Coaching while Black
This occasional series will highlight Black coaches at all levels of sport.
This week: Central Connecticut State WBB Coach
Minnesota women’s basketball fans at Williams Arena this season will see a total of six Black female head coaches on the opposing sidelines.
Way Veney on Monday November 4 opened up this season’s diversity cadre as her Central Connecticut State Blue Devils and the Gophers played each other for the first time ever in their respective season openers for both squads.
“I think it’s good that young Black women can see me in a leadership role just out there doing what I’m doing,” Veney proudly told the MSR outside the visitors’ locker room after the game. “When you see representation, it means that you can vision yourself doing it too. I really take pride in that.”
Veney was hired at Central Connecticut State in April 2023 and brought over two decades of coaching experience to her first head coaching opportunity: assistant stints at American University (2000-01), William & Mary (2003-05), Providence College (2005-07) and Temple (assistant, 2007-15; associate head coach (2015-22). She also played at East Carolina (1998-2000) where she was team MVP, two time all-conference and once led the team both in scoring and assists.
This is Veney’s second year at the helm.
“I think I have my system in,” she pointed out. “In terms of building the program, I feel like I’ve established the culture I want.”
The Blue Devils were picked to finish second in the Northeastern Conference (NEC). Minnesota was one of two Power Four opponents on Central Connecticut State’s schedule.
However, the visitors’ 26 turnovers along with the hosts’ size and rebounding advantage proved too much to overcome as Minnesota won 89-48.
“You are not going to win many basketball games when you turn the ball over 26 times,” reaffirmed the coach. “We came into this game knowing that they were much bigger than us. We had to put emphasis in keeping them off the offensive glass.
“You are not going to be in games giving people second and third shot opportunities,” bemoaned Veney.
On being the first of the six Black female HCs at The Barn this season, Veney surmised, “I think it’s good anytime you have representation in any area, especially in athletics.
“I try to carry and present myself in a certain way so that I can make those watching me proud as well as those who came before me who didn’t get the same opportunity that I have,” concluded the second-year head coach.ee Black MLB managers to win a World Series title. It was his second championship (2020). Cito Gaston (Toronto) and Dusty Baker (Houston) are the others.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.