which is actually similar to the most successful NCAA women's coaches ever (ala Pat Summit). Muffet is all business, intensely competitive, and doesn't let her players stay on the court after dumb mistakes or bad risk taking. Geno, Tara, and Mulkey, the only other active coaches with multiple NCAA championships, behave the exact same way when they coach. These 4 have clearly been the most effective still coaching over the last 20 years and there is no competition. If you extend to all the current winningest women's college coaches including almost all that have made Final 4s the last 20 years & still coaching college, they also have similar approach as Muffet. To me this includes Walz, Schaefer, Staley, Frese, Blair, McCallie, Coale, and Stringer who are all still coaching and have made final 4's this century which includes both male and female coaches. Their personality's are not all the same, but approach seem very similar even if their effectiveness and intensity does not match the top 4.
But there is a new style of women's college coach which I would call a "player's" coach who focus on development in practice and letting their team play during the games with pretty predictable subbing for rests. That style didn't exist in the women's game until recently as most coaches modeled their approach to the most successful women''s coach: Pat Summit. But in the last 5 years three of these type coaches have made it to the Final 4 and all happen to be men: Syracuse's Hillsman, Oregon State's Rueck, and most recently Oregon's Kelly Graves. I think they have attracted many of the newer players who want this type of coach. Still I am sure many find Muffet, Geno, Kim, and Tara's coaching approach well worth committing to their programs as so many continue to do.
So far none of these "player" type of coaches have won it all and the jury is still out how well it works, but they are starting to get top notch players most notably Ionescu. From what I see close-up this is helping both Oregon and OSU continue to attract top players to check out the programs. My hope is Muffet can start adjusting and let her players play more during the games. Her hook is very obvious and similar to behaviors I've seen Geno, Kim, and Tara continue to show during games. Mulkey with some of her injuries may have had to be more tolerant this past year and Muffet seemed to do that her championship season the previous year when she had few options.
Still I can't argue Muffet's success the past 20 years. My only thought whatever she does it would help if her players are having fun when they are playing during the games and the one's not playing are properly engaged, especially the most talented. We also all should remember its hard to win it all. I actually think having all women's coaches is an advantage for ND.
Those are my thoughts but if you differ you can certainly set me straight..