Chapter 7 #2
Tears sprang to Hope’s eyes. “You don’t know how happy I am to hear this, Coach. I’ve looked up to you for so many years. You’re proving to be even better than I ever expected.”
“I’ll admit that I don’t have your coaching experience.
I always did help out my teammates, however.
I would give them tips during a game when I saw something going on that they could take advantage of.
I also mentored younger players who joined teams I played for.
But I’m not the be-all, end-all, Hope. As I said before, this is a collaboration. ”
Pausing, Paisley then asked, “Would you have time to go up to the high school now? Maybe look through the playbook with me?”
“I’d love to, Paisley,” her assistant said enthusiastically, calling Paisley by her name for the first time.
Dizzy wouldn’t let her pay for her breakfast, telling Paisley that the first meal for a newcomer to his diner was always free. She thanked him, certain she would be back in the future.
Since she had walked to the diner, Paisley rode with Hope to HHS, swiping her employee badge for the first time to gain entrance into the field house.
Hope said, “I shared an office with Coach Finnerty last year. Actually, sharing is not the word I should use. I had a desk here, but she liked the space to herself.”
“I won’t be like that, Hope. We’ll need to be together. Bounce ideas off one another. We’re going to draw up plays together. Look at game film. You and I will be joined at the hip.”
Her new assistant beamed. “I’m going to learn so much from you, Coach. I can’t wait to get started.”
They opened up various notebooks, going through countless numbers of plays the Lady Hawks had used last year.
Paisley said, “I’m not going to ditch this playbook. I’m seeing some good things here. I have lots more I want to add, though. I’m sure you’re feeling the same.”
Hope went over to the desk which was hers. She pulled out a manilla folder and handed it to Paisley.
“These are plays I drew up last year. Coach Finnerty only looked at a few of them before she told me that she was the coach and the only one who would be running the offense and defense without interference.” Hope paused. “I believe there are some good plays in here.”
“I know there are,” Paisley agreed. “I can tell you’ve got basketball knowledge, and it’s ready to flood from you.
If you don’t mind, I’d like to take this home with me and study it.
Familiarize myself with it and the rest of the previous schemes.
I won’t know what we can use and what needs to be discarded until I meet the players, though.
I’ve got to evaluate the skills they possess and tailor things to them. ”
She sighed. “We’re going to have to recruit like mad, Hope. Injuries are hard to predict. I don’t want one of them to cause us to forfeit even a single game. Since we barely have enough players to field a team now, we’re going to have to go out and find girls willing to give the program a chance.”
“The good thing is, you have a name, Paisley. You’ve won championships at every level. There’ll be girls who have watched you on TV. Girls who want to be you. That will definitely attract a few more players to the team.”
Paisley glanced at her watch, seeing it was almost one o’clock. “We’ve been at this for several hours now. I know this is your summer break, and I didn’t mean to take up so much time.”
“Not a problem, Coach. I was eager to see who West would hire. Worried a little about how I would get along with the new coach, but I can tell this is going to be a fantastic relationship. While I’m working alongside you, I’m going to be picking your brain like crazy.
” Hope smiled. “After all, it’s not many coaches who get the opportunity to be mentored by a three-time Olympian. ”
Pushing talk of her past aside, Paisley said, “I need you to draw up the list of who has already committed to play this year. Put together a profile of each individual, telling me their talents and weaknesses. Then compile a list of anyone who did play in the program and left. Those still here at HHS. I’ll be contacting the middle school coach next to see which players are incoming freshmen and what they’re like. ”
“I’ll have it for you by tomorrow. I’m sure Marsha Zelman at the middle school would love to meet with you.”
“No rush. Take a couple of days. I’ve still got a few things to clean up on my end. What about meeting with Marsha on Thursday here if she’s available?”
“Definitely,” her assistant said enthusiastically.
“I’ll reach out to Marsha and see if that’s good for her. If not, at least you and I can meet together. Thanks for spending time with me today, Hope. You’re going to be a real asset to this program.”
“It’ll be nice not to be shoved to the side. I appreciate you valuing my input.”
They returned to Hope’s car, and she dropped Paisley at Jen’s house.
Going inside, she realized she was still full from her large breakfast at the diner and decided to simply open a can of soup for a light lunch.
She would need to buy some groceries to stock the pantry and fridge and might as well do that after she ate.
She had put off meeting with Hope tomorrow because Tuesday was the day she was spending with Sawyer Montgomery.
He’d told her to block out the entire day for them to do something out of the ordinary.
She couldn’t image what that might entail, especially in a small town such as Hawthorne, but she was looking forward to being in his company again.
Paisley was definitely attracted to the former college basketball player.
He was three inches taller than she was, with a lean yet muscular frame.
His hazel eyes had drawn her in during dinner last night, making her feel as if she could confide in him.
She could imagine running her fingers through his thick, caramel hair, something she had never done with any guy.
She’d never had a single date. Not one. In high school, she was so much taller than most of the guys and totally focused on basketball, knowing it and earning good grades would be her ticket to a free college education.
Once at Baylor, she spent a majority of her day around women.
In the dorm. At practice. Most of her education classes were filled with women.
Any time a guy was enrolled in one, he would sit with the handful of other guys.
Sometimes, she would informally scrimmage with guys who were in the gym, be they players on the men’s basketball team or others hanging around the gym.
But just as she’d thrown up walls around her to keep other girls from getting too close to her, she’d done the same with guys.
Because of that vibe, she’d never been asked on a date.
Once she’d turned pro, Paisley felt enormous pressure on her.
As a number one draft pick, the Aces had invested heavily in her, and she dedicated herself to being successful in the WNBA.
Once again, she was around mostly women, her teammates or other athletes.
Every single one of her coaches during her tenure with the Aces had been female.
That made this attraction to Sawyer unique.
Where she had said very little to other guys throughout her entire life, Paisley had an actual conversation with Sawyer—and he had seemed interested in what she had to say.
She wondered if anything might come of their budding friendship. If things might go beyond friendship.
Hopefully, she’d get a better read on him as they spent an entire day together.