Comings and Goings: Virginia Tech 2016-17

We continue to work our way through the state with a look at Virginia Tech. Coming up next in the series: VCU

The series:

George Mason: Comings and Goings

William and Mary: Comings and Goings
Richmond: Comings and Goings

Virginia: Comings and Goings
James Madison: Comings and Goings

Liberty: Comings and Goings

Goings
Hannah Young: Started all 31 games; her 31 mpg was tops on the team; averaged 10.3 ppg and 4.5 rpg
Taijah Campbell: Started 24 games; averaged 4.8 ppg and 5.2 rpg;
Samantha Hill: Started all games and averaging 4.5 ppg, shooting 38 percent from  3
Alana Gilmer: transferred to Marist after scoring just 21 points all of last season
Khadedra Croker: no longer on the roster after two seasons as a Hokie; transferred to Norfolk State and will sit out the 2016-17 season
Kelly Koshuta: the sparingly-used forward has transferred to JMU; a five-star recruit from James Madison High who played in seven games
Tara Nahodil: scored just eight points last year and has graduated
Heidi Brown: the walk-on is no longer on the roster
Jaiden McCoy: Freshman from Knoxville, Tenn., was reportedly at school to start the fall semester and has left

Comings
Kenny Brooks: the architect of a dynasty at James Madison starts his first season as head coach at Virginia Tech, replacing Dennis Wolff
Jen Brown: Brooks' longtime assistant at JMU remains by his side
Shawn Popple: an assistant to Brooks who comes to Tech from Furman

Dianda Darosa

Tim Clark: Another purple and gold alum followed Brooks to Blacksburg
Diandra Darosa, 5-7 junior guard: Coveted by Louisville and Syracuse, the point guard led ASA College to the national championship and averaged 14.1 ppg and 5.4 apg last season; played alongside Cheridene Green at ASA; Green has signed with Tennessee. Scored 22 with four assists and six steals in championship game loss to Hartford Community College
Kendyl Brooks, 5-8 freshman guard: Kenny's eldest; will redshirt the 2016-17 season; led Spotswood High to a state title her senior year
Kaela Kinder, 5-10 freshman guard; 3-star recruit from Christ the King High
Erin Garner 6-3 forward: Transfer from Georgia Tech is eligible for this season after attending Florida International; set record for blocks at Trenton Catholic High in Philadelphia
Genesis Parker, 5-9 Freshman guard; 4-star ESPN recruit ranked 62nd in her class; from Stonewall Jackson High
Michelle Berry, 6-2 sophomore forward: transfer from Cal Fullerton who will sit out 2016-17 season due to NCAA transfer rules

If you're in Blacksburg, it must feel like Christmas. What Brooks did 140 miles up I-81 is nothing shy of remarkable in his 14 years there. The Dukes earned 11 postseason berths and six NCAA bids under the JMU alum and boast two players in the WNBA in Tamera Young and Jazmon Gwathmey. But his greatest asset is developing talent. Consistently, players entered JMU's program -- Kirby Burkholder and Nikki Newman, for example -- with modest expectations and graduated as star performers for an NCAA tournament team. Year after year we saw Brooks transform recruits many schools shied away from into top-notch talent, including Gwathmey, who ended her season a starter for the WNBA's San Antonio Stars.

Can you tell we're excited to see what he'll do in the ACC?

We're not expecting earth-shattering changes just yet at Tech, but a core group returns that looks to build on last season's big wins against Tennessee and Virginia (twice). Hokie fans saw flashes of brilliance from players including Vanessa Panousis (21 points on 5-of-8 3-point shooting in Knoxville),  Sidney Cook (23 points, 14 rebounds at Virginia) and Rachel Camp (29 points against Elon in the WNIT). Finding consistency will be the challenge this season for those players learning under a new coach. Brooks will also look to create more long ball looks for Panousis to create the kind of sizzling numbers she put up against the Lady Vols.

Darosa is a likely contributor, and though she's walking in a boot now due to a stress fracture in her shin, Brooks is hopeful she will mend quickly.

Brooks see scrappiness and experience but notes Tech lacks depth in the post, though Berry will be able to provide a body in practice while she awaits eligibility.

Expect redshirt sophomore Regan Megarity to see good minutes after an injury-plagued career thus far.

