Central Michigan University Athletics
Heather Oesterle (second from left) held her first practice as the Central Michigan women's basketball head coach on Wednesday at McGuirk Arena.
Photo by: Allissa Rusco
New Leadership, Same High Expectations
9/25/2019 1:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Practice underway for CMU women
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Plenty anew, but no formal introductions were necessary in McGuirk Arena on Wednesday morning as the Central Michigan women's basketball team kicked off the 2019-20 season with its first practice.
Heather Oesterle is now in charge of the program, named in July to succeed her mentor, Sue Guevara, as the head coach.
"I was up at 4 o'clock this morning; my alarm wasn't set to go off until 5," said Oesterle, who served as an assistant under Guevara for nine years, and held the title of associate head coach for the last seven of those years. "I've been preparing myself for this for a very long time and it's exciting for me. Very exciting."
Assistant coach Mark Simons, a Mount Pleasant native and a veteran with more than 35 years in the coaching ranks, joined Oesterle's staff a month ago, and the Chippewas have a new director of basketball operations in Meghan Thornburg.
To fans, the most obvious change will come on the court, where Presley Hudson and Reyna Frost have completed their brilliant collegiate careers as two of the very best to have ever played at CMU and are now playing professionally in Europe.
Still, the cupboard is hardly bare. Starters Micaela Kelly, Maddy Watters and Jahari Smith return, along with sixth person Kyra Bussell. Kelly and seniors Gabrielle Bird and MacKenna Kelly are the captains.
The Chippewas are vying for their fourth consecutive Mid-American Conference regular-season championship and their fifth straight MAC West title. They have gone to the NCAA Tournament in each of the past two years, and are a combined 100-33.
"When I got the job this summer, I brought the team together and I said 'Look, the expectations for this year don't change,'" Oesterle said. "Our program's at the top and I expect us to stay at the top, and that means people have to step up.
"As long as we come in with the same energy and focus that we did today, we're going to get better."
Heather Oesterle is now in charge of the program, named in July to succeed her mentor, Sue Guevara, as the head coach.
"I was up at 4 o'clock this morning; my alarm wasn't set to go off until 5," said Oesterle, who served as an assistant under Guevara for nine years, and held the title of associate head coach for the last seven of those years. "I've been preparing myself for this for a very long time and it's exciting for me. Very exciting."
Assistant coach Mark Simons, a Mount Pleasant native and a veteran with more than 35 years in the coaching ranks, joined Oesterle's staff a month ago, and the Chippewas have a new director of basketball operations in Meghan Thornburg.
To fans, the most obvious change will come on the court, where Presley Hudson and Reyna Frost have completed their brilliant collegiate careers as two of the very best to have ever played at CMU and are now playing professionally in Europe.
Still, the cupboard is hardly bare. Starters Micaela Kelly, Maddy Watters and Jahari Smith return, along with sixth person Kyra Bussell. Kelly and seniors Gabrielle Bird and MacKenna Kelly are the captains.
The Chippewas are vying for their fourth consecutive Mid-American Conference regular-season championship and their fifth straight MAC West title. They have gone to the NCAA Tournament in each of the past two years, and are a combined 100-33.
"When I got the job this summer, I brought the team together and I said 'Look, the expectations for this year don't change,'" Oesterle said. "Our program's at the top and I expect us to stay at the top, and that means people have to step up.
"As long as we come in with the same energy and focus that we did today, we're going to get better."
Players Mentioned
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