaleyBriggs

Follow Morgan Jones https://www.instagram.com/makeithappen_mj23/

Be sure to connect with Coach Adams & itsBIGGERthantheball www.itsbiggerthantheball.com [email protected] * Social Media https://facebook.com/itsbiggerthantheball https://instagram.com/coachka20 https://twitter.com/coachka20 https://youtube.com/itsbiggerthantheball

 

 

This week we continue our HERstorical HIDDEN FIGURES series with members of C. Vivian Stringer's Cheyney State teams spanning from 1975-1981.

As the predecessors to the 82 and 84 NCAA Final Four teams, these ladies while competing in the AIAW, set the stage for Coach Stringer and Cheyney State's ascension to powerhouse status competing for NCAA National Championships. 

Our guests are Marianna Freeman, Stacy Rhoades, Barbara Flythe, and Freda Moxley.

Be sure to connect with Coach Adams & itsBIGGERthantheball www.itsbiggerthantheball.com [email protected] * Social Media https://facebook.com/itsbiggerthantheball https://instagram.com/coachka20 https://twitter.com/coachka20 https://youtube.com/itsbiggerthantheball

 

 

 

Welcome back to the itsBIGGERthantheball pod. This week, we continue the HERstorical Hidden Figures series with Coach Winthrop Mcgriff.

In 1984, Coach Winthrop Mcgriff led Cheyney University Women's Basketball to their 2nd NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four. Cheyney would defeat University of Maryland, University of North Carolina, and Old Dominion University, ending their 45 game home win streak at the Norfolk Scope before losing to the University of Tennessee Lady Vols in the NCAA National Semifinals. Mcgriff succeeded C. Vivian Stringer as Head Coach her departure for Iowa Women's Basketball. The team was led by All American Yolanda Laney, Sharon Taylor, & Margaret Diaz. Coach Mcgriff is the first Black Man to coach a team to NCAA D1 Final Four.

Be sure to connect with Coach Adams & itsBIGGERthantheball www.itsbiggerthantheball.com [email protected] * Social Media https://facebook.com/itsbiggerthantheball https://instagram.com/coachka20 https://twitter.com/coachka20 https://youtube.com/itsbiggerthantheball

 

Coached by Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach C. Vivian Stringer, The 1982 Cheyney University Women's Basketball program holds the distinction of being the first and only HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Women's Basketball program to advance to the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship Game. This program also holds the distinction of being the only HBCU Women's Basketball Program to have players achieve KODAK ALL- AMERICAN in Valerie Walker in 1981,1982, and Yolanda Laney in 1984. No other Historically Black College or University Basketball program, WOMEN or MEN, has reached the heights on the DIVISION 1 level the way the 82 Cheyney Lady Wolves has.  The only other HBCU team that could compare to this team would be the 1984 Cheyney team that would return to NCAA Final Four.    One of many things that made what those Cheyney teams were able to do so impressive was that it was and is a low-resource institution. Cheyney's enrollment in 1982 was around five thousand students. Cheyney defeated (Auburn, North Carolina State, Kansas State, and Maryland) all had student enrollments of over twenty thousand students.   The 82 team finished with a record of 27-2. The ladies were undefeated at home for four years. The team won the NCAA East Regional Championship and would advance to the Final Four, beating the University of Maryland before falling to Louisiana Tech in the National Championship game. This team would enter the tournament as a No. 2 seed. The program would continue to achieve, advancing to the next two NCAA National Tournaments.    The Lady Wolves would return to the NCAA Final Four in 1984, losing to Tennessee in the National Semi-Finals.    Ten years after the passing of Title IX, which provided social and gender equity for female athletes, these women endured racism, sexism, and limited resources to reach heights yet to be achieved by many programs, let alone Division I HBCU women's basketball programs.  

The 1982 Cheyney University Women's Basketball program holds the distinction of being the first and only HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Women's Basketball program to advance to the inaugural NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship Game.

This program also holds the distinction of being the only HBCU Women's Basketball Program to have players achieve KODAK ALL- AMERICAN in Valerie Walker in 1981,1982, and Yolanda Laney in 1984.

*Record of 27-2. *Finished season ranked No. 2 in the nation. *Repeated as Pennsylvania State Champions *Undefeated at home for four seasons. *Won Eastern Regional Championship by defeating Auburn, North Carolina State, and Kansas State.

