3 Reasons Washington Huskies WBB Hiring Coach Jody Wynn Means Melancholy

The University of Washington Huskies Women’s Basketball Program Announced the hiring of head coach Jody Wynn. On the surface, I’m happy for the program and for the Coach Wynn. But I have three reasons for my melancholy mood

New head coach Jody Winn knows when to make an entrance. The University of Washington Huskies Women’s Basketball Program ended the 2016-2017 season is style. The program launched guard Kelsey Plum and forward Chantel Osahor into the WNBA, and former head coach Mike Neighbors into his life-long dream job as head coach of the University of Arkansas Women’s Basketball team head coach.  While the team did not win the NCAA Women’s basketball tournament this year, the team did advance to the Elite Eight this year after climbing all the way to the Final Four last year.

But the season did end.  And in the wake of Mike Neighbors exodus for a chance to coach his “home town” team, the University of Washington Athletics department found itself once more facing an opening at head coach of a basketball team. While the search did not conclude as rapidly as the two-day search and hire of Men’s basketball head coach Mike Hopkins, progress did occur.

More from The Husky Haul

• Pro Husky Shaq Thompson out for season with leg injury
• Washington Huskies begin conference play against Cal in Week 4
• Jack Westover is a breakout star for the Washington Huskies
• Washington football: Negatives and Positives in win over Michigan State
• Huskies offense slices through the Spartans in 41-7 win

Search Focuses

Ultimately, the search began to narrow a week ago to the point where names surfaced with descriptions of “mutual interest” and “Focus upon” with former Long Beach State University head coach Jody Wynn.

The hire was announced this week.

So why do I not share in the congratulatory and celebratory mood? Well, sometimes expressing oneself intelligently over a melancholy mood is less than worthwhile.  But I believe I can express three reasons for my hesitancy to pop the champagne cork on this hire.

Reason One: Jody Wynn Employing Husband Derek As Assistant Coach

Head Coach Jody Wynn employed husband Derek as her assistant coach at Long Beach State University. That same arrangement is happening at the University of Washington.  But before I proceed, I want to clarify why this is concerning to me.

I am no fan of nepotism.  Never was, never will be.  And I have valid reasons for my objections.  A coaching staff must allow for players to speak candidly in that “getting to know one another” phase of familiarity.  Part of that process is the trust factor.  While most interactions between player and coach stay on the positive side, there is the frustration of disciplined training and practices that will provoke emotions.

With the First Pick

Coach, I Need to Talk

In that scenario, a player typically speaks to other players, then to the assistant coach, then to the head coach.  However, the combination of wife and husband or husband and wife on the same coaching staff thwarts that opportunity for the assistant coach to intervene.   How does a player go to either Jody Wynn or Derek Wynn to express concerns about the other knowing they live under the same roof at the end of the day?

Similarly, as long as a working relationship and personal relationships remain positive, everything is fine.  Ultimately, some relationships reach low points.  What safeguards can the University of Washington set in place to limit the awkwardness of a family feud?

Can it work?  Certainly.

But this family structure simply adds one more risk to the equation. The fallout may never be measured, as players may simply elect not to discuss concerns.  In the end, this is something that can be anticipated.  But all parties felt confident enough to waive it through.  I do not share that confidence.

Reason Two: California Dreaming

In the midst of the coaching search, the University of Washington Huskies had to sort through a number of candidates. Some had vast national experience, some had solid regional success.  Jody and Derek Wynn have found success teaming up to lead an NCAA Women’s Basketball team.  The sticky point to that is?  They’ve done in in California only.

That point was raised in a recent interview with Mike Guardabascio of www.presstelegram.com, where Wynn discussed the factors considered in her decision to take the head coaching role at the University of Washington.

"“Neither Derek nor I have ever left Southern California, so that was one of the hardest parts,” Wynn said. “You look at things a little differently when you’re a mother. Our kids are at an age where they’re not in high school yet, and if we’re going to make a change now is a good time.”"

Consolation Prize Coach?

Everyone faces that first move away from the familiar to the new. On one hand, some never attempt it. On the other hand, some try it but return. Still more try and enjoy the new experience.

The problem is that Wynn was a front runner in the head coaching position for the USC Trojans as well, a position she ultimately lost out to when USC offered the position to Florida Gulf Coast’s head coach Karl Smesko.  Hours after Wynn announced accepting the position for the University of Washington Huskies, Smesko turned down USC.

Similar to Neighbors eventually leaving the program for Arkansas, the Huskies now risk taking a chance on the young Jody Wynn only to lose her to her first choice down the road. She coveted the USC position.   At some point, California Dreaming may sever the Wynns from UW.

Reason Three: Jody Wynn’s History Shows Tremendous Recent Progress

The Long Beach State University Women’s Basketball program has been rather successful recently. Similar to the fact that progress seemed to explode under the auspices of assistant coach Paul Reed, the overall women’s basketball program has only enjoy relatively recent success.

Johnny (er… Jody?) Come Lately.

Climbing to the top of the charts has the reputation for being easier than staying at the top for good reason.  It’s true.

Sustaining Harder Than Achieving

Athleticism in team sports involves a certain amount of luck, strategy, talent, and desire.  Once success is truly achieved, the only constant becomes talent.   Desire is the urgings to possess that which you do not have.  Luck is the random pattern of events that aids or hinders success.  Strategy is the calculated actions and reactions anticipated in a basketball contest.

Once a team wins, they have success.  Luck is random. therefore a good bracket and injury free season is no guarantees to the next season’s similar results.  Strategy can be planned once. Unfortunately, once filmed, other coaches can now employ strategy to negate your plans.

So sustaining success is a “higher calling” for many coaches.  The University of Connecticutt Huskies winning streak in NCAA Women’s basketball is impressive in that they had achieve winning despite all of the forces that work against it.

Reason For Hope: Assistant Coach Paul Reed joining coaching staff

In the midst of the coaching search, the history of the Long Beach State University Women’s Basketball Team showed gradual improvement. However, in the past two season, that same program has shown incredible improvement.

The University’s own website attributes that burst of best to the hiring of assistant coach Paul Reed. Why is this a cause for hope?

More from Basketball

• Will 2023 be the year of revival for Washington basketball?
• Washington basketball game tonight: Huskies vs Utes odds, prediction, TV schedule
• Washington basketball: Mike Hopkins’ bumpy ride as head coach
• Washington basketball game tonight: Huskies vs Cougars Predictions, Odds, TV Channel and Live Stream
• Washington basketball’s 2021-2022 season continues to be in jeopardy

Reed Is The Gem

The University of Washington Huskies Women’s Basketball Team has hired Reed to join head coach Jody Wynn and assistant coach Derek Wynn.   Per reports, the UW Women’s Basketball coaching staff includes Jody and Derek Wynn, as well as  Michelle Augustavo.    Michelle Augustavo is a University of Washington Alumni, and was hired as Jody Wynn’s assistant coach on June 2, 2016.  But the difference maker is assistant coach Paul Reed.

After all, the gem of the Long Beach State University coaching staff was and is Paul Reed.

With the entire coaching staff following the Wynn’s from Long Beach State University to the University of Washington, there is of course a question as to the status of the five incoming freshmen to the LBSU basketball program.  There is some chance that those players will now weigh a decision to follow the coaching staff as well.

Next: Washington Huskies Jaylen Nowell Staying With Men’s Basketball team

I certainly wish tremendous success for the University of Washington Huskies Women’s Basketball team and for Jody Wynn as the head coach.  But I had reservations when her name surfaced in the selection process. She is a high risk high upside head coach. If all goes well, the sky is the limit. In my experience, dominoes do not always fall as we prefer.