Rochester, Mn-
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is proud to highlight the many coaches, staff, support personnel and others who make the MCAC a great league in which to pursue a college athletic career and a great education. In this installment of the summer-long series MCAC Profiles, the league turns it's sights towards the approaching women's basketball season by interviewing of one of the newest hires within the coaching ranks.
Last week the MCAC caught up with James Fassett, the recently appointed women's basketball coach at St. Cloud Technical and Community College. While Coach Fassett is new to the Cyclones, he brings a wealth of experience at the two-year college level as both a student-athlete and coach in the Minnesota sports scene.
Coach Fassett competed in football, basketball and track at De La Salle High School, one of the top athletic programs in Minnesota. Upon conclusion of his football playing career, Coach Fassett took to the sidelines in 1994 with a football coaching position at North Hennepin Community College in 1994.
MCAC: Tell us about your new role at St. Cloud Technical and Community College. JF- "I enjoy coaching at the junior college level. I believe SCTCC offers a great academic opportunity for all types of students. The other athletic programs (at SCTCC) have been very successful. My goal is to enhance the academic experience for women who choose to play basketball. I believe that participating in a ... successful athletic program helps students be more engaged in (other areas of) student life and academics. "
MCAC: Who have been some important influences in your coaching career? JF- "I have really learned how to become a better teacher of the game from Dave Dewitt at Anoka-Ramsey over the last 10 years I have been around him. Although I was the head women's coach at MCTC prior to coaching at Anoka-Ramsey, my growth as a coach under Coach Dewitt has prepared me to lead this program and turn it into a successful program."
MCAC: What does 2017-18 hold for your team? Any predictions on how the season will go? JF- "The only true prediction I can make for the upcoming season is that every game, we will compete. We will play hard and we will grow with every game and practice..."
MCAC: Do you have a particular team or memory that stands out in your time as a coach?: JF- "My first year coaching at Anoka high school. I started 1 senior, 1 junior and 3 freshman. Anoka had won a total of 4 games combined over the previous four seasons. They had never qualified for the state tournament. That first year we finished the (regular) season 2-24 heading into section play. We won four section games and qualified for the state tournament. Three of the teams we beat in sections had beat us during the regular season by running time margins. It was an unbelievable experience and I learned that when players play with confidence and believe they can win, anything is possible."
The 2017-18 Minnesota College Athletic Conference women's basketball season will tip-off for most programs in early November; MCAC divisional play will commence in January, 2018. For more information on MCAC women's basketball, please visit: www.mcacsports.org
To learn more about Coach Fassett and the women's basketball team at St. Cloud Technical and Community College be sure to click this link.
Story courtesy of MCAC Sports