Nice article on new Michigan coach.
Barnes Arico find's footing at Michigan
By Maya Jones
The Detroit News
2 Comments
New Michigan women’s basketball coach Kim Barnes Arico turned St. John’s into a powerhouse in 10 seasons. (John T. Greilick/Detroit News)
The decision for Kim Barnes Arico was a tough one. With a husband and three children, there would be a lot more to think about while moving from New Jersey to Michigan.
Yet, Barnes Arico, 41, took a chance for her new job. With the help of her family, the women's basketball head coach is ready to jump into her new role at Michigan this fall after 10 seasons at St John's.
Barnes Arico — who replaced Kevin Borseth after his resignation and return to Wisconsin-Green Bay — said the family atmosphere of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan has made the move much easier.
"The University of Michigan has the best of everything and their philosophy is to be leaders and best at everything," Barnes Arico said. "For me, that was really an exciting thing to be a part of. The community of Ann Arbor has been embracing me and my family as well, and it's just a terrific place to raise a family."
After receiving a call from Michigan with an offer for the new coaching position, Barnes Arico accepted, and looked at this opportunity as starting a new chapter in her life. Her main concern: her family.
With three young children still in school in New Jersey , Barnes Arico and her husband of 14 years, Larry, had to carefully plan their roles in the transition. Barnes Arico believes most women are leaving this profession because it has become so demanding, but the support she has received — especially from her husband — is what keeps her going.
"I think when we got married, we kind of jumped in to this whole coaching thing together," Barnes Arico said. "When I was able to have this opportunity to come here, he said, 'I'll do anything to make it work for you.' And that meant obviously leaving his job and his career and coming and starting fresh in a new place."
The couple decided Arico, a former Division III college football coach and most recently a high school athletic director, would spend the first few months at home in order to provide more stability for their kids.
Although there have been several job offers in Ann Arbor and surrounding communities, Barnes Arico said her husband will hold off on coaching or a job in administration until next spring or summer.
"He is a wonderful husband but just an absolutely terrific father," Barnes Arico said. "(Coaching) has been something that I've been able to achieve because I have such great support. And it definitely starts with him."
Along with the daunting task of having to familiarize herself with another state and university, leaving St. John's after building a successful women's basketball program also was a challenge. Barnes Arico said the special bonds created over the years and the dedication of the players and staff made her departure difficult.
"They really created something very special there and when that happens, especially when you've got that whole group of kids returning, that's a tough situation to leave," said Barnes Arico, whose accomplishments at St. John's include five 20-win seasons and four NCAA Tournament appearances, including the Sweet Sixteen last season. "It wasn't like I was looking for something bigger or better, because I thought (St. John's) was a great fit.
"I would only leave for something really, really incredibly special. When Michigan called, that's what I truly thought was a special opportunity."
Others in the profession were supportive of Barnes Arico's decision. Former WNBA player and Detroit Shock head coach Nancy Lieberman believes Michigan's women's basketball program will move in a positive direction with their new hire.
"(Michigan) made a good hire," Lieberman said. "I've known her for long time. I'm a friend and I'm a fan of anyone who does something really well during a long period of time. She's young and energetic, and she's going to be fine. I think it'll be a great place for her. She's very competitive as well."
Barnes Arico set off to find what was so special about the university that was offering her a chance to start anew. Having turned down previous offers from other schools, Barnes Arico noticed one thing Michigan brought to the table that otherschools hadn't.
"When I went on my interview, one of the selling points — the ultimate, final decision maker — was the leadership of our university and, to me, that started with our athletic director, Dave Brandon," Barnes Arico said.
"He was just unbelievable and just the feedback I received from everybody that I interviewed with is that he was the best in the business and somebody that you really want to work for."
Barnes Arico appreciated the kind words and warm gestures she received from everyone upon arrival, and even served as the grand marshal in Ann Arbor's Fourth of July parade.
And though she has limited contact with her players due to NCAA rules, they also have made her feel at home.
"They have been unbelievably welcoming to me, my staff and my family," she said. "That has helped the transition completely, but it's all the honeymoon phase right now. They haven't seen me in practice and on the court and I haven't seen them when they're having a bad day.
"I think it's really important before all that gets started to build that foundation and to build those relationships with them. They have to know at the end of the day that you care about them as people first and foremost more than just basketball players."
Once practices begin, Barnes Arico believes she will have a better idea of who her players are and what they're capable of — starting with her coaching method.
"I don't want to come in and do everything I've done in the past if that's not going to make us successful," Barnes Arico said. "I have to figure out how our program is going to be the most successful and coach to that.
For Michigan senior guard Jenny Ryan, Barnes Arico's passion and knowledge for the game has her looking forward to the season. A bond is forming already.
"It's really exciting," Ryan said. "As a basketball player, you want to learn as much as you can about the game and every person who coaches you brings a new perspective, new insight, new things that will help you expand your game and Coach Arico is a proven winner.
"She's a phenomenal person. Although she can't coach us one-on-one right now, you can see from her past experiences and just talking to her she has so much passion and knowledge for the game of basketball and that she truly cares about us as student-athletes, as people and as her players and that's just great to have as a coach.