"She'll be a focal point of what we'll do. We'll utilize her size and quickness," Brooks said.

Tech's X factor? Brooks singles out point guard Chanette Hicks, who started 27 games last year as a freshman and averaged 4.1 assists with a single-season school-record 91 steals. (She also set a rookie single-season school record for assists with 134.)

"She looks like a young Muff Mickens," Brooks said, high praise indeed. JMU's Angela "Muff" Mickens finished her career in Harrisonburg last season ranking second all-time in assists with 669.

Season opener: Nov. 11 vs. UNC Asheville

Comings and Goings: Virginia Tech 2016-17

We continue to work our way through the state with a look at Virginia Tech. Coming up next in the series: VCU

The series:

George Mason: Comings and Goings

William and Mary: Comings and Goings
Richmond: Comings and Goings

Virginia: Comings and Goings
James Madison: Comings and Goings

Liberty: Comings and Goings

Goings
Hannah Young: Started all 31 games; her 31 mpg was tops on the team; averaged 10.3 ppg and 4.5 rpg
Taijah Campbell: Started 24 games; averaged 4.8 ppg and 5.2 rpg;
Samantha Hill: Started all games and averaging 4.5 ppg, shooting 38 percent from  3
Alana Gilmer: transferred to Marist after scoring just 21 points all of last season
Khadedra Croker: no longer on the roster after two seasons as a Hokie; transferred to Norfolk State and will sit out the 2016-17 season
Kelly Koshuta: the sparingly-used forward has transferred to JMU; a five-star recruit from James Madison High who played in seven games
Tara Nahodil: scored just eight points last year and has graduated
Heidi Brown: the walk-on is no longer on the roster
Jaiden McCoy: Freshman from Knoxville, Tenn., was reportedly at school to start the fall semester and has left

Comings
Kenny Brooks: the architect of a dynasty at James Madison starts his first season as head coach at Virginia Tech, replacing Dennis Wolff
Jen Brown: Brooks' longtime assistant at JMU remains by his side
Shawn Popple: an assistant to Brooks who comes to Tech from Furman

Dianda Darosa

Tim Clark: Another purple and gold alum followed Brooks to Blacksburg
Diandra Darosa, 5-7 junior guard: Coveted by Louisville and Syracuse, the point guard led ASA College to the national championship and averaged 14.1 ppg and 5.4 apg last season; played alongside Cheridene Green at ASA; Green has signed with Tennessee. Scored 22 with four assists and six steals in championship game loss to Hartford Community College
Kendyl Brooks, 5-8 freshman guard: Kenny's eldest; will redshirt the 2016-17 season; led Spotswood High to a state title her senior year
Kaela Kinder, 5-10 freshman guard; 3-star recruit from Christ the King High
Erin Garner 6-3 forward: Transfer from Georgia Tech is eligible for this season after attending Florida International; set record for blocks at Trenton Catholic High in Philadelphia
Genesis Parker, 5-9 Freshman guard; 4-star ESPN recruit ranked 62nd in her class; from Stonewall Jackson High
Michelle Berry, 6-2 sophomore forward: transfer from Cal Fullerton who will sit out 2016-17 season due to NCAA transfer rules

If you're in Blacksburg, it must feel like Christmas. What Brooks did 140 miles up I-81 is nothing shy of remarkable in his 14 years there. The Dukes earned 11 postseason berths and six NCAA bids under the JMU alum and boast two players in the WNBA in Tamera Young and Jazmon Gwathmey. But his greatest asset is developing talent. Consistently, players entered JMU's program -- Kirby Burkholder and Nikki Newman, for example -- with modest expectations and graduated as star performers for an NCAA tournament team. Year after year we saw Brooks transform recruits many schools shied away from into top-notch talent, including Gwathmey, who ended her season a starter for the WNBA's San Antonio Stars.

Can you tell we're excited to see what he'll do in the ACC?

We're not expecting earth-shattering changes just yet at Tech, but a core group returns that looks to build on last season's big wins against Tennessee and Virginia (twice). Hokie fans saw flashes of brilliance from players including Vanessa Panousis (21 points on 5-of-8 3-point shooting in Knoxville),  Sidney Cook (23 points, 14 rebounds at Virginia) and Rachel Camp (29 points against Elon in the WNIT). Finding consistency will be the challenge this season for those players learning under a new coach. Brooks will also look to create more long ball looks for Panousis to create the kind of sizzling numbers she put up against the Lady Vols.

