One thing is for certain, the more things stay the same, the more they change in collegiate athletics.

Coming up in my first interview, you'll meet women's basketball coach Tricia Culp, one of the winningest women's basketball coaches in the country at the time of the interview.

She was a 15 year coach in the Mid-American conference at the University of Toledo.

Shortly after my interview with Coach Cal up and her three captains at U. Toledo.

Coach got the call that she was named the head women's basketball coach for the University of Miami Hurricanes in Miami, Florida.

Yet another reminder of the dynamic and ever changing business of collegiate athletics.

Well, later in the show, we'll get to learn more about coach's new life from Miami, Florida.

Talking with her about her new home, her team, and the university of Miami's athletic program.

Tonight, you get to see one of her last down interviews with me at you, Toledo, and then later our first with Coach call up at the University of Miami.

And now check out part one.

Coach call up.

It's great to be with you today.

Tricia Cullop: Thank you for having me.

Kristi K: You are the winningest coach in the University of Toledo women's basketball history.

How does that strike you?

Tricia Cullop: Well, it tells you I'm pretty lucky.

I've coached a lot of really talented players, and I've had a lot of help from some great assistants.

You don't do any of this by yourself.

Kristi K: Were you a born leader?

Would you?

When you look back on your younger years, would you say, oh yeah, I've always kind of had that in me?

Or did you learn that as you went through life and coaching?

Tricia Cullop: I think it's something that just evolves.

I think I was really, really lucky that I had two incredible parents, and even my grandparents were just phenomenal people that were givers.

they always were looking for ways to help everyone around them.

And then, you know, as I got into athletics, I had just an incredible high school coach, who went above and beyond for me.

Kristi K: So how did you develop the eye for leadership?

What are you looking for in someone who's a future leader or currently, who is a leader on the team that you say?

Yes.

I really want to have this person's skill set.

Tricia Cullop: Well, there's three things that we look for in recruiting place.

The first they're always from.

So the first one is, you know, the one that catches your eye immediately as athletically, can they help us win our conference.

we want to go to postseason.

Do they pass that first litmus test?

if they do, then we dive a little deeper.

do they have the attitude that we want to coach?

Are they someone that's going to be a great representative of our brand and of and of our not only our team, but our athletic department.

The third one is academics.

Are they someone that's going to be really successful at the University of Toledo if we bring them here, or are they going to work hard in the classroom?

Kristi K: Now you command such respect.

You are one of the top coaches in the country in women's basketball.

What is the key?

Tricia Cullop: I think the key is is surrounding yourself by great people.

I think also, you know, making sure that I tell our players this all the time, staying hungry and humble.

Kristi K: Something I've said on many occasions is there's confidence and then there's Coach Tricia.

Call up confidence.

And how is it that you have developed the confidence and the esteem that really shows up every time you walk on the court and every time you walk in a room?

Tricia Cullop: I think what would people see in a game is the effect of a lot of practices.

I'm a big believer in preparation and my staff helps me a lot with that, but if we've done the work to prepare, then I feel very confident when a game starts and I have a lot of confidence in the players that we have.

they're very proven.

they put in a lot of work.

When you've done the work, I feel like you're way more prepared and at ease when you have a test, which is a game.

Kristi K: How do you see NIL name, image and likeness in terms of recruitment?

Has that impacted you already?

and how do you see that going forward?

Tricia Cullop: Well, first, I'd say it's a great opportunity for the student athletes.

You know, it's something that my generation couldn't come close to.

you know, we we played for a scholarship, and that was it.

now our players do have a chance to capitalize on their name and their image.

And their likeness.

And so it provides them an opportunity to, you know, build a name for themselves, build their brand before they get out of college.

And so I'm very supportive of it.

It is challenging.

It's challenging simply because at the highest level, what's happening in nil is is very different than what's happening at a mid-major level.

Kristi K: As you think about that, let's say a decade from now, 20 years from now.

What do you think the sport of women's basketball and NCAA athletics in general is going to look like?

How do you feel about the impact of, let's say, name, image and likeness and that coaching from a coaching perspective, right.

Tricia Cullop: Well, first I'll just say women's basketball in general is booming.

in recent years, when all of the things came to light under Covid, we started to dive into the finances and lo and behold, we found out.

