5 Minutes With ...: Atlanta Dream

The city's new professional coach talks about women's basketball and brings the Dream to Atlanta.

April 1, 2008

Atlanta Woman : What does it take to build a WNBA franchise from the group up?
Marynell Meadors: It takes a lot of passion for the game and what you are trying to accomplish, and more than anything the willingness to work hard for the end result and not ever taking your eyes off of your goals. You can never do this alone. You must have people working along with you that have the same desire for success. In my case, knowledge of the players and what skills they must have to be successful and your ability to select players that will potentially have great chemistry.

AW: What are the pros and cons of being the general manager and head coach?
Meadors: There are definitely two separate hats you must wear. In the GM role, you are signing players to contracts; evaluating talent, contracts; for team travel; hiring staff, interns, etc. On the other hand, with coaching you are planning game strategy, formalizing practice and game schedules, advanced scouting of opponents, etc.

AW: What is the biggest difference in coaching at the college-level versus professional?
Meadors: At the professional level, we are coaching the best in our business. Professional players know the value of being prepared and getting themselves to the next level. They know what it takes to be successful in the professional ranks. The college level player is just learning all this. I have had the opportunity to work at both levels for extended periods of time, and basketball is basketball, but the level at which they understand why you do things the way that you do them usually is about five years after they have graduated from college. I loved both levels and would not take anything away from either group. I am happy I am the coach of the Atlanta Dream and look forward to building this team into a championship-level team. It is always a process, but I think we have a great start with the players we have selected.

AW: How do you mentally prepare for a game?
Meadors: I still get butterflies just like players do before a game. Preparation is everything just like reputation means everything. If I am not prepared, my players will know that right away. I watch lots and lots of film and I have my coaches look for flaws in the opponent's personnel or team strategy.

AW: Why did you want the job?
Meadors: I wanted to be a head coach in this league again. I have always been a head coach and always think like a head coach. I felt I made valuable contributions to the teams I worked with as an assistant coach.

AW: Talk a little about your expansion draft roster. What were you looking for in players?
Meadors: I love the roster we were able to put together. We have a mixture and balance of speed, quickness, size (a lot of size), the ability to score from the perimeter and having an inside presence with our post players. We have some very accomplished players in the WNBA and internationally. One of the criteria for selecting this team was they had to be good citizens who like to work hard and win.

AW: What is the team's biggest challenge this year?
Meadors: Our biggest challenge to overcome is our youth. Our average age is around 25 to 26.

AW: What is the key to managing young talent?
Meadors: I love young players because they play so hard and probably are afraid not to. I always coach from the positive side anyway, but I know young players are very fragile and must maintain a certain level of confidence from the start of the season. All the Atlanta players can't wait to get here and get started. Playing time early in the season plays an important role for young players.

AW: What will it take from the community to make the team successful?
Meadors: We need the community to get behind this team and give them the support by coming to the games. The louder the arena – the better the team plays. We want the community to think the DREAM is our team, not just the Dream. We want them to show ownership, and the best way to do this is give them support.

AW: What advice can you give girls and women with goals of playing or coaching professional sports?
Meadors: Many coaches and players have devoted their lives to make it possible for young girls and women to have the opportunity to play sports at this level. The opportunity is there now, so take advantage of it.

AW: How will you measure the success of the inaugural season?
Meadors: The first year is always the toughest. Everyone always measures the success of season on wins/loses. At this level we all have to look at that. Usually, you have to make a lot of adjustments to your roster, and I am sure we will have to do that. I will also measure how we play the game and our ability to learn the system.

AW: What are you most looking forward to about the season?
Meadors: Finally getting on the court to teach our players and have the opportunity to get to know them.

AW: What must a viewer know about basketball to enjoy watching it?
Meadors: They just have to have an appreciation for the game. They should have some background in the rules and must read about the successes of the high school and college games. Attendance at games allows them to have an appreciation for the hard work and dedication athletes put into something they truly love.

AW: Coaches work long hours and are on the road a lot – how do you balance your personal and professional life?
Meadors: During the season, we are working 14 to 16 hours per day, so that does not leave very much time for your personal life.

AW: What is the secret to your success?
Meadors: The secret to my success is that I have such a passion for women's basketball, and I work hard at being the best.

AW: What lessons do sports teach women?
Meadors: They teach so many life values. Working in a group setting, leadership, making pressure decisions, role models for young boys and girls, reaching goals, and women love to achieve and work hard at being the best.

AW: What do you do during your "down" time?
Meadors: If I have time, I will try to play a few holes of golf, but most of the time – I don't have time.

AW: What are you looking forward to doing in Atlanta?
Meadors: I think Atlanta is a great city and I look forward to going to some plays and playing golf in the off-season.

AW: As a girl, what did you dream of being?
Meadors: Since, I was in the 7th grade I knew I wanted to coach basketball.

AW: When did it occur to you that you could be a professional athlete?
Meadors: I have only coached professionally.

AW: What do girls ask you?
Meadors: What is it like coaching all those cool basketball players?

AW: What's something that no one knows about you?
Meadors: I have dogs and they are just great. They could care less about what kind of day you had – they are just glad to see you.

AW: Whom do you admire?
Meadors: I admire my parents, for they provided me the opportunity to pursue my dreams of being at the level I am working with, and the values they helped me form at an early age helped me appreciate what hard work and dedication can do for you.

AW: The biggest decision I'm currently wrestling with is...
Meadors: Our roster is always an ongoing decision that I deal with on a daily basis.