Suzie McConnell-Serio is proof that good things come in small packages: Sports Illustrated named her the best 5’4” basketball player of all-time (male or female)! As an All-American at Penn State she set an NCAA record that still stands with 1307 career AST, and after graduating she went to Seoul with team USA and returned with an Olympic gold medal. A decade later she joined the WNBA and was named 1998 Newcomer of the Year, then followed that up 6 years later by being named 2004 WNBA Coach of the Year. In 2008 she was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 2013 she was hired as head coach at Pitt. Now that we are less than 2 months away from the 2016 Olympics in Rio, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach McConnell-Serio earlier this week about winning a gold medal and returning to her hometown to coach.
After winning the 1984 Pennsylvania state title at Seton-La Salle Catholic High School you went to Penn State and set D-1 records for AST in a career (1307) and season (355 in 1987): what is the key to being a good PG? Your playmaking ability: you have to distribute the ball but you cannot be 1-dimensional. You need to be able to score and knock down shots so people have to guard/respect you. I try to instill in our PGs that you have to be a good leader as well. You are an extension of the coach on the floor and you need great vision.
In 1988 you were named 1st-team All-American and won the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award as the best women’s basketball player in the country under 5’8″: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? My success was all dictated by my teammates/coaches so it is a reflection of the program at Penn State. I was only as successful as my team was so I just did whatever I could to help our team win.
You played for team USA at the 1988 Olympics: what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? It is the most incredible moment that you can experience as an athlete: standing on the platform and having the gold medal placed around your neck and seeing the American flag as the top flag and hearing your national anthem. I do not think there is any greater moment in sports than representing your country: it was very special and is by far the highlight of my basketball career.
After spending several years as a high school coach you joined the Cleveland Rockers in 1998 and were named WNBA Newcomer of the Year: why did you decide to get back on the court, and how were you able to make such a smooth transition from coach to player? I started coaching high school basketball because the opportunity presented itself when they contacted me. I had never thought about it before but it was a way to get back involved and give something back to the game and help young players have some of the experiences that I had. I loved coaching high school for 13 years: teaching them the game and preparing them for college and helping them accomplish some of their goals. We won some state titles and to watch your players experience those moments was very rewarding for me. It was really how I developed as a coach and preparing them for game situations. I was married with 4 kids when I decided to make a comeback, so I relied heavily on my husband/family to help with the children during the summer. My brother worked out with me and my family helped me with strength training. At times I thought it was crazy to put myself through it and wondered if it would be worth it, but I wanted to pursue my dream of playing in the WNBA. When I walked out that 1st game in my uniform, it was by far the best decision I have ever made.
In 1999 Sports Illustrated named you 1 of the Top-50 Athletes of the Century from the state of Pennsylvania (along with legends like Wilt Chamberlain/Arnold Palmer/Joe Montana): who were your own athletic heroes growing up in Pittsburgh? There were not many visible female athletes on TV at the time that I grew up. You think about role models who you watch on TV: John Stockton was my favorite PG to watch as a smaller PG. My 2 older brothers Tom/Tim played the game and were my role models: we played every sport in our backyard and on the streets. I would follow them to their basketball practices and watch them from the sideline while playing with the ball.
In 2003 you took a 10-22 Minnesota team and helped lead them to their 1st-ever playoff appearance, and in 2004 you were named WNBA COY: I assume that it is easier to coach a good team, but what is the key to turning around a bad team? When I look back at my coaching career it seems like I have done that a lot. When you take over a program, first and foremost you need to have the mindset of changing the culture. Teams that have struggled can get used to losing, and you need to implement a system that puts players in a position to be successful. Once they start to get a taste of success it motivates them even more. Coming from the high school level I felt that I had some respect to earn in Minnesota, so I gave them confidence and got them to buy into what we were trying to do as a coaching staff.
In 2008 you were inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? I remember driving in my car and getting a call on my cell from an unknown #. I picked up the phone and was shocked to hear Pat Summitt. I thought that she was looking to play a game against my Duquesne team, which I could not believe was happening! When she said that the committee had selected me, I remember being shocked and wondering “why me?” I did not feel worthy at the time. It is unbelievable to think about all the people who have impacted the game and contributed to women’s basketball: the company that I keep at the Hall of Fame is incredible. To have been selected is something special: sometimes I still cannot believe that it happened.
Your brother Tom played basketball at Davidson, your sister Kathy played in 4 NCAA tourneys at Virginia, your sister Maureen played at Pitt, and your nephew TJ is in the NBA: who is the best athlete in the family? I do not know if I could say that any 1 of us is the best athlete: that is a tough question. We all had an impact and most of us were PGs: I have nieces and nephews who play the game and TJ is in the NBA.
You are currently the head coach at Pitt: how do you like the job, and where do you see the program going? This was an incredible opportunity to come here and coach at the highest level. I believe that we have all the resources to be successful in the ACC, make the NCAA tourney ever year, and complete for national championships: we know that it is a work in progress but when you coach that is your dream. We had a taste of it in my 2nd year here and we want to get back to being 1 of the top teams in the country. The best part is that I was born/raised here so it is very easy for me to sell everything that we have to offer as a university/city of great sports teams. I am very proud to be from Pittsburgh and I could not be happier with where I am.