Guess what?

We make money.

I think it's an incredible time for women's athletics and women's basketball in general.

because people are showing up.

I think it's one of those things where if you invest in it, it grows, and if you water it, it grows.

I do think we're in an interesting time in, in an, in a critical juncture because our, our TV contracts just got renegotiated for women's basketball.

And it's in a much better situation now than it was, you know, 2 or 3 years ago.

Kristi K: Tell me about the three student athletes that I'm going to be talking with here shortly.

Tricia Cullop: Kenisha Lockett was a Mac player of the year a year ago.

she's she's battled through some obstacles this year because she had an injury in the middle of the season.

She's a phenomenal player, an amazing person.

And, someone that has left her mark here.

She's one of the greatest players to ever play here.

She's the second leading scorer in school history.

Sophia Wired, is one of the best leaders I've ever been around.

She's our point guard.

She's always.

In her last three years, she has been one of the top players in the country in assist turnover ratio.

She's someone I've given a lot of reins to on the court because she really understands the game.

She's got an incredible IQ.

but is just a great person.

And then Kira Goss is a kid that I'm glad is not graduating this year.

she is a kid who was All-Defensive team last year in the Mac for the last two years.

that's a thankless job.

to be a defender.

Everybody wants to talk about scores.

You don't usually make the paper because you were the best defender.

so she's doing a thankless job, and she gives us her all.

I've really thoroughly enjoyed their my three captains.

Kristi K: It's great.

I'm excited to interview them.

And I want to say thank you so much, Coach Carla, for being the person you are.

The human you are.

Thank you.

as well as the coach, you lead so many of us by example.

So.

Tricia Cullop: Thank you.

Thank you.

Kristi K: Sophia, we're great to have you here, Kanisha.

Great to have you here, Kiara.

Great to have you here.

You three are incredible athletes.

And I am honored to be here with you.

To talk more about playing for Coach Tricia, call up and about your leadership.

So tell me, what is it like to play for coach?

Call up.

Quinesha: It's been great playing for her.

Like, you can really see the development that she has over the years, like from our freshman year to now.

Like she's just learned different ways to coach and understand her players.

Sophia: She wins a lot of games.

She knows how to win.

but it's just been amazing.

Kristi K: One thing I noticed, too, about your team is you each are unique and your personalities, your backgrounds.

But yet you all come together and you have a great time on the court.

So how does that work?

Because that leadership on the court.

Leadership off the court.

How do you develop such a great camaraderie?

Khera: Yeah, I think we just spend.

A lot of time together.

I've been with them for.

Four years, but they've.

Been together for.

Five.

we do stuff off.

The court.

That helps build our bond.

Which shows on the court, too.

Yeah.

Kristi: That's awesome.

Quinesha: Yeah, I would definitely say, like, the way that Coach Cullop recruited us was insane.

Like, all of our personalities are different, but we just mesh really well together.

Kristi K: And when it comes to player development, what have you learned most?

Sophia: I would just say there's a lot to improve on.

coach Cullop does a good job developing your shot.

I know she's worked with Khera a lot on her shot.

but for me, mostly it's just been about, like, knowing what plays to run for each person.

she's done a really good job developing me as a point guard.

and just kind of being able to read everybody on the team like she does, it's all good.

Quinesha: Yes.

for me, I would just say, trying to stay focused and control my emotions.

Like, coach really has the time because I just can get in my head a lot.

But, just trying to stay focused on the game in here in the moment.

Kristi K: In terms of name, image and likeness, how has it impacted your world as student athletes?

Sophia: You know, me and Q just got a car recently from, you know, Jim White Toyota.

So that's on changed.

that single deal changed our whole life really completely.

but it's just given us opportunities to do a little bit more.

I mean, money's always nice to have, and it's helped, really kind of just let us not have to worry about expenses.

Kristi K: Best part of playing with Coach Cullop?

Sophia: Winning and hanging out with her every day.

She's pretty cool.

Quinesha: She got all the jokes in the world for you.

Quinesha: Yeah, definitely a people person.

Kristi K: Well, best of luck the rest of the season.

And it's great to be with you today.

Thanks so much for your leadership and the impact that you're all making on this community and well beyond.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

Good luck.

Thank you.