Head Coach Video: Gail Goestenkors -- Why I'm a Longhorn Video: Coach G mic'd up [Dec. 4, 2010] With coaching credentials on basketball courts from Austin to Athens, Boston to Beijing, Gail Goestenkors brings passion, talent and international success to the Texas Women's Basketball program. In four years on the Forty Acres, Goestenkors has put her nationally-acclaimed stamp on the Longhorns program, directing UT to four-consecutive NCAA Women's Basketball Championship appearances and demonstrating an unmatched proficiency for constructing title-contending programs. Building upon the rich Texas Longhorns history, 'Coach G' has led UT into the NCAA postseason in every season of her tenure. UT's 25th appearance in the 2011 tournament tied the Longhorns for the third-most in NCAA history. Along the way, Goestenkors has put her own mark on the Texas tradition, showcasing talent-laden rosters that demonstrate the pride, passion and purpose of the Longhorns. On the heels of a 19-14 record last year, Goestenkors is poised for a season that will captivate Texas' fanbase. The Longhorns return four starters from last year's squad including All-Big 12 Freshman Team selection Chassidy Fussell and a three-time all-conference honoree in senior Ashleigh Fontenette. Adding to UT's depth is the resurgence of post Cokie Reed who was rated as the fifth-best high school prospect in the class of 2009 but missed her sophomore season after undergoing a season-ending surgery prior to the start of last year. Combined with a fantastic class that includes three top-100 players and was ranked No. 10 nationally by ESPN Hoopgurlz, Coach G has assembled a squad steeped with athleticism, talent and depth. With 10 Big 12 Conference wins in 2010, Goestenkors guided the Longhorns to their best league record since 2005 when they finished league play 13-3. Goestenkors-led Texas teams steadily improved their performance in conference action for the third-consecutive season after going 7-9 in 2008 and 8-8 in 2009. The 2008-09 Longhorns posted a 21-12 overall and 8-8 record in Big 12 action en route to earning a No. 6 seed in the NCAA tournament. The 2007-08 Longhorns returned to the NCAA tourney after a two-year absence and were one of the hottest teams in the nation down the stretch of the season after advancing to the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship semifinals. Goestenkors was recently touted as one of the rising coaching stars for USA Basketball, having most recently served as an assistant coach with the gold-medal winning USA National Team in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Goestenkors was also an assistant on the USA coaching staff when the Americans earned the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. After starting her career as the youngest head coach at a major Division I program (29) when she took over the Duke University program in 1992, Goestenkors has since built a coaching resume which includes an overall record of 439-124 (.780 winning percentage). She currently ranks sixth among active Division I coaches in winning percentage and stands No. 7 among all-time Division I coaches in winning percentage. In November 2007, she also became the fourth-fastest Division I women's basketball coach to register 400 career wins. Goestenkors came to Texas after a remarkable and distinguished 15-year tenure at Duke University, which was her first and only collegiate head coaching job. This tenure saw Goestenkors develop a fledgling Blue Devils program into a consistent national championship contender. For her efforts, Goestenkors received a remarkable 12 National Coach of the Year awards over the last eight years of her Duke tenure. She directed the Duke program from 1992-93 through the 2006-07 season, leading the Blue Devils to 13-consecutive NCAA Championship appearances. Duke advanced to four NCAA Final Fours over her last nine seasons, playing in the national semifinals in 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2006, while making two NCAA championship game appearances (1999, 2006). A noted recruiter, she also put together seven national top-five recruiting classes from 1999-2005 and again in 2007. With Goestenkors at the helm, Duke produced an unprecedented seven-consecutive 30-win seasons from 2000-01 to 2006-07. With 13-consecutive NCAA Championship showings under Goestenkors, the Duke program had a remarkable record of success in postseason play. In addition to her two title game appearances and four Final Fours, Goestenkors also produced three Elite Eight showings (1998, 2004, 2005) and three Sweet 16 appearances in 2000, 2001 and 2007. On top of her collegiate coaching accolades, Goestenkors brings an impressive international coaching resume to The University of Texas. With a long-time commitment to USA Basketball, Goestenkors has successfully served in numerous coaching capacities with the organization. She served as the assistant coach of the 2007 Senior National Team, which qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics by winning the FIBA Americas Championship in Valdivia, Chile. The 2008 Olympics marked the second consecutive Olympic Games with Goestenkors as an assistant, following her gold medal experience as an assistant with the 2004 USA Olympic team which captured first-place honors in Athens. In addition, Goestenkors has helped USA Basketball teams earn three other gold medals - one as assistant coach with the World Championship Team (2002), and the other two as USA head coach of the 2005 Under 19 World Championship squad and the 2005 World University Games team. After building a standard of excellence at Duke and firmly establishing a basketball legacy, both nationally and internationally, it was fitting that Goestenkors turn her attention to The University of Texas. She came to build yet another legacy, and follow one of the greatest ambassadors in the game of basketball -- Jody Conradt, who herself built a 31-year tradition of excellence at UT. In recognition of her coaching successes and USA Basketball commitments, Goestenkors was honored with the 2005-06 Carol Eckman Award from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). The Eckman Award which is presented annually to an active WBCA coach who exemplifies Eckman's spirit, integrity and character through sportsmanship, commitment to the student-athlete, honesty, ethical behavior, courage and dedication to purpose. That same year, Goestenkors was also named USA Basketball Coach of the Year for guiding the U-19 World Championship team to the gold medal. The drive and passion for excellence has always been with Goestenkors, dating back to her days as a collegiate player. A native of Waterford, Michigan, Goestenkors attended Saginaw Valley State where she played for former Purdue head coach Marsha Reall. In her four years at Saginaw, the point guard earned NAIA All-America honors, was named conference MVP and was selected to the Academic All-Conference Team. Goestenkors led her team to a 114-13 overall record, along with a second-place, a third-place and two quarterfinal finishes at the NAIA National Championships. In the career charts at Saginaw Valley State, Goestenkors ranks second in steals (348), assists (469) and games played (127). She was inducted into the inaugural Cardinal Athletics Hall of Fame in September 2010. After earning her degree in physical education, Goestenkors went on to serve as a graduate assistant for Iowa State during the 1985-86 season. From there, Goestenkors moved to the Big Ten Conference and Purdue, where she would spend the next six years as an assistant coach. Under head coach Lin Dunn, Goestenkors helped Purdue emerge as a national powerhouse in women's college basketball. Goestenkors specialized in recruiting some of the nation's best talent for Purdue as the Boilermakers went 135-42 during her tenure, with five consecutive 20-win seasons and five NCAA Tournament berths. This included two Sweet Sixteen appearances, along with Purdue's first Big Ten Championship in 1991. That season, the Boilermakers were ranked third in the nation in the Associated Press final poll. In addition to her collegiate and USA Basketball responsibilities, Coach G has been an active member in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). She served on the Board of Directors and has been a member of the WBCA/Kodak All-America selection committee in the past. Goestenkors is also involved in the "Coaches vs. Cancer" nationwide initiative. While in Raleigh, N.C., she was co-chair of the capital campaign for the Ronald McDonald House and took part in the Durham Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, receiving the "Key Volunteer of the Year" honor. Since arriving at Texas, Goestenkors has established the "Coach G's Hook 'Em on Reading" program with UT's Neighborhood Longhorns Program, an education incentive program operated in partnership with the Austin Independent School District (AISD) which serves disadvantaged youth in grades three through eight. |
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