Moseley learns on job
Geno helps transition to BU boss
During the last two seasons of her tenure as an assistant at UConn, it became evident that Marisa Moseley was ready to be a head coach. Geno Auriemma noticed her talking more about specific jobs, and last spring, it all came together. When the Boston University job came open, it was a natural calling.
Moseley, a 2004 BU graduate, was a two-year captain for the Terriers and led them to their first and only NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003. After nine seasons under Auriemma in Storrs, coaching one of the most successful programs in NCAA history, there wasn’t a better place to try her hand as a head coach.
“It just seemed like all the pieces fell,” Auriemma said. “I’m not sure if it wasn’t BU that she would have made this move. I think that’s a big part of it.”
Moseley has been on the job for more than seven months, and last week, she earned her first career win when BU beat Brown. The biggest adjustment has been being the one who calls the shots.
“It’s been growing pains, just kind of getting familiar with being the person with all the answers to the questions that are required,” Moseley said. “What I’m used to as an assistant, be more of a suggester, now I’m kind of the buck stops here, so I think that’s been something that I’ve kind of had to grow into.”
Not surprisingly, Auriemma was one of Moseley’s biggest supporters as she assessed the BU job. The two had several conversations, and they talked about everything from the mindset of being a first-time head coach to how she can sell a program already familiar to her. And the biggest piece of wisdom he said he imparted on her was how to get the right people on board.
“There are some things you just can’t prepare for, so we just talked in generalities about how to get ready mentally, how to surround yourself with good people and just give them the best chance to be successful,” Auriemma said. “From what I can tell, so far, so good.”
Growing pains are to be expected for a program that hasn’t posted a winning season since 2012-13, but Moseley knows it’s part of the process in her attempt to restore the glory from her playing days.
“I said to her, ‘You’re probably going to lose more games some weeks than you lost in the last five years,’” Auriemma said. “That’s going to be hard, but that’s all part of the growing process, and there’s only so much you can prepare them for. It’s like you’re getting married, you’re getting married to a new job, you’re having children for the first time. How do you prepare for that? You just have to go through it.”
Walters settles in
At first, he wasn’t sure, but it was around September when Shaquille Walters, who transferred from Santa
Clara to Northeastern this season, expressed an interest to play immediately. He talked to coach Bill Coen, who was deliberate in making sure Walters assessed all the factors in his decision.
Walters was certain he wanted to play, but it requires a process. NCAA rules state transfers must sit out a year at their new school before playing, but exceptions are made. Northeastern’s compliance office applied for a waiver for Walters, and last Tuesday, the Huskies received good news. The waiver was granted, and Walters is eligible to play this season.
The circumstances that allowed Walters to be granted eligibility are confidential, but Coen assured that “if anyone heard the facts of the story, I don’t think anybody would disagree with the ruling.
“We’re just so grateful that the NCAA agreed with us that he should be allowed to play immediately.”
Walters, a 6-foot-6 sophomore guard from London, made his debut in Northeastern’s win against Alabama last Thursday and made an impact off the bench. Coen loves his potential.
“He’s got tremendous upside, he’s got size, length, athleticism, and most of all, coachability,” Coen said. “He wants to be a good player, he allows you to coach him, and I think with that type of attitude and the type of effort he puts in, we couldn’t be more excited about him.”
Stuck in limbo
Shawn Occeus and Max Boursiquot, both starters for Northeastern last season, remain out with injuries, and their returns are unclear.
Coen was more optimistic about Occeus, last season’s Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year who suffered an ankle sprain in practice the day before this season’s opener against Boston University. Boursiquot is dealing with a nagging hip injury.