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Gail Goestenkors Takes Over Texas Women’s Basketball Reigns

Passing the baton - Goestenkors with Naismith Hall of Famer Jody Conradt, who retired in March after her 31 years at the helm of the UT program.

Gail Goestenkors, who led the Duke University women’s basketball program to four NCAA Final Four showings since 1999, was formally introduced as the third coach in Texas women’s basketball’s history on April 5, 2007 in front of a standing room-only crowd in the Centennial Room at UT’s Bellmont Hall.

Goestenkors replaced legendary Hall of Fame coach Jody Conradt. Conradt retired this past March after 31 illustrious years as UT’s basketball mentor with 900 career wins, the second-best all-time victory total among all men’s or women’s collegiate basketball coaches in history.

Goestenkors, 44, was introduced at a standing-room only press conference where members of the media, fans and UT administrators and athletics department members congregated to meet and greet the newest Longhorns head coach.

Goestenkors entered the press conference to a standing ovation. To seal her status as an instant hit, mentioned that she thought the Longhorns’ job was the best in the country.

“Both academically and athletically, I feel we have the best there is to offer in the nation. To me, it’s going to be an easy sell to recruits, because of all that is here,” stated Goestenkors, who comes to UT with a career coaching record of 396-99 – an impressive winning percentage of 80 percent.

“It’s about the people and the challenge,” she noted. “I feel like we have the best to offer in people. I wanted to be surrounded by these great people at The University of Texas. I felt like it was really time for me to make a change and accept a new challenge. I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Texas, always. I can’t explain why, maybe all of you can explain why -- it’s just something that’s in your heart.”

Goestenkors directed the Duke program from 1992-93 through this season. Duke advanced to four NCAA Final Four berths in the last nine seasons, with two NCAA National Championship Game appearances (1999, 2006). She also led the Blue Devils to an unprecedented seven consecutive 30-win seasons from 2000-01 to 2006-07. That broke the NCAA record of six consecutive 30-win seasons which Duke co-held with Louisiana Tech.

In 2006-07, Goestenkors coached Duke to a 32-2 record and to the program’s 13th consecutive NCAA Championship appearance. The Blue Devils went a perfect 14-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play and were 2007 NCAA Sweet 16 participants. At Duke, she was selected National Coach of the Year a total of 12 times, with five of those honors coming this year from the following organizations: Associated Press, Naismith, Russell Athletic/Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, USBWA (United States Basketball Writers Association) and ESPN.com.

The mention of championship was another theme of Goestekors’ press conference.

“Coach G gets the best out of her players while still showing them how much she cares about them,” noted sophomore guard Arriaran, who played for Goestenkors in the USA Basketball summer program a few years ago. “She talked about winning championships with us and that got everyone’s attention.”

“This place has been and should always be about winning championships,” said Goestenkors, “and that’s what I told my new players when I met with them last night. We need to think like national champions in everything we do. If players aren’t thinking that way, they probably shouldn’t be here. I told this team, you walk like, talk like, act like a champion every single day in everything you do, because nobody is going to hand you a championship, you’ve got to go get it and fight for what you want.”

Goestenkors, dressed in a burnt orange sweater, immediately embraced several proud traditions of UT as well. She quickly made friends by revealing her new cell phone had “The Eyes of Texas” as its ring tone.

“I’m so proud and so honored to be the new coach here at Texas,” Goestenkors remarked. “There has been such a tremendous tradition. Jody Conradt -- I have so much respect for her, always have, and always will. She’s built a proud tradition here. I feel like she’s handing the baton off to me. We’ve talked so many times. I’m just so excited to take the baton and run, and we will be running!”

Conradt attended the news conference and said she is Goestenkors’ biggest fan.

“Gail is the person most qualified to lead Texas,” Conradt said. “She will put a winning team on the floor and she handles everything else the fans, the media with complete professionalism and poise.”

The Texas women’s basketball team, 18-12 this past season, will return six of its top seven scorers and four starters next season.

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