Darosa is a likely contributor, and though she's walking in a boot now due to a stress fracture in her shin, Brooks is hopeful she will mend quickly.

Brooks see scrappiness and experience but notes Tech lacks depth in the post, though Berry will be able to provide a body in practice while she awaits eligibility.

Expect redshirt sophomore Regan Megarity to see good minutes after an injury-plagued career thus far.

"She'll be a focal point of what we'll do. We'll utilize her size and quickness," Brooks said.

Tech's X factor? Brooks singles out point guard Chanette Hicks, who started 27 games last year as a freshman and averaged 4.1 assists with a single-season school-record 91 steals. (She also set a rookie single-season school record for assists with 134.)

"She looks like a young Muff Mickens," Brooks said, high praise indeed. JMU's Angela "Muff" Mickens finished her career in Harrisonburg last season ranking second all-time in assists with 669.

Season opener: Nov. 11 vs. UNC Asheville

RANDOMNESS with Virginia Tech's Monet Tellier

We're back with RANDOMNESS and our eager (willing?) subject today is Virginia Tech sophomore Monet Tellier. Tellier, a starter in all eight games, averaged 17 ppg and 4.6 rpg and shooting .432 from the field and .455 from behind the arc. As much as we love her game (and we imagine coach Dennis Wolff does, too), we really love her first name. So that's what we start with.

The name? My mom actually did name me after the painter. I actually have three (prints) of his and I have a blanket of one of them, Monet's Garden, hanging on my door.

You grew up in Husky country (Willimantic, Conn.) Did that have an impact on you? I actually grew up right down the street from UConn. My grandfather worked at UConn at one of the facilities. I can remember watching one of the national championships.

Are you a closet Husky fan? Yeah, I have to admit I am. I grew up so close to them. I respect Geno.

Your favorite spot in Blacksburg? Our locker room

Favorite movie? "Space Jam." It used to be "Love and Basketball," but there was a time I watched "Space Jam" three times a day. I have "Space Jam" pajamas and everything.

You're into shopping? I'm addicted to shoes, though I probably don't have as many as other shoe addicts.

Fave pair? Jordans.

What would you like for Christmas? Beats by DRE (headphones)

Push shuffle on your Ipod and what might come up? A lot of R&B songs. Or Drake.

What is this I hear about you and seafood? I absolutely am disgusted by seafood. My mom said I used to love it growing up. Maybe I grew out of it.

What would surprise folks about you? I like owls and snow tigers. I got this gigantic snow tiger on a vacation with my family. Owls are just fascinating animals to watch. And snow tigers are beautiful.

Speaking of owls....I'm a night owl. I'm the furthest thing from a morning person.

Food vice? Sour candy

Pet peeve? People being loud for no reason.

What is the transition like to a new coach this season? Coach Wolff is a more simple coach. He doesn't like all these flashy plays.

You were on the national adidas Candace Parker team in 2009. What was that like? It was a great experience. I got to travel to Japan and play different college teams. I got to meet Candace Parker. She's amazing. She's a very humble person.

Who do you like to watch? Diana Taurasi. She was in the national championship game I was watching when I was young. I think it was her second one. Also Dwyane Wade.

Your major was general studies, but now? It's human development, childhood and adolescent. I'd like to put my own gym or recreation center in a bad place.

On TV, you like...."Phineas & Ferb," "Jersey Shore"

Has it always been about basketball? I played football until I was 9. Every position except lineman. I played softball up until high school. I was in love with softball. Then I started playing AAU basketball and made new friendships. It was so much fun to me.

Also see: RANDOMNESS with....