*Defeated the University of Maryland of the Atlantic Coast Conference to advance to the National Championship game. *Valerie Walker, Yolanda Laney, and Rosetta Guilford were voted to the ALL EAST regional team.

*Valerie Walker finished top three in voting for the prestigious WADE TROPHY, given to the nation's top women's basketball player. *Walker was also voted to the KODAK ALL AMERICAN TEAM for the second year in a row. *Coach Vivian Stringer was nominated for the STAYFREE NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR award. Yolanda Laney Deb Walker  Val Walker  Rosetta Guilford Saundra Giddings Karen Draughn Sharon Taylor Ann Strong Faith Wilds 

We could not fit all this history into one episode!! These ladies have all the receipts...   Check out Part 2 of HERstorical Hidden Figures and your 1982 NCAA Tournament Finalist Cheyney State Lady Wolves!!!     Coached by Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach C. Vivian Stringer, The 1982 Cheyney University Women's Basketball program hold the distinction of being the FIRST and ONLY HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Women's Basketball program to advance to the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship Game.   The CU Lady Wolves also hold the distinction of being the only HBCU Women's Basketball Program to have players achieve KODAK ALL- AMERICAN in Valerie Walker in 1981,1982, and Yolanda Laney in 1984. No other Historically Black College or University Basketball program, WOMEN or MEN, has reached the heights on the DIVISION 1 level the way the 82 Cheyney Lady Wolves has.      The only HBCU team that could compare with this team would be the 1984 Cheyney team that would return to NCAA Final Four.    One of many things that made what those Cheyney teams were able to do so impressive was that the school was what people would consider a low-resource institution. Cheyney's enrollment in 1982 was around five thousand students. Cheyney defeated (Auburn, North Carolina State, Kansas State, and Maryland) these schools all had student enrollments of over twenty thousand students and financial budgets that were almost three times that of Cheyney.   The 82 team finished with a record of 27-2. The ladies were undefeated at home for four years. The team won the NCAA East Regional Championship and would advance to the Final Four, beating the University of Maryland before falling to Louisiana Tech in the National Championship game. This team would enter the tournament as a No. 2 seed. The program would continue to achieve, advancing to the 1983 Elite Eight before losing a controversial game at Penn State that would have sent them to back to back NCAA Final Fours.       The Lady Wolves would return to the NCAA Final Four in 1984, losing to Tennessee in the National Semi-Finals.      Ten years after the passing of Title IX, which provided social and gender equity for female athletes, these women endured racism, biased officiating, sexism, and limited resources to reach heights yet to be achieved by Division I HBCU women's basketball programs.  

Their highlights include: *Record of 27-2. *Finished season ranked No. 2 in the nation. *Repeated as Pennsylvania State Champions *Undefeated at home for four seasons. *Won NCAA Eastern Regional Championship by defeating Auburn of the SEC, North Carolina State of the ACC, and Kansas State of the Big 8 Conference.

*Defeated the University of Maryland of the Atlantic Coast Conference to advance to the National Championship game.

 

*Valerie Walker, Yolanda Laney, and Rosetta Guilford were voted to the ALL EAST regional team.

*Valerie Walker finished top three in voting for the prestigious WADE TROPHY, given to the nation's top women's basketball player.

 

*Walker was also voted to the KODAK ALL AMERICAN TEAM for the second year in a row.

*Coach Vivian Stringer was nominated for the STAYFREE NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR award.

We talk with members of this HERstoric team including: Yolanda Laney Deb Walker  Val Walker  Rosetta Guilford Saundra Giddings Karen Draughn Sharon Taylor Ann Strong Faith Wilds 

Be sure to connect with Coach Adams & itsBIGGERthantheball www.itsbiggerthantheball.com [email protected] * Social Media https://facebook.com/itsbiggerthantheball https://instagram.com/coachka20 https://twitter.com/coachka20 https://youtube.com/itsbiggerthantheball

