The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1389905
JULY/AUGUST 2021 ■ 15 TRACKING THE PACK NC State women's basketball head coach Wes Moore added new assistant Brittany Morris to his coaching staff this summer. The Raleigh native went to Broughton High School before playing four seasons at Seton Hall and was a former gradu- ate assistant for the Wolfpack under Moore from 2015-17. She spent three seasons on staff at UNC Wilmington and the 2020-21 campaign at East Carolina before rejoining the Pack this offseason. Growing up in Raleigh and attending NC State as a graduate student, does the new job feel like a homecom- ing to you? Morris: "It's like a dream come true. Most people put it in words for me because I didn't even know how to feel. I was so excited. Coach Moore and Coach Nikki West were both here when I was here before. "It felt very comforting to come back. Once I sat back and put it in perspective, it was definitely a dream because in the coaching world, who doesn't want to go back to where they grew up?" What sparked your interest in coaching and when did you know this is what you wanted to do for a living? Morris: "When I was about 12 years old, I realized I ask a lot of questions. I still do. Once I realized I was a gym rat, I loved being around it and I was al- ways the team leader of whatever team I was on, that's when the light bulb went off. I thought, 'This is something I really want to do.' "I also had other teammates who played AAU with me, we're all actually coaching in college right now. It was something that I thought about at a very young age. I did test the waters to see if I would want to go play overseas, but I jumped right into it pretty early. I realized that once I made the decision not to go play, coaching was definitely what I wanted to do." What's the story behind you ending up back at NC State this summer? Morris: "I was actually very happy at East Carolina. It was the next step for me. I was not thinking anything about trying to get another opportunity. I had a couple people reach out from Power Five schools. It's all about blessings, and I had to make the best decisions for myself. "Then Coach Moore came out of the blue, and it was a whole new ball game. How could you say no to Coach Moore? He's done it the right way, he has a great culture here, great staff — and it's home. It's Raleigh, it's an easy sale for me. I take pride in being from Raleigh." How excited are you to come to a program that will be among the favorites to compete for a national championship next season? Morris: "Words can't really describe how excited I am. Every day I wake up like, 'Okay, you're blessed, and it's time to work.' The girls have been great. I love it. The atmosphere is just different. "You can tell that these are elite athletes. The environment, the mindset, everything just makes you excited every day to be a part of it. We have the opportunity to do some really big things." — Justin H. Williams SITTING DOWN WITH: Women's Basketball Assistant Coach Brittany Morris Etch your name into Wolfpack History WOLF TRACKS DONOR WALL Help fulfill the vision by leaving your legacy etched on the Wolf Tracks wall in the newly renovated Walk of Fame & History in Reynolds Coliseum. • Orders will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Orders cannot be filled after the 700 spaces are sold. • You will receive a confirmation email within 30 days of your order. Please review it carefully. If corrections are required, please notify us at majorgifts@wolfpackclub.com or 919-865-1500. • In order for the Wolfpack Club to accommodate requests for plaques to be placed next to each other, these orders must be placed together with proper instructions. Every effort will be made to accommodate these requests. • Your message must fit within the spaces provided on the plaque size. • All text will be a standard size, font, and style. Greek letters and other symbols not found on a standard keyboard may not be used. • The Wolfpack Club reserves the right to exclude orders that it deems to contain inappropriate language. • The Wolfpack Club will determine the final placement of all plaques. • Message area is 330 characters maximum, with a signature line of 75 characters. Plaques are $5,000, payable over 5 years to the Wolfpack Club. NC State Student Aid Association | PO Box 37100, Raleigh, NC 27627 | 919.865.1500 | www.wolfpackclub.com To secure your Wolf Tracks, please visit www.wolfpackclub.com/wolftracks. wolf tracks half page.indd 1 8/21/2018 10:45:16 AM Morris, a Raleigh native, previ- ously served as a graduate as- sistant for the Wolfpack from 2015-17. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS