Coach's Corner: Mimi Walters

COURTESY SPORTS PUBLICITY OFFICE

Walters has been an assistant coach at Yale for four years. Before coming to New Haven for the 1995-96 season, she served as head coach at Beloit College. During her five-year career at Beloit, Walters compiled an impressive 76-41 record and led the Buccaneers to a conference championship and an appearance in the NCAA tournament.

Despite the fact that the Bulldogs are coming off a disappointing season and are currently without a head coach, Walters doesn't think the situation is all bad. "The changes involved with bringing in a new coaching staff are always tough," she said. "But I do think there are a lot of positive things going on. The program is really in good shape."

One major issue that Walters believes must be addressed next season is Yale's inconsistency and lack of mental toughness. After losing a number of close games this season, the Elis must learn how to close out tight games to be successful in the future. "We need to learn how to compete consistently," Walters said. "And once we become more consistent, we need to take advantage of competitive situations."

The players are looking for a leader who can guide them to a conference title and a berth in the NCAA tournament, the promised land for college hoopsters. Lily Glick, ES '01, hopes that Walters, if chosen to succeed De-Marco, can step up to the challenge. "She has done an excellent job as an assistant, and as a person she is wonderful," Glick said. "However, the head coaching scenario is very different. You never can tell how a person will respond to the challenge."

If selected as the new coach, Walters hopes to turn around a program that has struggled for years. She knows that making the Elis contenders in the Ivy League will be difficult. Yet she hopes to use her past experiences to push the team over the top. "At Beloit, we got stronger each year," Walters said. "By my last year, we were able to use our experience to win the conference title. There's no reason that Yale can't do the same. Winning breeds winning. Getting started is the hardest part."

With the athletic department's decision tentatively slated for the end of April, all the team can do is wait. If Walters has anything to do with it, though, next year she'll be pacing the sidelines of the John J. Lee Amphitheatre and leading the team to new heights.

--Steven J. Rosenthal

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