The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Coach G's novel plan: Ashley Gayle
12.22.2009 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 22, 2009
Every year, Texas Women's Basketball coach Gail Goestenkors hand-picks reading selections for all of her student-athletes. Goestenkors carefully connects each one to the individual, choosing books that can educate and inspire - and impact the Longhorns on the court, and in life.
Throughout the season, TexasSports.com will visit with Goestenkors and the Longhorns to learn about the books that were read, and what everyone learned through the process.
Ashley Gayle
Coach G gave me Tuesdays with Morrie, and it told me the story of a man who used his own death as a chance to teach people how to live.
Morrie Schwartz was a well-liked professor who was dying with Lou Gehrig's disease. One of his former students, Mitch Albom, starts visiting every Tuesday. During these visits, they reminisce about past experiences -- both good and bad -- and Albom realizes his former teacher's mission to teach others how to live by listening and sharing his life-learned lessons.
Some of these lessons I feel can also help our basketball team. Morrie talked about devotion, and that people should "devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning." For us, that means we can devote ourselves to the team, and our common cause.
Gail Goestenkors
This is one of my favorite books, because it's about taking time to understand and appreciate that we are always learning and growing. It's about faith, friendship and trust.
Trust is an integral part of basketball. As a post, AG has to trust that the guards will get her the ball when she's open, and the guards have to trust that if they get beat on a drive, AG will have their backs and give help. The entire team needs to trust one another and the coaching staff, and know that we are all working towards a common goal -- championships!
