Beat writers: best coach you've ever worked with/interviewed?

I'd say the most approachable coach/manager I've ever covered is Don Werner, the now-former manager of the Bowie Baysox. Win or lose, he always made me feel welcome in his office in the team's clubhouse.

More recently, I've found Brenda Frese (Maryland women's coach) to be pretty approachable. Ironically enough, I'd add North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell to the list even if some of my colleagues in the area aren't big fans of hers or her team's.

 

Bibby is the worst.

 

Why is that ironic?

 

One guy who shall remain nameless or ID-less (just in case he reads this board) referred to her teams as "classless" and "thugs" and has said it starts with her.

 

Sylvia is gracious and charming when she's winning, lots of homespun charisma. Not so much when she's losing. Past editions of her teams have been known to give cheap shots, my favorite being when Nikki Teasley scratched the face of a Georgia Tech player...in the handshake line after the game! The AD happened to notice that little display and forced Hatchell to suspend her for a game.

 

This thread has a decidedly east-coast bias. Doesn't anyone in the West read this thing?

 

East Coast bias pissed me off on a daily basis. Here are some examples: There are more inquiries about the minor-league hockey beat in Ft. Myers, Fla., than the lede columnist job in Eugene, Ore. More freaking comments on the Trenton Trentonian (although some of the posts are hilarious) than the OC Register desk opening. More comments to the newbie with the pro wrestling blog than the Las Vegas desk opening.
But East Coast bias is a fact of life and it ain't gonna change.

 

Pitino was hot and cold when I dealt with him. He can be an absolute charmer or a grade-A jerk.

Some of my favorites:
Mark Richt
Bobby Johnson
Dale Brown was great because he was so far "out there."
Rod Barnes just for being such a nice person
Bruce Pearl
Lou Piniella
Eddie Fogler

 

I once read that Henry Bibby smiled after his USC team defeated UCLA. I could not believe it, so I e-mailed two reporters demanding proof and questioning their credibility. However, both reporters said it was true and one directed me to a picture.

However, I think it was the only time he ever smiled. Henry Bibby looks like a man who is constantly suffering from severe kidney stones or stomach pain. War refugees don't wear as pained expressions on their faces as Henry Bibby does. For crying out loud, it's basketball and it can't be that painful.

 

If his own son can't stand him, why should anybody else?

 

Yes and yes. Scott actually complimented me on a story I wrote once, which was surprising considering he was just in town for one game. Played golf with Joe Glenn once at Big Sky media days, and he and his wife were real fun people.

In the non-major division, VMI hoops coach Duggar Baucom is one of my favorite people. Played golf with him too, and got to know him a little bit. Actual on-the-record interviews have been a pleasure ever since. Guy's just down-home and personable.

 

Also, can't believe it took six pages for someone to mention Frank Beamer. Yeah, I'm biased, but the guy was always good to me when I was a clueless college reporter and is still good to me now when I drop in from time to time to help out on Tech coverage.

bomber's mention of Tarkanian brought back a memory, too. I was doing an advance of a game at Fresno State and called Tark to ask him some questions. Very good interview. Very honest stuff. Then he starts asking me about the team I cover, what sets they run, how much zone they play versus man, how they beat Utah State a couple of nights before, yada, yada. Made me wonder if his assistant coaches watched any film.