Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1052705
much time talking about others and, in return, I don't worry much about what others think of me. I try to do the best I can and treat people the right way. I try to get my players and my children un- derstanding the importance of being a good person and doing things the right way. But you're also a man's man in a woman's world. You smoke cigars. You're blunt and make no bones about it. You coach a women's team, and over the years most of the kids have loved and respected you. Have you changed? I've changed in a lot of ways, and in certain areas I've remained the same. My concern and care for the players has always been foremost, and I'm always willing to try and make them better people. Sometimes, that's something people don't want to have happen, whether it's the players and their family or whatever the case may be. There are a number of players I used to butt heads with, and there are some I don't hear from. Yet we played at Rutgers earlier this season and there were six or seven alums who showed up and the first thing they said was "Sorry I couldn't make it back for the 40-year thing." And I'm like, "the 40-year celebration is over. To me it was about the four years you were here that mattered, that you care enough to watch us play, the fact that it's impor- tant for me to meet your children, that's what's important." A lot of coaches say the same the thing, but they don't mean it. I don't know any vocation where one would think the misleading part of it is good for long-term benefit. It's the Penn State team. It's our team. It's their team, and I'm working with them and our team. That's what it is. The Penn State team. I want them to be successful. I don't want it to be about me. My interest in occasionally smoking cigars or drink- ing a little brown water or reading a book in the sun, or golfing – that's what I like to do. But if the phone rings and it's one of my players, I an- swer the phone. Have you ever looked back and wondered what would have happened if you had TITLE WINNERS Rose embraces setter Micha Han- cock following Penn State's win over BYU in the 2014 NCAA cham- pionship match. Photo by Mark Selders/Penn State Athletics