Wiggins is their man
After a 24-win season, Fresno State turns Adrian Wiggins from Interim coach to the permanent one, but Wiggins is quick to deflect credit
Ryan Tubongbanua / The Collegian
Adrian Wiggins, recently hired as the permanent coach of the women’s basketball team, has been busy at work recruiting for the Bulldogs. His ability to connect with the players and last season’s 24-win season were key factors in hiring Wiggins permanently. |
By Maggie Thach
The Collegian
ADRIAN WIGGINS WILL ALWAYS be the first to point the finger — to his players, to his assistant coaches, to the sports information director, to the trainers.
Not in a bad way, though. He would just do anything to get the spotlight off of him. He gives much credit to his support staff for getting him to where he is now. As of April 7, Wiggins became the official women’s basketball head coach.
Even after setting a school record with 24 victories and 10 losses and going deep into the post-season in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, nothing was guaranteed for Wiggins or his coaching staff.
The team was put into suspense, up until the Friday before spring break.
“The players were clapping their hands and were screaming and then they were like, ‘OK, spring break,” Wiggins said. “It was kind of like ‘OK, bye Dad.’ It was pretty funny.”
The players see it differently. Athletic director Thomas Boeh gathered the team in the locker room and told them the news. Then, he re-introduced Wiggins as their head coach.
“When I heard, it was a weight lifted off my shoulders,” said junior Jasmine Plummer. “All through high school I had a different coach every year. I know how hard it is to have to adjust to a new system. I’m glad we don’t have to go through that.”
It was a sigh of relief for Wiggins but nothing to cause a big ruckus over. He was overjoyed but he didn’t show it. To him, it was just a signal to move forward. But, that’s how Wiggins has always been, the picture of consistency and stability. Wiggins knows what can happen when he feels either too high or too low.
“To get 24 wins, it’s a neat and gratifying feeling. It validates what you’re doing,” Wiggins said. “But I think I enjoyed it too much. Sometimes, you get so attached you lose your ability to judge what’s going on.”
Wiggins calming demeanor on the sidelines allows him to see the bigger picture and if it were up to him, he wouldn’t be the one starring in it. Questions asked at press conferences are always met by answers that acknowledge others. He will always comment on the hustle of the other team or the intensity of his players.
Wiggins believes a strong support staff has helped in the success of the program so far. He praises the efforts of Brian Risso, the sports information director, for strengthening the relationship between the team and the community. He acknowledges Andy Bennett, the strength and conditioning coach, and Kelli Eberlein for not letting one player miss a game because of injury. Then there is the coaching staff and of course, the fans who came to the Save Mart Center with signs reading “Hire Wiggins.”
“It was heart-warming [to see the support of the community]. Our players play hard for the fans,” Wiggins said. “It commits the players to Fresno and Fresno State and to want to give back. That’s what college is all about.”
Wiggins understands there is more to the college experience than basketball for his players. That’s why he would rather be considered more as a teacher than as a coach.
“As a teacher, to have the support of your students, even when you’re pushing them, it means a lot,” Wiggins said. “They could have easily said ‘It’s not worth it.’”
But the players couldn’t have given up on a coach who refused to give up on them.
“Any other coach in that situation would have probably looked for another job but he knew it wouldn’t be fair to the team,” said senior Angelica Lopez. “Even though I’m not going to be on the team next year, I just know that everybody on this team absolutely loves him and he’s somebody this program needs to keep stable.”
The media hype is gone. There are no more talks of instability in the program and Wiggins is expected to carry out the values Boeh has planned for the department. Even if Wiggins doesn’t like it, he’s going to have to deal with being in the spotlight for now.
“I really never considered [being in a head coaching position],” Wiggins said. “I started my career coaching high school boys’ basketball. I was happy doing that. I thought I would be doing that for the next 30 years of my life. I like working with young people and I just wanted to coach basketball. As long as I have that, I’m fine.”
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