Sports, Women's Basketball

Not wasting time: Wynn conducts first practice

VIDEO: Jody Wynn’s first practice and the rest of Beach News

It didn’t take long for the Long Beach State women’s basketball team to figure out practices would be run differently this season.

Just six days on the job, new head coach Jody Wynn conducted her first on-court activities with the team Monday afternoon at the Walter Pyramid.

Within the first 20 minutes of the initial drill, players’ legs were visibly struggling and passes weren’t as crisp as the start.

The Jody Wynn Era was officially underway.

“We did want to get up and down the court,” said Wynn, who signed a five-year contract with the 49ers last Tuesday. “Use it not only as skill work but a conditioner, as well, to see where the girls were. But we did get up and down the court to try and get them in shape.”

The former Southern California star displayed her own conditioning, stepping on the court to demonstrate — and even participate in — drills.

While running a defensive drill, Wynn evened out her nine-player roster by pairing with sophomore guard LaTorya Barbee. The first-year coach dribbled toward a back-pedaling Barbee in a zig-zag pattern as the guard was playing defense with her hands behind her back — and once more using her hands.

“She seems like she’s in shape and wants us to do better for ourselves,” Barbee said. “She puts herself in our drills if we’re not doing something.”

Wynn had the 49ers run a three-man weave and wasn’t satisfied with the team just making it through the drill. As Lauren Sims, Adelle Walton and Ashley Bookman were coming to the completion of their run, a layup was missed and Wynn had the group run it again.

“Come on, push it!” Wynn encouraged to the trio.

The 49ers were already being challenged to minimal goals in Wynn’s first practice as a head coach after spending 13 years as an assistant. In a 3 minute, 30 second span, the team was told to try and reach 130 points with all nine players utilizing both baskets.

One point was awarded for a layup, two for a mid-range jumper and three from the 3-point line. After the first minute, it was obvious the squad was going to struggle — managing just 22 points — and finishing the drill with 75 points, or half of the set goal.

But the first practice wasn’t so much about running things right as it was getting an understanding of Wynn’s approach to practice.

“I love my coach. She’s very energetic, she gets us going, she’s a good motivator,” said Barbee, alluding to the differences with former head coach Mary Hegarty. “We only had an hour practice and we already did more running than in three-hour practices. We’re a running team now.”

Wynn has yet to fill out her assistant coaching staff but she did contact her former high school head coach and LBSU alum Mark Trakh, who resigned from USC last Wednesday. In addition to five years as Trakh’s assistant at USC, Wynn also served eight seasons as his assistant at Pepperdine.

“I have a short list and we have to go through all the applications. Hopefully we’ll get some assistants on board right away,” said Wynn, who added that deadline to apply runs through April 20. “[Trakh] has other options, as well, but he’s a personal friend of mine. So we’re in close contact.”

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