Bonvicini Finds Bliss at Seattle University

For the first time in a long time, Joan Bonvicini is living in an apartment, one that takes up the first floor of an old house and overlooks Puget Sound.

For the first time in a long time, Bonvicini's days are about coaching basketball.

For the first time in a long time, Bonvicini is happy.

The former Arizona coach has found new bliss at Seattle University, a program beginning its transition to Div. I status.

"I've come through something extremely difficult and I know this is going to be great," Bonvicini said. "I just really feel happy to be here."

Two years after the stunning death of Shawntinice Polk, the program's star player, Bonvicini was fired as the Wildcats head coach. She had been there 17 years, the winningest coach in program history. She has a career record of 612-294, one of 18 Div. I coaches with 600 career wins.

But there wasn't much winning after Polk's death in September 2005.

Polk collapsed and died after a workout just a month before the season, and her death dismantled Bonvicini's program, left her mothering her athletes more than coaching them and dealing with things that she says, "I can never talk about in public."

"I didn't coach, I managed," Bonvicini said. "I wasn't tired of coaching, I was tired of being in a difficult situation."

Bonvicini was out of coaching for a year. She traveled to the Bahamas and Cancun, worked on broadcasts for Fox Sports Net, went to practices and networked with friends and fellow coaches. And then came the opportunity in Seattle. The job opened up after the July 1 firing of coach Dan Kriley.

Kriley was reportedly fired because of a violation of university academic policy tied to the suspension of three players, who will be unable to play for the Redhawks until December at the earliest.

Bonvicini, 55, said she sold the administration on her experience and her willingness to work hard to build a championship program in the Div. I transition. She signed a five-year deal.

"I think this was mutually beneficial," said Seattle athletic director Bill Hogan. "This program has huge potential. There's something about the city of Seattle and women's basketball. There's a nice niche up here. I think we have a chance to make history and turn this thing around. We could make Joan the national coach of the year. That's our goal for her."

Seattle will play a Div. I schedule this season. The Redhawks are not yet affiliated with a conference, and are not eligible for the NCAA Tournament until 2012-2013. In the meantime, they could play their way into the WNIT or the new Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament.

The coach said she is impressed with her caliber of her athletes. Seattle went 20-9 last season.

"They have excellent chemistry, excellent leadership within the team," Bonvicini said. "These are good kids, smart kids. They came off a 20-win season. When I took over at Arizona we were a perennial loser. Here, these kids expect to win and want to win."
She has made changes, hired a young coaching staff that includes Joy Hollingsworth, one of her former Arizona players, and former University of Washington standout Kristen O'Neill.

"They never lifted weights during the season, which I couldn't believe," Bonvicini said. "We have study tables, academic meetings, we've changed how we run practice. They've been like sponges in a short amount of time."

The Redhawks start the season without the three suspended players – leading scorer Breanna Salley, senior forward Mercedes Alexander and sophomore guard Elle Kerfoot. Each failed to meet their requisite academic credits last spring and have been suspended for the fall quarter. They could be reinstated by the NCAA in December.

Bonvicini said she believes Seattle can be a ranked team in just a few years, building on a base of local talent from Washington state.

"People have talked about a Div. I mentality, but I don't think that's it," Bonvicini said. "It's a championship mentality. You do things right, do them promptly and do them well."

Hogan said he can feel the energy of his new coach as he passes her in the hallway.

"She's a dynamo, a real teacher. I think in her year off, she missed that contact with the kids, the emotional bond with young people," Hogan said.

Bonvicini said she is "refreshed" by her new surroundings and a new start.

"I'm doing the things I was trained to do and I'm good at," Bonvicini said. "Honestly, it's really been wonderful."