George Mason's Amber Easter

Norfolk State's Rachel Gordon

Is there someone you'd like to read about? Let us know at ladyswishing@hotmail.com

Richmond/W&M highlight Monday Night basketball

Monday's games:

William and Mary at Richmond, 7 pm: The Spiders play their oldest rival, coach Michael Shafer's alma mater, in tonight's home opener. Both teams cruised in their openers, leaving us with a tough decision to make in picking this one. W&M game notes don't suggest that Taysha Pye will be playing tonight, as she continues to be suspended for a violation of team rules. Janine Aldridge, Emily Correal and Jaclyn McKenna fueled W&M's offensive attack against Cornell that included 11 3s, but given this one is in the Robins Center, we like Richmond. Barely. Richmond 77, W&M 69

Virginia (1-0) at Providence (0-1), 7 pm: Boyle and the 'Hoos take the show on the road for the first time. Funny thing is these teams have played once, in an NCAA East Regional Semifinal in Norfolk, of all places. (Cavs beat Providence and then went on to beat Tennessee in OT to advance to its first Final Four). This occasion isn't nearly as monumental. We suspect Virginia will improve to 2-0, though. The Friars, picked to finish 14th in the 16-team Big East, were beaten by Boston University in their season opener. Virginia 81, Providence 65

Millbrook's Courtni Green picks Delaware

Delaware struck again on the 2012 recruiting front over the weekend when Millbrook High senior guard Courtni Green announced she will sign with the Blue Hens.

Virginia Tech appeared to have the inside track on Green, a two-time state player of the year who averaged 25.8 ppg last season and has led Millbrook to back-to-back state titles. She has long cited a desire to play close to home, and she has a tight bond with her brother Erick, who plays men's basketball at Tech.

Courtni Green acknowledged to the Northern Virginia Daily that as recently as last week, she was leaning towards Tech. And during a decision ceremony at her home Saturday, she faked out onlookers by picking up a Hokies hat - only to hand it to her brother before revealing Delaware as her choice.

"I felt like Delaware offered everything I wanted in a school," the 5-8 Green told the newspaper. "I felt like they wanted me."

Green also cited the lure of playing one season with Blue Hens All-American Elena Delle Donne. Delle Donne will be eligible to leave Delaware after the 2012 season, when she will be four years removed from high school. But according to women's basketball guru Mel Greenberg, Delle Donne currently intends to stay at Delaware through the 2012-13 season, when Green will be a freshman.

Unless Green changes her mind - she can't sign a binding commitment until November - this means that all three of the state's Associated Press 2010-11 players of the year will be leaving Virginia for college. Elizabeth Williams, the Group AAA player of the year, is at Duke and Maryah Sydnor, the top player in Group A, is at Appalachian State.

It will also give Delaware the last three Group AA players of the year; Green has won it the last two years and Blue Hens sophomore and former Freedom High star Kelsey Buchanan copped the award for 2008-09.

Click here to see the 2012 verbal commitments from around the state.

Hoops notes (VTech, Radford, ODU etc.)

VIRGINIA TECH: Among the things we wondered about upon learning of last week's report of a man carrying a gun on the Virginia Tech campus was how much this kind of story would hurt the Hokies' recruiting. Well, in at least one case, it hurt quite a bit. The Baltimore Sun reports that football offensive line prospect Greg Pyke postponed a trip to Tech upon hearing the news and visited Georgia instead - and wound up committing to the Bulldogs on the spot.

"We were on the way down, and we heard on the radio that there was a guy with a gun," Pyke said. "We called the [Virginia Tech] coaches, and they told us that the school was on lockdown. Obviously they take that very seriously because of what happened four years ago. So we told them it was probably best if we just rescheduled, and we just kept on going down to Georgia."

Don't know if any women's basketball recruits were similarly scared off. But we're sure it didn't help.

RADFORD: OK, so the youthful Virgin Islands team led by Highlanders head coach Tajama Ngongba didn't exactly set Nassau on fire last week as the team finished fourth out of six teams at the CBC Championships in the Bahamas. But we bet those players know a whole lot more about defense than they did a few weeks ago...Hanka Musa, the 6-4 center we thought would make a huge impact for the Highlanders a year ago as a junior-college transfer, has quietly transferred to Division II Lincoln Memorial in Tennessee. Formerly of Liberty Christian Academy, Musa played only 10 minutes over five games in her lone season at Radford. At least now she gets to play with her sister Edina, who transferred to Lincoln Memorial from Gardner-Webb. Also, she goes from one cool nickname - the Highlanders - to another: the Lady Railsplitters.

