Oct. 20, 2005
These days, sports are constantly broken down and dichotomized into wins and losses, runs scored and lost, and errors for and against. For a coach to focus instead on the heart and pride of a team rather than simply statistics reminds a person of the path that leads to a successful program.
Georgetown University head softball coach Pat Conlan recognizes the importance of setting the tone of the program rather than concentrating solely on a win-loss record. In the groundbreaking enterprise of bringing forth a new sport to the Hilltop, Conlan focuses on the process of winning and demands a team that is competitive every minute they are on the field.
After spending the inaugural fall season working on defense and communication, Conlan will spend most of the off-season working on individual skills with the team and recruiting the upcoming class with Assistant Coach Kim Staehle. She sees a lot of work ahead but is excited with the team's work ethic and great attitude.
Conlan, a member of the coaching staff at North Carolina State when the Wolfpack softball program was pioneered in the 2003-04 season, has experience with starting a new program.
"I learned an incredible amount from N.C. State Head Coach Lisa Navas that has been instrumental in helping me get this program off the ground," says Conlan, "Although it was a new program, it was very different. N.C. State did not compete until they had their first recruiting class on campus."
Georgetown, however, will be playing its first season - the team's first game is on March 2 against George Washington - with a pool of student-athletes selected from tryouts.
The goal this off-season is for the team to become students of the game, building their strength and conditioning in the weight room and transforming from a club squad into a team of Division I varsity athletes.
Conlan is impressed with the sacrifices her team has made to not only participate in, but establish a Division I softball program. A team that started as a group who tried out because they love the game of softball is now morphing into a team representative of Georgetown athletics. With this, Conlan expects their best and promises nothing less in return.
"Georgetown was the place I wanted to be the minute I laid eyes on the campus," Conlan said of starting the program here. "It has a tremendous academic and athletic reputation. The bottom line - Georgetown, to me, is an easy sell...I think the idea of starting a new program at such a prestigious place is a dream come true."
As for her expectations, Conlan sees a year of heavy recruiting ahead and recognizes that her current team is the foundation for the Georgetown softball program.
"Do I expect to win every game?," Conlan explained. "No. But I do expect to be competitive. I expect these kids to be prepared, play hard and have a great deal of heart and pride. These are the trademarks of any team that I will coach. And with all that in place - win some games!"
Few coaches can say they took part in laying the foundation of a program. Conlan can, and defines her foundation in one simple phrase, "I believe in the process, and the product will come."
With this attitude and this coach, the product may come sooner than anyone expected.
Georgetown will host Gardner-Webb in their first home game at Guy Mason Field on March 15.
