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CNN Live At Daybreak
Stephanie Ready Ready to Make History
Aired August 23, 2001 - 08:53 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, of course, the first thing that some people are going to ask is, does she get to go into the locker room. Stephanie Ready is making history as the first woman coach in men's professional sport. She goes to work as an assistant coach of the Greenville Groove. That's a new feeder league of the NBA.
Stephanie, how does it feel?
STEPHANIE READY, GREENEVILLE GROOVE: Hi, it feels outstanding. I'm very excited to get started with the new season. And as you mentioned, it is a new league, the National Basketball Development League, so we're very excited to be part of the NBA family.
MCEDWARDS: Was this always a goal for you, something you imagined for yourself?
READY: Not necessarily. I've always been involved in theatrics, so it's a great way to stay involved with the sport they love, and I just see it as progressing with my career.
MCEDWARDS: And I know you played the sport pretty much all your life. Tell us about your coaching experiences? Were they men, women?
READY: Well, I did coach women for three years. I was the head volleyball coach at Compton State College, and during that same year, I was also the assistant men's basketball coach there. So I've done a little both.
MCEDWARDS: So is there something you think a woman with bring to the coaching experience, something extra that maybe a man can't?
READY: Well, that's a tricky question, because I feel that coaching skills aren't really gender-specific, and men have been coaching women for years at all levels, but I think that me, in particular, I can bring some communication with the players, and not necessarily anymore than a man coach could bring, but everyone has different attributes. So, I mean, I'm pretty organized, and I mentioned communication is a good thing with the guys, and I was a psych major in college, so I think that has additional help.
MCEDWARDS: You will be well-equipped. I'm wondering concerns you may have about the players and teachers treat you? READY: I'm not concerned at all. My head coach Milton Barnes is a really, really great guy. He's an excellent coach, and we don't have players in place yet, but I'm not concerned at all how they'll react. I know they are here in this league to get better, because this is the NBA's minor league. So their main objective is going to be to develop their skills and try to make it to the next level, so I'm not worried about that at all.
MCEDWARDS: To what extent do you feel you are opening doors here for other women?
READY: Well, I think this new job, this new appointment, will probably open doors later on down the line. It's definitely opening up a lot of people's minds, so hopefully that will help some people out a little bit further on.
MCEDWARDS: Stephanie Ready, congratulations. And thanks for your time this morning.
READY: Thanks. I brought some gifts. We have some Greenville Groove hats and T-shirts. We're going to send them down to you guys.
MCEDWARDS: Thank you so much. We'll love it.
READY: You're welcome.
MCEDWARDS: Good luck to you.
READY: Thanks for having me.
MCEDWARDS: Bye-bye.
READY: Bye-bye.
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