Minden High has a new leader helping its Lady Tider basketball squad.
Minden High Principal Becky Wilson has announced the hiring of Cindee Wright-Clark.
Coach Wright-Clark attended New Mexico Junior College, Houston Baptist University, and earned her Masters Degree at Ashford University. Coach Clark has previous college and high school coaching experience. Assistant coaching experience as follows: Centenary College, Allen Community College, Southern University, Shreveport and Loyola College Prep (along side Coach Steve McDowell). She served as head coach at Vermilion Community College, Calvary Baptist Academy and Southwood High School.
The Journal spoke with the coach earlier this week.
Question:
What led you to choose coaching girls’ basketball at our high school?
Answer:
I’m truly grateful for Coach Brown. He saw me coaching years ago and never let up on me!
Question:
What are your goals for the upcoming basketball season?
Answer:
My ultimate goal is to be a meaningful impact on the lives of these young ladies! I wish to teach them the true meaning of student athletes and how to handle life lessons. Ensuring they know the decisions they make now in life will impact their future. Having a sound team with our goal being to make it as far in the playoffs as our talent and team work will allow. It’s going to take WINNING THE DAY!
Question:
How do you plan on motivating and inspiring the girls to achieve their full potential?
Answer:
I’ve always felt my loud voice with high energy personality is what has attracted me to the success I’ve had within the leadership roles held. I do my best to inspire the young ladies to follow my lead, by showing them what is expected of them! I lead by example at all times.
Question:
What is your coaching philosophy when it comes to developing player skills and abilities?
Answer:
My coaching philosophy is to be diplomatic, stern, active in the playing of the game, and offer and maintain an open line of communication. Summer time is the best time to develop players skills. And it will start next Monday morning!
Question:
How do you plan on creating a positive team culture and building team chemistry?
Answer:
Culture isn’t just one thing. It’s everything. Culture drives expectations and beliefs therefore my expectations is extremely high. Respect, team culture and expectations will be non negotiable. The expectations will be discussed day one and we will continue to build the existing culture and team bond all summer and throughout the season. I will maintain an open door policy for students and parents.
Question:
How do you plan on preparing the girls for tough competition and challenging games?
Answer:
It starts in practice, practice will be very challenging therefore they will know what to do, how to do, why to do it! Through practice, game review and open communication we can conquer it all.
Question:
What strategies do you plan on implementing during games to help the team come out on top?
Answer:
Game situation in practice to transition it in games understanding!
Question:
How do you plan on balancing academics and athletics for the girls on the team?
Answer:
I’m on campus, and it’s very important that I walk class to class to ensure they know that academics comes first! We will continuously check grades and offer assistance when needed. The goal is to ensure they understand student comes before athlete in the word STUDENT-athlete.
Question:
What are your plans for developing leadership skills among the team members?
Answer:
My first goal is to lead by example. Secondly we will do many different task giving each player a chance to be a leader. I will then examine and build their skills from there.
Question:
How do you plan on assessing and measuring progress throughout the season?
Answer:
Playing time will definitely be earned from Trust, work, ability. Collectively these three factors will be considered and not one will be a more important factor than the other. Each players willingness to be on time, present and working helps me measure and assess.
