Basketball season doesn’t kick off until November, but this weekend is a big date for the University of Illinois Springfield women’s team.
Nine returning players and three recruits are getting together on campus for bonding time, which includes getting on the court and connecting with new coach Mark Kost.
“They’re going to bond and play some pickup basketball on their own,” he said. “The thing that encouraged me the most is they’ve organized it on their own. It makes you feel good as a coach that they took the initiative to do that.”
Kost cannot provide any basketball instruction due to NCAA rules, but he can hang out with the players and spend time getting to know them. He’s looking forward to having them all together in the same room for the first time.
“We’re in the process of developing trust,” he said. “I’m excited and I believe they are excited about a fresh start. That’s what we’ve been focusing on all summer with our phone conversations and text conversations.”
This story appeared online in The State Journal-Register on July 14, 2015.
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