Huffman leads DPU to its 2nd national championship

Monday, March 18, 2013

HOLLAND, Mich. -- DePauw women's basketball coach Kris Huffman knows exactly what it takes to win the NCAA national championship. She's done it twice now, seven years apart, and made the Tigers a contender every season in between.

There is a balance to building the roster, knowing which players to recruit -- both for their personalities and for their talents. She knows how to instruct, how to motivate and how to lead.

But if she's asked about any of that stuff -- asked how she has been so successful -- she will play dumb.

"Coach Huffman never takes any credit, and she never will," DPU senior point guard Kate Walker said. "And that's what makes her a fantastic coach. One of the many reasons. But all the credit goes toward coach."

Huffman arrived in Greencastle in 1993 and took over a losing program. In the 20 years since, she's won more than 80 percent of her games.

DePauw has made the Final Four three times, and they've now won twice (2007, 2013). The Tigers have made the last 10 NCAA tournaments, and after winning this season, Huffman has three times been named the NCAA Coach of the Year.

Huffman inherited a blank canvas when she came to Greencastle and built a dynasty. The community adores her. Her players love her, respect her and play their hearts out for her.

"She's more than just a coach to all of us," Walker said. "She's almost like my mother at DePauw. It's not just basketball with coach Huffman, it's everything. She actually loves us.

"I go in there with a huge personal issue and I sit there and I sob in coach's office and she'll just provide me with tissues and tell me everything is going to be OK."

Walker is from Indianapolis and her parents come to every game. They're loving and supportive, and Walker doesn't need a second mother, she just wants one.

It's not just Walker. All of her players feel that way.

"I need (a mom) on the court," junior guard Ali Ross said. "She's an amazing woman and we have all our trust in her. I can tell her anything. I can look to her and she keeps me steady in the game."

Huffman will be inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame on April 27 because of everything she's accomplished. She's the head coach of the best, most dominant team in the country, and she'll never admit any of that.

Senior Kate Walker (23) waits in line to hug her coach after fellow seniors Kathleen Molloy (34) and Ellie Pearson (22) take their turns as the trio comes off the court for the final time on Saturday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

A typical post-game interview begins with Huffman talking about how tough it was to game-plan for the team she just beat by 30 points.

When she talked about the undefeated 2013 season after Saturday's national championship victory, her first words were praising the players for motivating themselves.

Huffman has the DIII coaching thing down to a science, and that starts with recruiting.

Every player on DePauw fits a mold and fits a role. They're skilled and they're all intelligent.

They're all ego-less and they're all easy-going.

Each of the 19 players on the roster is mature, and each is brimming with confidence without being cocky.

The seniors this year are great examples.

Walker, Kat Molloy and Ellie Pearson exemplify exactly what Huffman looks for, and each came from a different background.

Walker was recruited to play at higher levels, but Huffman needed a point guard. Walker agreed to come with the promise of competing for a national championship. She started 122 of a possible 122 games.

Pearson is a Division I-caliber athlete, but she came to DePauw because of the small-town feel and embraced the Tigers' way. As a forward, Pearson spent most of her career doing the little, barely-noticed things that help a team win. She worked hard enough to become the MVP of the NCAA Tournament this year.

Molloy began her career as an energetic practice player, seeing time only after games were decided for her first two seasons. She started as a junior and was named captain as a senior.

Each will knock an opponent down, then help her up. They can all shoot or pass, and they work hard in practice because that's how it's done at DPU.

"You can have senior leadership, sure, but you're nothing without your coach," Walker said. "All three of the seniors, we just have an amazing relationship with Coach."

Huffman guided, molded and shaped them into champions and young women. Just as she has done with every player she's coached in her 20 seasons.

"There's (coaches) who can just drill you on the basketball court and make you a fantastic player," Walker said. "Even more with (Huffman) is the relationships she builds off the courts. Coach is always shoving the light away from her and pawning it off on other people.

DePauw coach Kris Huffman (left) is quick to pass credit to the players, in particular seniors (from left) Kat Molloy, Ellie Pearson and Kate Walker, but it's the coach who leads the way. (Banner Grapic/GRANT WIEMAN)

"But in all reality, she's the reason we're here. She's the reason we're 34-0 and national champions. ... It is all coach Huffman. She's a fantastic coach and we love her."

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