From The Detroit News:http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120823/SPORTS0201/208230365#ixzz24n2ebslX
Barnes Arico find's footing at Michigan
By Maya Jones
The Detroit News
2 Comments
New Michigan women’s basketball coach Kim Barnes Arico turned St. John’s into a powerhouse in 10 seasons. (John T. Greilick/Detroit News)
The decision for Kim Barnes Arico was a tough one. With a husband and three children, there would be a lot more to think about while moving from New Jersey to Michigan.
Yet, Barnes Arico, 41, took a chance for her new job. With the help of her family, the women's basketball head coach is ready to jump into her new role at Michigan this fall after 10 seasons at St John's.
Barnes Arico — who replaced Kevin Borseth after his resignation and return to Wisconsin-Green Bay — said the family atmosphere of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan has made the move much easier.
"The University of Michigan has the best of everything and their philosophy is to be leaders and best at everything," Barnes Arico said. "For me, that was really an exciting thing to be a part of. The community of Ann Arbor has been embracing me and my family as well, and it's just a terrific place to raise a family."
After receiving a call from Michigan with an offer for the new coaching position, Barnes Arico accepted, and looked at this opportunity as starting a new chapter in her life. Her main concern: her family.
With three young children still in school in New Jersey , Barnes Arico and her husband of 14 years, Larry, had to carefully plan their roles in the transition. Barnes Arico believes most women are leaving this profession because it has become so demanding, but the support she has received — especially from her husband — is what keeps her going.
"I think when we got married, we kind of jumped in to this whole coaching thing together," Barnes Arico said. "When I was able to have this opportunity to come here, he said, 'I'll do anything to make it work for you.' And that meant obviously leaving his job and his career and coming and starting fresh in a new place."
The couple decided Arico, a former Division III college football coach and most recently a high school athletic director, would spend the first few months at home in order to provide more stability for their kids.
Although there have been several job offers in Ann Arbor and surrounding communities, Barnes Arico said her husband will hold off on coaching or a job in administration until next spring or summer.
"He is a wonderful husband but just an absolutely terrific father," Barnes Arico said. "(Coaching) has been something that I've been able to achieve because I have such great support. And it definitely starts with him."
Along with the daunting task of having to familiarize herself with another state and university, leaving St. John's after building a successful women's basketball program also was a challenge. Barnes Arico said the special bonds created over the years and the dedication of the players and staff made her departure difficult.
"They really created something very special there and when that happens, especially when you've got that whole group of kids returning, that's a tough situation to leave," said Barnes Arico, whose accomplishments at St. John's include five 20-win seasons and four NCAA Tournament appearances, including the Sweet Sixteen last season. "It wasn't like I was looking for something bigger or better, because I thought (St. John's) was a great fit.
"I would only leave for something really, really incredibly special. When Michigan called, that's what I truly thought was a special opportunity."
Others in the profession were supportive of Barnes Arico's decision. Former WNBA player and Detroit Shock head coach Nancy Lieberman believes Michigan's women's basketball program will move in a positive direction with their new hire.
"(Michigan) made a good hire," Lieberman said. "I've known her for long time. I'm a friend and I'm a fan of anyone who does something really well during a long period of time. She's young and energetic, and she's going to be fine. I think it'll be a great place for her. She's very competitive as well."
Barnes Arico set off to find what was so special about the university that was offering her a chance to start anew. Having turned down previous offers from other schools, Barnes Arico noticed one thing Michigan brought to the table that otherschools hadn't.
"When I went on my interview, one of the selling points — the ultimate, final decision maker — was the leadership of our university and, to me, that started with our athletic director, Dave Brandon," Barnes Arico said.
"He was just unbelievable and just the feedback I received from everybody that I interviewed with is that he was the best in the business and somebody that you really want to work for."
Barnes Arico appreciated the kind words and warm gestures she received from everyone upon arrival, and even served as the grand marshal in Ann Arbor's Fourth of July parade.
And though she has limited contact with her players due to NCAA rules, they also have made her feel at home.
"They have been unbelievably welcoming to me, my staff and my family," she said. "That has helped the transition completely, but it's all the honeymoon phase right now. They haven't seen me in practice and on the court and I haven't seen them when they're having a bad day.
"I think it's really important before all that gets started to build that foundation and to build those relationships with them. They have to know at the end of the day that you care about them as people first and foremost more than just basketball players."
Once practices begin, Barnes Arico believes she will have a better idea of who her players are and what they're capable of — starting with her coaching method.
"I don't want to come in and do everything I've done in the past if that's not going to make us successful," Barnes Arico said. "I have to figure out how our program is going to be the most successful and coach to that.
For Michigan senior guard Jenny Ryan, Barnes Arico's passion and knowledge for the game has her looking forward to the season. A bond is forming already.
"It's really exciting," Ryan said. "As a basketball player, you want to learn as much as you can about the game and every person who coaches you brings a new perspective, new insight, new things that will help you expand your game and Coach Arico is a proven winner.
"She's a phenomenal person. Although she can't coach us one-on-one right now, you can see from her past experiences and just talking to her she has so much passion and knowledge for the game of basketball and that she truly cares about us as student-athletes, as people and as her players and that's just great to have as a coach.
From The Detroit News:http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120823/SPORTS0201/208230365#ixzz24n2ebslX
