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Chat Reel: Jennifer Rizzotti
U. of Hartford coach discusses upcoming plans
Posted: Tuesday February 08, 2000 03:20 PM
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Jennifer Rizzotti was on the UConn teams that won the national title in 1995 and played in the Final Four in 1996. Jonathan Daniel/Allsport |
University of Hartford coach Jennifer Rizzotti chatted with CNNSI.com users about her players, her team and the WNBA.
CNNSI Host: Hello everyone! Welcome to today's chat to kick off CNNSI.com's celebration of Wednesday's National Girls and Women in Sports Day with Hartford women's basketball coach Jennifer Rizzotti.
CNNSI Host: Hi coach. Thanks for joining us.
Jennifer Rizzotti: Thanks for having me on. It's a privilege, and I'm proud to be a member of the National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration.
From Scott Melesky: After playing for a nationally-respected coach like Geno Auriemma as a player, have you incorporated any of his coaching style into your own as you coach Hartford?
Jennifer Rizzotti: Yes, I think I learned a lot in my four years at UConn, not just about basketball, but also as a person. I am trying to raise the standards of the players here so they can be the best people and athletes they can be. That's what I learned at UConn. I'm the same kind of intense coach, very vocal, competitive. I use a lot of the same types of drills, because when I was at UConn they worked, and I want to build the same kind of successful program.
From Guest: What is your stance that women's college basketball is not as exciting as men's college basketball?
Jennifer Rizzotti: I would have to say that they probably haven't watched a women's basketball game. It's a different game, and some people may not find it as exciting. But I always feel that the people who get hooked on women's basketball are people who have never watched it before and, after watching it for the first time, say "Wow. I never knew how exciting it was." If people don't want to watch, they certainly don't have to, but we're not trying to do the same thing as men's basketball and I think it's exciting in its own way.
From Lois: Which do you enjoy most---coaching or playing in the WNBA?
Jennifer Rizzotti: I can't really say...I think they're both too different to compare. I like both of them because I can be competitive, intense and express a lot of emotion, but I can do it in different ways. As a player, I can do it myself as I'm playing and as a coach, I can try to instill that in my players.
From Guest: Do you ever feel like you are the youngest coach in Division I basketball?
Jennifer Rizzotti: No... I'm doing my job, and I don't think age has anything to do with it. I've played at every level and I've played for some great coaches and I think I'm qualified. It has nothing to do with age.
From Guest: Would the men's program consider doing something similar with regards to a coaching change -- bring in a high profile former player to take control of the program?
Jennifer Rizzotti: I have no idea what they're thinking... I don't think it's something that happens very often. It's not a common thing. I don't know if there are many players around who are capable of doing that.
From Guest: Have you had a chance to see UConn play this year? Can they win the national title?
Jennifer Rizzotti: Absolutely. Yes to both questions. I've seen them play. I think this is the year they can get it done. They've got more mental toughness than they had in the past, and I think that's what it takes to get to the Final Four and win it all. I've seen them practice, I've talked to them and I feel that their attitude is finally where it needs to be. They've grown up a little bit and they've got the talent, they've got the depth, and I feel like they can do it this year.
From Mary: Related question -- Any comments about two UConn players, Abosimova and Hansmeyer, that have really raised the bar as far as big girls being quick, athletic and strong?
Jennifer Rizzotti: I really enjoy watching both of them play. They're two completely different types of players. Abosimova is really versatile, athletic and likes to play on the perimeter. And Hansmeyer is just a banger inside who gets the job done on the backboard. She's like "The Terminator" out there on the floor. I enjoy watching both of them play. I think they've raised the standard at UConn in terms of playing hard and being successful and if you knew them as players, you'd know they work really hard.
From Guest: What college basketball player do you think has a shot of appearing on the cover of SI this year?
Jennifer Rizzotti: It probably depends on who wins the national championship. I can't imagine they'd put anyone on there unless it was a national championship picture. I don't know... my hopes are always that they put someone on there, but it's always the same weekend as the men's, so you never know.
From Guest: What led into your decision to move on? Do you ever see yourself playing professionally again?
Jennifer Rizzotti: First of all, I haven't moved on... I still have every intention of playing this summer. I have taken the coaching job, but with that coaching job I have the option to play every summer. The season doesn't interfere with the college women's basketball season.
From Guest: If Geno ever stepped down, do you think you would have a chance to coach at UConn?
Jennifer Rizzotti: First of all, I don't see him stepping down anywhere in the near future. And if he did, they may be looking for someone who has more experience than myself. It's a program that's much more developed, and I've only been coaching for one year.
From Guest: How is your Hartford team doing? What are your goals for the season?
Jennifer Rizzotti: Right now, we're 10-10. We're sitting at 5th in our conference. We're on a pretty good stretch right now. Our goal is to win the America East Conference Championship. We've already won two more games than they won in last year's entire season. We're not satisfied... we want to get better and win more games. If we get on a hot streak we can win that tournament and win a bid to the NCAA's.
From Guest: Why is it Louisiana Tech and Leon Barmore don't get nearly the national respect and attention as other schools, despite the fact Tech is, year in and year out, a top 5 team?
Jennifer Rizzotti: That's a good question. I think La. Tech has been one of those schools that really started the women's basketball tradition. They do deserve more recognition, but since they're not near a really big media market, they don't get it.
From Guest: Are there any players out there that remind you of yourself?
Jennifer Rizzotti: Not really... I've tried to always be my own player. When I was younger, I could only watch men's basketball so there weren't a lot of women for me to model myself after. Fortunately, I think that's changed a lot in the last ten years, and I look forward to being able to provide a role model for some young basketball players who want to play professionally someday.
From Guest: Do you ever scrimmage with your players?
Jennifer Rizzotti: *Laughs* No. There's a lot you can't see when you're playing on the floor that you can see when you're standing and watching on the sidelines. My role right now is to be the person standing on the sidelines trying to correct as much as I can, and I don't feel it would be beneficial for me to be playing.
From Guest: Do you think being so close in age to your players is sometimes a benefit?
Jennifer Rizzotti: Yeah, I think it is. I think I can relate well with them, because it wasn't long ago that I went though the same things they're going through.
So far, there haven't been any disadvantages, except that I'm probably too nice to them sometimes, because I don't want to seem like I'm too much of a dictator. But, so far, it's definitely been beneficial, and I think I've done a good job staying on that side of the line, caring for them as people, but not stepping over the line to being too close as friends.
CNNSI Host: Thanks for joining us today coach. Good luck the rest of the season.
Jennifer Rizzotti: Thanks for having me on.
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