OLD DOMINION: Did you catch Deion Sanders' shout-out to Nancy Lieberman during his doo-rag Hall of Fame speech Saturday? Lieberman sure did - she was in Canton, Ohio for the ceremony. Seems like she's been just about everywhere over the past few months, from Israel to San Antonio for the WNBA All-Star Game to Chicago to sign copies of her book "Playbook For Success." Next month, she'll be running hoops clinics in Hawaii. And just think: if she'd gotten the Old Dominion job, she could have spent most of that time sitting on wooden bleachers watching teenage hotshots. I mean, it was cool of Lieberman to throw her star-studded hat in the ring for the Lady Monarchs' head-coaching job. But even had it been offered, we could never picture her giving up everything she has going on - and leaving her beloved Dallas - to actually take it. Speaking of Lieberman, in this Q&A with ESPNW, "Lady Magic" reveals, among other things, that her big-picture goal is to own a professional team...Old Dominion star forward Tia Lewis leads all scorers (13.3 ppg) in the 7 Cities Pro-Am Summer League, which will wrap up with playoffs Saturday and Sunday at Maury High School in Norfolk. Click here for the postseason schedule.


NCAA: In "It's About Time" news, the NCAA Division I Leadership Council appears to be moving towards eliminating its text-messaging ban as part of a series of adjustments to men's basketball recruiting. In other words, instead of vainly trying to stuff the text genie back in the bottle, coaches may soon be able to use the most effective means of communicating with today's teenagers.

Again, this is a men's basketball proposal. But we have to believe the women's basketball folks will follow suit as soon as their next meeting. And if there's no meeting on the horizon soon, they ought to schedule one just to get this change in motion.

DELAWARE: Nice story from USA Basketball on Delaware star (and honorary LadySwish hoopster) Elena Delle Donne, who left for Shenzhen, China Monday as part of the United States team that will compete in next week's World University Games. Of course, the big question with Delle Donne - and it's one we're not sure even she knows the answer to yet - is whether or not she'll leave Delaware after this season. The WNBA allows players to join its league if they are four years removed from high school, which Delle Donne will be after the 2011-12 season. While this will be just her third season playing basketball at Delaware, Delle Donne spent her first year with the Blue Hens as a Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie team performer on the school's volleyball team after famously leaving UConn in the summer of 2008.

Now, as huge fans of Delle Donne's hoops skills, we're hoping she stays an extra year in Newark. And we get the sense it'll be hard for her to leave, as Delle Donne speaks extensively about how much she loves being close to home and family. Were she to depart, as a sure-to-be high-lottery WNBA draft pick Delle Donne could easily find herself toiling in Tulsa this time next year (no offense, Shock fans).

So we think ultimately, hanging with the fam will be too tough for Elena to pass up. Having said that, we're fully aware that, as Delle Donne's shown us in the past, a girl's entitled to change her mind.

Shanel Harrison gone from Virginia Tech

Citing a violation of team rules, Virginia Tech senior Shanel Harrison has been dismissed from the team, head coach Dennis Wolff announced Tuesday.

A 6-0 guard from Washington, Harrison led the Hokies in scoring (12.2 ppg) and rebounding (5.5 rpg) in 2010-11. She also made the all-tournament teams at the Caribbean Challenge and the Hilton Garden Hokie Classic, was an ACC Player of the Week and dropped a career-high 27 points on Boston College. Our favorite memory of Harrison last season was her draining a 3-pointer with 3.4 seconds remaining to force overtime against William and Mary. The Hokies went on to win the game; Harrison finished with a then-career-high 25 points.

“We wish Shanel the best as she pursues other opportunities, “ Wolff said in a release that also indicated the school would have no further comment.  


Harrison is the second Tech player with eligibility remaining that will no longer be part of the program. In April, freshman Kyani White transferred to East Carolina; White's father cited concerns over Wolff's coaching style. 

Ex-Hokies coach Dunkenberger gets a new job

A former director of operations replaced Beth Dunkenberger at Virginia Tech. Now Dunkenberger has become a director of operations herself to Tulane coach Lisa Stockton.

Dunkenberger, who resigned at the end of the season after seven seasons coaching the Hokies, seems well overqualified for the job with the Green Wave, which will include coordinating film exchange, overseeing student management staff, serving as the liaison to the equipment operations staff and managing the team's travel on road trips.

