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Dec. 3, 2009

Every year, Texas Women’s Basketball coach Gail Goestenkors hand-picks reading selections for all of her student-athletes. Goestenkors carefully connects each one to the individual, choosing books that can educate and inspire – and impact the Longhorns on the court, and in life.

Throughout the season, TexasSports.com will visit with Goestenkors and the Longhorns to learn about the books that were read, and what everyone learned through the process.

Lauren Flores

The Fred Factor shows us a mail carrier who really loves his job, and the people he delivers to. He had passion in his work and everyday life, and he turned the ordinary into the extraordinary -- which is life-changing.

As a point guard, you have to get everybody involved, and I need to go out of my way to make sure that happens. In The Fred Factor, there were four principles that helped bring energy into people’s lives, and one of them is relationship building.

The Fred Factor says that success is built on relationships, and taught me “The Seven Bs of Relationship Building.” Two of them really impacted me, and I see how they relate to not only life, but basketball.

Be Helpful -- “Little things make a big difference.” If we do the little things during every possession, it will make a difference in every game.

Be Prompt -- “Time is one thing many people have far less of than money. Helping them save time by being prompt is a gift of value.” We have to value each possession from the tip-off to the ending buzzer.

Gail Goestenkors

The Fred Factor is about someone who goes above and beyond in everything that he does. Lauren came in from high school, where everything came very easy to her. She didn’t have to go above and beyond, and she was still one of the best players and a good student. Coming here, she has to go above and beyond, and understand what a difference it can make in her life, and everyone else’s life as well.

I feel like my point guards have to do more, and make sure everybody is doing well on the entire team. They have to reach out and be aware and give more. She’s got to step outside herself and set the tone for us. We want her to increase her level of intensity, because it’s contagious.