The Amy Eagan Podcast

Gary Stocker (00:01.501)
Welcome back to the first episode of the Amy Egan podcast for the 2025-2026 basketball season. Coach Egan, always a pleasure to chat with you. How are doing, ma'am?

Amy Eagan (00:12.014)
I'm so excited to be back. feel like it's been forever that we've been able to do this. And it's crazy to think that this, we're starting the third year of this, you know, and time flies by so fast, but.

Gary Stocker (00:22.011)
Yeah. And I think I've used you before that I'm

Yeah, and I think I've teased you before that I'm anxious to see another basketball game because it's been what seven months, eight months, something like that since I got a chance to see one. And there's no way then to look back at the 2024-25 season and call it a success. It clearly was. has coach has the way that last season ended fueled the team's motivation and focus during those long off season months?

Amy Eagan (00:33.922)
I know, I know, I know. That's crazy.

Amy Eagan (00:51.758)
Yeah, you know, I think the first thing is we took a lot of time off after that. You know, they needed to refresh their minds and get away a little bit. It was a really grind, know, grind of a season in our second year. A lot of things change from the talks that we were having to the talks we were having at the end, from the beginning to the end, like how we were approaching things.

man, I was just so proud of that group. And so we took some time off and then we kind of started to refocus and really kind of start talking about that next step and that next level, which is completely different than what we were talking about in the first year and second year, you know, with stuff. so having to kind of change some of the way that we're talking and thinking and so forth. I think there's definitely like motivation for them, I think as a coach. And one of the things I've expressed to them is that

you know, I worry a little bit about like that they get a little complacent in regards to, wow, like we did it, you know, we did what coach Egan's been asking us to do. And so we really had some good conversations about like making sure that we understand that we really didn't do anything yet, right? We haven't won anything yet. We didn't do anything in regards to cutting down nets or getting rings or any kind of championships and those kinds of things because

We came up short in the conference tournament. We came up short in the WNIT. So as much as, and as proud as I am for everything that they did, you know, our standards are to win championships. And so kind of making sure that they understand that, you know, and that, you know, when you look at this year, you're looking at a different perspective of now we've got, you know, we've got an X on our back. There's going to be a lot of people that we're going to get their best games this year because of what we did last year in the direction that we're headed.

Gary Stocker (02:44.881)
And as always, you brought in, I know a couple of new freshmen coach and some transfers. Introduce us to maybe two or three of those who have kind of impressed you so far.

Amy Eagan (02:54.028)
Yeah, you know, I think Alicia Jones is the one that first pops out to me. You know, she was at Saginaw Valley, a Division 2, and she is just, she's mature. She's really talented. She's solid. Just has a really good, good leadership and head on her shoulders with stuff. And she's made an immediate impact for us. And I could see that kid, if she continues in the direction that she's going, just being a major player on our team.

She brings an element to us of honestly being able to play one through three, but doing inside outside stuff because she's so good around the rim. Her athleticism is one of the best on the team. So she's doing really, really well. And we're really excited for the year that she's going to have for her final year of college. know, Anna McCarn is another one that has really stood out. A kid that came in on June 15th. I guess we're like what?

Three months in has already put on 15 to 20 pounds of muscle. Just a all out worker and has really grown already with understanding who we are and what we need. Still has a long ways to go, but just doing some phenomenal things. You know, in our five position being six four and now putting some weight on her man. She looks really, really good, so we're excited about her and her want and her ability to continue to grow.

It'll be crazy to see how good she can be because of where her baseline already is with stuff. And then another one is Valerie Norwood, a freshman from Kansas, how we brought in. I would say again, one of the most athletic kids on our team, super, super skilled and has...

really understands like her IQ is really good, really understands the game. We just got to get her probably to the speed of the game and just continue to learn our system. But she has all the tools and has already done some nice things. She's just kind of a typical freshman. Some days she looks really good, some days she looks like a freshman. And so just continuing to push her to get her to where we know she's capable of being. But yeah, a lot of potential. So I would say those three immediately as incoming kids have stood out.

Gary Stocker (05:13.341)
And of course, coaches in any level are always looking for ways to improve. And as you look ahead toward the preseason, I guess, starting soon, what's the biggest question mark or area of development that you focused on with the team so far?

Amy Eagan (05:31.117)
Yeah, I think like one of the big things for us is, know, we still have a couple of kids that have some, some little injuries and, and, and, you know, seeing where they're at and getting everybody healthy, but also finding a way to get in shape. there's kind of that balance that's really hard for us. I think, you know, I feel like right now we're really out of shape, not that we have to be in the best shape, but, I feel like we have to get in better shape, but that'll also help once we get Noah back, who will be back here in about a month.

and add a little bit more depth and, and Constantine who broke her foot but should hopefully be back here in a few weeks with stuff. So we've just got some question marks with that kind of stuff. But I think, you know, for us and, and, you know, it's, the details of stuff, you know, I feel like now we can really be picky with the details where, you know, our first year was really a very big give or take type thing. Last year we could kind of, you know, be a little bit more picky.

Now I feel like we can really be picky and really dive into our personnel offensively and what we're capable of doing and defensively.

Gary Stocker (06:39.953)
And then the preseason, of course, I guess that's what we'll call it. And you've got trips to Baylor and you've got a trip, couple of trips up to Iowa, take on Drake and Iowa, plus some other games as well. Talk about how you plan to navigate that. Pretty guys starting challenging preseason schedule.

Amy Eagan (06:55.054)
Yeah.

Yeah, you know, and that's what it's designed to do. You know, we want to give our kids an extra special experience when we go play Baylor and we go play Iowa. And again, just, you know, it's fun to see kind of where you're at with stuff with that. I know I thought last year we had a really good showing against Nebraska and Kansas and saw some really good things out of our kids. And now we're a little bit more experienced. So let's go and see kind of how we match up with them. And it'll be challenging though, very, very challenging.

for sure with it with both those groups. And then, you know, we have, think probably outside of that, our most challenging part of the year is going to be we're going to Hawaii for three games. we're going to play. Yeah, yeah, you know.

Gary Stocker (07:36.966)
tough break, tough break.

Amy Eagan (07:40.366)
But we're going to play three games in a row down there and then we're going to come back and then we're going to go immediately and play Drake. And you know Drake wins the Valley or is at top of the Valley almost every year. So, you know, that'll be a tough, challenging stretch for us, you know. And I think it gives us a really good opportunity to understand that, you know, at end of the year you've got to be able to do those things. And can we do it at the beginning and this is what it looks like and how do you handle it, how do you manage it, how do you handle the adversity. So that's really what it's about with this group now.

we really got to find ways to challenge them to get them to grow and continue to grow. And I think we did such a good job with that our first two years, but just because you're winning games doesn't mean you can't continue to grow.

Gary Stocker (08:25.755)
And for listeners to the podcast, we'll be back regularly before the season starts. And of course, Amy, every week during the season. So make sure to tune in to the Amy Egan podcast each week and it will be recorded and posted through a lot of different sites at the University. So coach, always a pleasure. I'm looking forward to a fantastic 25, 26 season and we'll talk again soon.

Amy Eagan (08:44.952)
Thanks, Gary.