She will also help coordinate the team's special projects with the Tulane campus and New Orleans community.

Current Hokies coach Dennis Wolff spent last year as director of operations for the Virginia Tech men's team.

Dunkenberger landing a new job means that Tech's entire full-time coaching staff from last season will be back in action in 2011-12. Assistant Shellie Greenman is now at Tennessee Tech, Stacy Cantley at Wisconsin and Angela Crosby at Charlotte, while Tech's former director of operations Jill Jameson has accepted that same job at Wisconsin.

Reflection: Virginia Tech

Shanel Harrison

2010-11 season: 11-19, 1-13 ACC. First-round loss to Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament (81-58)

Who's leaving: Nikki Davis 6.4 ppg, 3 rpg, Brittany Gordon 4.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, Elizabeth Basham 3.3 ppg; Beth Dunkenberger resigned after seven seasons coaching the Hokies.

Who's coming: Larryqua "Reka" Hall, 5-10 guard, Hillgrove (Ga.): Averaged a team-best 14.4 points and 4 steals while leading her team to a 22-6 record and the state quarterfinals. Named Cobb County Girls Basketball Player of the Year by the Marietta Daily Journal.

High point: Stunning Vanderbilt 74-68 on Dec. 30. Monet Tellier was the tournament MVP for the Hokies, who won their own Hilton Garden Classic. Tech trailed 34-19 at the break only to score 55 points in the second half to defeat an SEC opponent for the first time since 2004.


Low point: Losing 66-52 to Robert Morris on Dec. 11 at Cassell. Robert Morris led by as many as 28, shooting 51 percent in the first half.

Stock of program: In flux

Hokie fans grew weary of losing in 2010-11, particularly in the ACC where Tech's lone victory came against Clemson. Conference struggles are nothing new for the Hokies, just 9-48 in their own league in the last four years. The most daunting blow: a 50-point loss at Duke, the most lopsided by Tech ever in the ACC.

Dunkenberger, who we rooted for given her passion for her alma mater, led the Hokies to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances her first two years, but those were largely behind players recruited by former coach Bonnie Henrickson. The program needs a facelift.

Enter Dennis Wolff, a seasoned men's coach but a curious choice to head the women's team. Unlike Virginia's Craig Littlepage, Tech AD Jim Weaver didn't scan the nation for a new coach. Weaver didn't leave campus to find Wolff, working as the men's basketball director of operations. Wolff was grossly overqualified for that job, as he was men's basketball coach at Boston University from 1994-2009. Most folks don't think of BU for its athletics, but Wolff was wildly successful there, leading the Terriers to three straight conference titles (2002-2004) and four postseason appearances.

Weaver stressed at the press conference announcing Wolff's hiring that he had found the right man for the job. If we have a reservation, it is this. Wolff has no experience coaching the women's game, and we wonder if a upstart young female coach might have added energy and vision to a program that has the resources to compete with the ACC bigs. Wolff's daughter, Nicole, played at UConn and we don't doubt that he was instrumental in her development. But that experience is not the same as recruiting, coaching and connecting with a team of young women. We like the addition of former Vandy star Chantelle Anderson to his staff, though her only experience is a year of assistant coaching at the Division II level.

Tech's first order of  business is recruiting, as Dunkenberger was unable to snag the state's best players in her tenure. Wolff has talked about the need to build the Hokies from the foundation up, and that requires him and his staff to draw elite players to Blacksburg. There's no reason why he can't if  Tech is willing to make a sincere commitment to the women's program. The ACC is a great conference to play in; Cassell is state-of-the-art with a core fan base ready to get behind a winner. All you need to know about the practice facility is it cost $21 million. Great digs.

Yet much like Virginia right now, Tech has only pieces of a team. Two of the significant pieces are junior Shanel Harrison and freshman Monet Tellier. We particularly like Tellier's upside, especially if she can cut down on turnovers; no other Hokie had more last season.

Change will be anything but quick. Wolff has been candid about expectations, and we can't help but look at programs including Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Florida State and Miami and wonder how the Hokies can making any inroads in that mix. Henrickson produced the kind of ball Tech fans would love to return to, but seven years later, the conference might be even deeper given the emergence of the Hurricanes and Seminoles. Nor can we overlook Virginia under savvy recruiter and new head coach Joanne Boyle and NC State under impressive Kellie Harper. A tough task indeed is ahead of Wolff and staff, and we await what he's got in the works.

