New WBB Coach: Nell Fortner

[Buzzbomb]

Uhm .... not touching that one.

Anybody know why she left AUB and why she stayed out of coaching for so long? I have no perspective on the women's game but I know that those would be pertinent questions on a hire on the men's side.

https://www.al.com/sports/2012/02/nell_fortner_at_peace_with_dec.html
...sounded like a burn out. Remember those years as GM/HC at the Indiana Fever, were expansion times.

 

[T-Bone Burdell]

Seems sort of odd to me to hire a 60 yr old who hasn't coached in 7 years, but whatever. I'm sure at worst she'll be a solid custodian.

 

[ncjacket79]

Seems sort of odd to me to hire a 60 yr old who hasn't coached in 7 years, but whatever. I'm sure at worst she'll be a solid custodian.

Imo brilliant hire. This is about stabilizing the program with someone well known nationally. She obviously won’t be long term but will help get past the mess we’re currently in.

 

[TechCubed]

I'll admit I don't know a lot about the world of WBB, but I think the tremendous upside in hiring her is that she's been around the game at every level. Plus, as a broadcaster, she's been able to observe a lot of different coaches and styles. That all leads to a good network to tap in order to hire assistants and get advice on how to build the program into a consistent NCAA team at Georgia Tech.

 

[Rammy]

Let’s hope some of our players don’t transfer

 

[T-Bone Burdell]

Imo brilliant hire. This is about stabilizing the program with someone well known nationally. She obviously won’t be long term but will help get past the mess we’re currently in.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I meant by custodian. If the goal was to just steady the ship, her resume looks like she's completely capable of that. Anything beyond that would be gravy.

 

[g0lftime]

She obviously went after the job. The coach from Buffalo who had mentored under the Duke WBB coach looked like the front runner. I think this is a really good hire and this lady has a lot of visibility in women's BB. This was the more strategic hire.

 

[GSOJacket]

She looks like a really good hire to me, experience at multiple levels, creds speak well. Players can learn a lot from her.

 

[MWBATL]

She obviously went after the job. The coach from Buffalo who had mentored under the Duke WBB coach looked like the front runner. I think this is a really good hire and this lady has a lot of visibility in women's BB. This was the more strategic hire.

Agreed. Get us out of the headlines and back on our feet, then train or find a great replacement within 5 years or so and she retires leaving us (hopefully) in great shape!

 

[JacketBacker]

She obviously won’t be long term but will help get past the mess we’re currently in.
She might be longer term than we think (assuming she wins enough games) because 60 isn’t considered old anymore. Coach K is 72, Roy is 70. I think your point was that she won’t be able to hold up health-wise. If she stays healthy (and wins) I see a 5 -10 year runway...if she wants it.

 

[YlJacket]

I have never understood why folks think hires have to last 20 years or whatever. Have to find some bright young unicorn who would think of nothing but retiring from GT. 5 years and leave us in a better position is a wonderful thing.

 

[Buzzbomb]

Jim Boeheim is 74, Gino Auriemma is 65.

I’ll take 10-15 years of solid, respectful coaching. CPJ gave us 10, probably the longest football tenure since Dodd.

 

[slugboy]

Her Wikipedia page isn't updated yet, and it's shorter than the Ramblin Wreck article, but it's got some good stuff in it.

Also,

• Washington Post (AP)
• AJC
• Her Twitter account @NellOnWheels
• Website http://www.nellonwheels.com/ (she seems to have dogs)

She seems to have made a ton of friends across basketball--college and professional.

 

[Peacone36]

Nell on wheels.

I like that

 

[Gtbowhunter90]

Let’s hope some of our players don’t transfer

Too late. We've already lost Pan and Dixon. 2 of our 3 best players.
Pan was probably WNBA first round talent.

 

[MWBATL]

Too late. We've already lost Pan and Dixon. 2 of our 3 best players.
Pan was probably WNBA first round talent.

I thought they put their names in the transfer portal, but had not heard that they had chosen new schools and left. Going into the portal simply keeps their options open, but they can always choose to stay if they haven’t committed elsewhere.

 

[Gtbowhunter90]

I thought they put their names in the transfer portal, but had not heard that they had chosen new schools and left. Going into the portal simply keeps their options open, but they can always choose to stay if they haven’t committed elsewhere.

Have you ever seen someone enter the "portal" and stay?

 

[kg01]

Have you ever seen someone enter the "portal" and stay?

There's been several on the mbb side who entered the mysterious portal only to return to their original school after the hire was made. A couple came back to Bama and UNLV, off the top of my head.

 

[Techster]

Have you ever seen someone enter the "portal" and stay?

Most spaceships that enter the portal usually end up in a different part of the galaxy...

...oh, wait, what portal are you talking about?

 

[Buzzbomb]

Fletcher is in there too, and garnered a ton of interest.