We've had some outstanding guests on the itsBIGGERthantheball pod, but I have to admit that since starting this endeavor THIS EPISODE has been a dream come true.     Coached by Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach C. Vivian Stringer, The 1982 Cheyney University Women's Basketball program hold the distinction of being the FIRST and ONLY HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Women's Basketball program to advance to the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship Game.   The CU Lady Wolves also hold the distinction of being the only HBCU Women's Basketball Program to have players achieve KODAK ALL- AMERICAN in Valerie Walker in 1981,1982, and Yolanda Laney in 1984. No other Historically Black College or University Basketball program, WOMEN or MEN, has reached the heights on the DIVISION 1 level the way the 82 Cheyney Lady Wolves has.      The only HBCU team that could compare with this team would be the 1984 Cheyney team that would return to NCAA Final Four.    One of many things that made what those Cheyney teams were able to do so impressive was that the school was what people would consider a low-resource institution. Cheyney's enrollment in 1982 was around five thousand students. Cheyney defeated (Auburn, North Carolina State, Kansas State, and Maryland) these schools all had student enrollments of over twenty thousand students and financial budgets that were almost three times that of Cheyney.   The 82 team finished with a record of 27-2. The ladies were undefeated at home for four years. The team won the NCAA East Regional Championship and would advance to the Final Four, beating the University of Maryland before falling to Louisiana Tech in the National Championship game. This team would enter the tournament as a No. 2 seed. The program would continue to achieve, advancing to the 1983 Elite Eight before losing a controversial game at Penn State that would have sent them to back to back NCAA Final Fours.       The Lady Wolves would return to the NCAA Final Four in 1984, losing to Tennessee in the National Semi-Finals.      Ten years after the passing of Title IX, which provided social and gender equity for female athletes, these women endured racism, biased officiating, sexism, and limited resources to reach heights yet to be achieved by Division I HBCU women's basketball programs.  

Their highlights include: *Record of 27-2. *Finished season ranked No. 2 in the nation. *Repeated as Pennsylvania State Champions *Undefeated at home for four seasons. *Won NCAA Eastern Regional Championship by defeating Auburn of the SEC, North Carolina State of the ACC, and Kansas State of the Big 8 Conference.

*Defeated the University of Maryland of the Atlantic Coast Conference to advance to the National Championship game.

 

*Valerie Walker, Yolanda Laney, and Rosetta Guilford were voted to the ALL EAST regional team.

*Valerie Walker finished top three in voting for the prestigious WADE TROPHY, given to the nation's top women's basketball player.

 

*Walker was also voted to the KODAK ALL AMERICAN TEAM for the second year in a row.

*Coach Vivian Stringer was nominated for the STAYFREE NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR award.

We talk with members of this HERstoric team including: Yolanda Laney Deb Walker  Val Walker  Rosetta Guilford Saundra Giddings Karen Draughn Sharon Taylor Ann Strong Faith Wilds 

Be sure to connect with Coach Adams & itsBIGGERthantheball www.itsbiggerthantheball.com [email protected] * Social Media https://facebook.com/itsbiggerthantheball https://instagram.com/coachka20 https://twitter.com/coachka20 https://youtube.com/itsbiggerthantheball

 

"Love is not a word. It's an action." - pg 314     Over the course of four weeks, we hosted a book review webinar entitled The Luxury Of Huddle Up centered around Coach Thompson's profound statement " I NEVER HAD THE LUXURY OF JUST BEING A BASKETBALL COACH."  from his outstanding autobiography entitled "I CAME AS A SHADOW" co-authored by Jesse Washington of the Undefeated.     Hosted by itsBIGGERthantheball, LLC and the T. Alexander Foundation, Sunday, February 14 at 3 pm, we hosted the final installment of our dynamic four-part conversation on "I Came As A Shadow."     We focused on the calls to action Coach Thompson left to us...

•  

Our conversation was segmented as follows:

• "The world is changing, and college athletics need to adapt...Since the NCAA won't hold everyone accountable, playing players might as well as be legal." 
• "Thinking our way to greatness." - How are we protecting the educational opportunities for today's student-athletes?
• "There are no Black college coaches today with major influence. We took our eye off the ball." - Recapturing the purpose. 

Moderators for this conversation are:

• Coach Edniesha Curry, Assistant Men's Basketball Coach, University of Maine 
• Tracy Jones, Founder, T. Alexander Foundation
• Dr. Emmett Gill, Executive Director, Athletes & Advocates for Social Justice in Sports 
•  Kevin Sutton, Assistant Men's Basketball Coach, University of Rhode Island
• SPECIAL GUEST, co-author of I CAME AS A SHADOW, Jesse Washington of the Undefeated.

The conversation was so good.

We had to share it!

Enjoy!!!