Don't expect miracles for 2011-12, Hokie fans. But in the words of the Black Eyed Peas, "Let's Get it Started."

Introducing Virginia Tech women's coach Dennis Wolff

Former Virginia Tech men's Director of Operations Dennis Wolff held his initial press conference on Tuesday, introduced as the sixth head coach of the Hokies women's team replacing Beth Dunkenberger. Wolff, the all-time winningest coach of the Boston University men's basketball team prior to coming to Tech in 2010, led the Terriers to three straight America East titles (2003-04) and made four postseason appearances there.

Wolff has not coached a college women's team before but alluded to coaching his daughter, Nicole, the 2002 McDonald's National Player of the Year. Nicole Wolff endured an injury-plagued career at UConn and is now attending graduate school at Boston University.

Wolff admitted to being surprised when Hokies athletic director Jim Weaver approached him, but is looking forward to what he describes as "probably the biggest challenge of my coaching career."

The Hokies finished 11-19 this season and had just one ACC victory.

Some snippets:

Wolff: "Working with the men's team really rekindled my interest in coaching again."

"It happened very quickly. He (Weaver) asked me to think about it. I thought about it. We had discussions about it last week. ... It was never in my mind until Jim Weaver put it in my mind."

Wolff on the difference between coaching men and women: "A lot of times with high level players on the women's side, they are so dominant all the way through that rarely do they have anybody say anything critical to them." ... (Reference to UConn's Geno Auriemma). "He coaches them like Jim Calhoun coaches them. You have to have thick skin. I think these kids want to have a good team and I think they will be responsive."

On goals: "We want to be a winning program in the ACC, be a top program and be in the NCAA Tournament."

On recruiting: "I'm an aggressive person. ... The way to have good players is to work at it."

On women's basketball experience: "My daughter is something I can use, her experience, my family's experience with her, will guide me."

Jim Weaver: "I have a very high regard for him and I know other people in our department have the same."

On the initial approach: "I approached him, I don't know, five or six weeks ago, maybe four weeks ago, and asked him to think about it. I recognized the fact that it might be a significant change for him. I wanted to plant the seed and I did that."

On the coaching search: I don't discuss other candidates when we have a search, individually, that is. Having said that, I've been working behind the scenes for the most part of this academic year knowing there would be a likelihood that we would be making a change. .. I'm not going to get into those candidates. Some of those are still playing; some of them got beat yesterday."

On why the decision was made so quickly: "I think he's the best person for the job at the time. ....He has a great knowledge of the game. He coached his son at BU. He coached his daughter so that she was the best player in the land eight or nine years ago. People who know him know he's a tireless worker."

Weaver revealed Wolff's contract details as follows: It is a six-year deal, with the base salary identical to the men's coach.
$233,486 base salary
$132,000 retention incentive, paid over three payment (April 1, Dec. 1, Aug 1)
$10,000 fee from Nike contract
opportunity to have a membership at the Blacksburg Country Club or Pete Dye River Course
Dealer vehicle

Dennis Wolff to take over at Virginia Tech

Multiple sources, including AAU guru Boo Williams and Daily Press columnist David Teel, have said that Dennis Wolff will be the next head coach of the Virginia Tech women's team.

UConn graduate Wolff, 56, is the current Director of Operations for Tech men's coach Seth Greenberg. He's well overqualified for that job, having served as men's coach at Boston University for 15 years, leading the Terriers to two NCAA Tournament appearances and three NIT appearances. Wolff was named the America East Coach of the Year in 1997, 2003, 2004, the NABC District I Coach of the Year in 1997 and 2004 and the New England Division I Coach of the Year in 1997 and 2004. He won a school record 247 games at BU before being fired in March 2009 after the Terriers lost in the first round of the America East Tournament. The former Virginia men's assistant to Jeff Jones was hired by Tech as director of operations last June.

Wolff's daughter, Nicole, the 2002 McDonald's National Player of the Year, was plagued by injuries during her four years at UConn.

So far official Tech sources are mum.