Marianna Freeman Quotes
"I wanted to take this opportunity to let you all know how much I enjoyed my time here and to thank the community that was very supportive of me during the past 10 years. I had a wonderful 10 years here. I didn’t always win, but I’m certain that I’ve left the program in much better condition than it was when I arrived. I think that the people of Syracuse are deserving of a winning women’s basketball program, as they have come to be accustomed to men’s lacrosse, football and men’s basketball winning, and I think women’s basketball should be right there. I did my very best, but there are times in life when your best is not good enough."
"I’ve tried to teach my players about life more than the game of basketball because when people get old they don’t necessarily remember scores and championships. You think about the relationships you’ve established over the years. I know what is important. But it’s also important, when you do this job, that you win. And, unfortunately, I didn’t win enough. It wasn’t because I didn’t try – I tried very hard."
On the future of the program:
"Shannon (Perry) and Julie (McBride), I’ve asked them to keep the program going. I know that the program will be as they want it to be. We’re good. Our record (10-18) may not have indicated it, but they’re on the verge of a breakthrough, and I’m looking forward to them doing that this coming year. Whoever comes in, I’ve asked them to be very open to being coached. It really doesn’t make a difference who the coach is if the team is outstanding."
On the timing of her decision:
"It’s been 10 years. You keep trying to move your program up, and you have to decide, how much further can you go, what more can you do? Perhaps it would be better if someone different came in and tried something different. I care for the program a great deal, but as a team you sacrifice self. I’m doing for my team what I’ve always asked them to do for each other. I want to do what’s best for them and what’s best for the university, as I’ve always wanted to do."
On her reasons for being in coaching:
"I wanted to be in a position where I could give young women an opportunity to get all that they need to be vital people in this world when it’s a man’s world. If you can make it in sport, you can make it anywhere. That was my mission, and I think I’ve done that. If you look at the young people who have graduated – and I repeat that, graduated – you’ll see how well they’re doing. And that’s more important to me than any win or loss, but it’s not enough to keep your job."
On her future:
"I’ve never been in the position to be able to think about me. That’s the thing that scares me to death. I don’t know (what I’m going to do next). I’ve never really made a move because of Marianna – I’ve made a move because of basketball. I think of Christmas as two days before you get involved in a tournament. I don’t think of Thanksgiving because I haven’t been home for Thanksgiving in 25 years. I think of the summer as July – the month that you go to recruit. I don’t know what it is to think about what Marianna wants to do. I just know that I’m making a brave decision for my team and for the program. You’ve got to practice what you preach. If you preach sacrificing for the best of your team, that’s from the top, down."
On being an African-American woman in Division I coaching:
"I’m very involved in the Black Coaches Association and our mission to get more minorities involved in coaching as well as from the administrative standpoint, so I thought about that as well. As an African-American woman, you get opportunities, and you’ve got to win to keep them. It’s very difficult for you to resurface when you go, but I have to take that chance. Coaches can get fired and they resurface. But you don’t fire very many African-American men and women who resurface. I just had to take that chance and keep that thought in mind. I’ve helped a lot of young coaches who are out there coaching now because I’m kind of like an elder stateswoman. But there’s no politics in this. I’m simply caring for my kids."
