Q&A with Bev Kearney
On selection to USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame: It's definitely a group effort in allowing me to have this opportunity. I started to think about that for a minute. I'm at halftime; in February I turn 50. Whether you're ahead or behind, if you don't play the second half well, you can negate what you did in the first half. I don't plan on negating scores. Definitely in the second half of my lifetime, I'm definitely going to step up my game. I'm blessed that they honored me through the first half of my life but I hope they know that there's a second half coming. I'm not ready to hang up the whistle and the stop watch. On overcoming the accident in 2003 to win multiple NCAA Championships: For me, there never was a doubt that I would return. I always saw it as a temporary state of being. I never saw it as an end to my career. I guess it never dawned on me that I wouldn't get back on the podium in my career. On having the character and mindset needed to overcome: It probably shows that I'm a little crazy. It's an honor and a blessing to have won national championships but to have gone through what I went through and be able to come back and win two more championships -- it's a blessing. It's a testament to the caliber of coaches I have, the caliber of student-athletes and definitely the support I have from The University of Texas. On her acceptance speech: For me success isn't about an individual, this honor is about all the great assistant coaches and all the great mentors. I've had a number of great administrators from Tennessee to Florida to Jody Conradt hiring me here at Texas and now with (athletics director) Chris Plonsky. I've been blessed with great leadership. At the same time, you can't forget my assistant coaches, especially the ones that have now- Michelle, Rose, Steve, and all the people who have worked really hard to help me become who I am, especially at this stage in life. When you look back on it, this honor isn't not about me, it's a blessing for me and my coaches, but most importantly it's a testament to the student-athletes that I've been blessed to work with. When you start looking at that portfolio of athletes, from Florida to Tennessee to Texas, it is a phenomenal list of athletes. It is a phenomenal array of talent. On the HOF induction providing the opportunity to reflect on career accomplishments: At 50, yes, definitely, I think it is. A lot of times, you don't know where you are in your career, because you're constantly going. I'm one where I look at the moment. I try not to look too far ahead and I try not to look behind me too much. I'm an in-the-moment kind of person so I haven't had the chance to really reflect on what I've done. This gives me the opportunity to really reflect on all the magnificent athletes, places I've been and people I've met in coaching. I'm glad I have the chance to take this deep breath and really look. On doing others things outside of coaching: I'm very passionate about my foundation -- Pursuit of Dreams. The group focuses on really doing a lot to create a collective energy of people mentoring and guiding our youth. I've already started that transition. I'll get out of coaching when I lose the desire and enthusiasm for helping athletes accomplish whatever they are seeking to do. When I no longer desire to be the best and expect the best from those around me, I'll get out.
|
|
