The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with Carol Menken-Schaudt about winning a gold medal in 1984.
You were born/raised in Oregon but could not play basketball every year at Jefferson High School because it was such a small school that a coach was not always available: what made you choose a school like Linn-Benton CC (that did not even have a basketball team!) to start your college career, and why did you transfer to Oregon State? Linn-Benton had a good graphic arts program and I wanted to be a graphic artist, but after I realized that I was not very good at it they ended up starting a team. The coach asked me if I would like to try out and it sounded like fun: there were only 7 of us at tryouts so we all made the team! I was not very skilled but being 6’4” in 1977 was unusual at the women’s basketball community college level. My coach was active in finding a 4-year school for me to attend and Oregon State was only 20 minutes away. I talked to the coach there and she sent me a partial scholarship offer…as well as a letter saying that she was resigning due to the school’s lack of support of the team. Aki Hill came in as the new coach and we spent a lot of time together: she basically turned me into a basketball player who led the nation in scoring as a senior. That led me to getting some attention from the national team and I made the 1981 World University Games team under Coach Kay Yow. I also got a call from an agent that Italy was opening up its women’s league to foreigners, which extended my basketball career and helped me make the 1984 Olympic team.
You are 6’4”: how much of an advantage was your size on the court? It was a big advantage: there were only a handful of players back then who were 6’4” so it was quite rare.
In February of 1980 you set a school record by scoring 51 PTS in a game against Alaska-Anchorage: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Yes. They were not the strongest competition. I tried to get position close to the basket and my team fed me the ball and it was just basket after basket.
In 1981 you led the nation with 75 FG% and became the 1st women’s basketball All-American in school history: what is the secret to being a great shooter, and what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? I had great coaching and was able to learn all the fundamentals. I developed my shot/positioning and was strong enough to take contact and still make baskets. 1 of the biggest advantages was my mental approach: I never took a shot that I did not think was going in. I was always surprised if my shot did not go in, even when I was fouled. If you expect it to go in and are playing with that confidence then it just helps your efficiency.
You still holds school records with 27.7 career PPG/11.1 career RPG: did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were, and do you think that anyone will ever break your records? Some of my other records like career PTS have already been broken but I do not know if anyone will ever score more PPG. We did not have a 3-PT line back then so there was a premium on getting easy inside shots. Now it changes the dynamic: the current OSU team has several good 3-PT shooters so the priority of the offense is different. There is a higher level/broader base of talent in the sport now even though there are still standouts.
You tried out for the Olympic team in 1980 but did not make it: what was your reaction after learning that the team would not play due to a boycott, and how did it feel to finally make the team in 1984? I just felt bad for the American athletes in 1980 who had been training for so long. When a sporting event only comes along every 4 years it might be your only shot. I never anticipated that I would make the team in 1984 because I was graduating in 1981 and there was no opportunity like the WNBA where I could compete after college. The chance to play in Italy was the only way that I was able to still be playing.
What did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? It is 1 of those pivot points in your life: there is my life before the Olympics and my life after the Olympics. It has impacted the entire direction of my life: I get invited to a bunch of classrooms/lunches every 4 years to go out and share my story/medal with people in my community.
You played pro basketball in Italy/Japan for 8 years: what was the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? 1 of the big differences for me was the slight rule changes. The key is shaped differently: it is wider at the bottom so I had to adjust to that. Basketball is faster-paced and more physical in Italy, whereas Japan was more about quickness/finesse. The level of play was very skilled so I enjoyed both experiences very much.
Your son Brian is a track coach, your daughter Laura played volleyball at OSU, and your husband Ken was team manager for the #1 ranked Beavers men’s team in 1981: who is the best athlete in the family? I am not going to comment on that 1…but I am the only 1 with an Olympic gold medal! They are all very athletic: Brian is now getting a degree in physical therapy and Laura finished her volleyball career overseas. They have done well in their lives in general.
In 1993 you were inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and in 2018 you became the 1st OSU female student-athlete to be inducted into the Pac-12 Hall of Honor: when people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? 1 of the things I am proudest of was my role on the Olympic team. My usual role was to be the focus of the offense but that was not the case in 1984. We had a plethora of talent so I recognized my roster spot as a role player and accepted that. I tried to push Anne Donovan/Janice Lawrence as hard as possible in practice so that they could play their best during the competition. I feel like I was a part of that gold-medal-winning effort and was proud to be a role player with excellence.