Allison Spivey checks in with the team from the Dominican Republic!

HOLA from the Dominican Republic! I just wanted to drop a note and share some of my wonderful experiences here in the Dominican Republic! This is a special place and the people here are warm and welcoming....just like Greenville! But I certainly miss seeing all of my teammates and coaches every day. I am thinking and praying for each of you and talking a lot about all of you down here in the Dominican.

The people think it's really cool that I play for a university. It has given me time to reflect and makes me think how blessed we are to be able to simply read, write and go to college. That is something we should never take for granted, because not everyone has the opportunity to do that! Also, we are truly fortunate to be able to represent a university with our talents.

For the most part, women down here only work in the house and definitely don´t participate in sports. So, I am grateful to learn more about other cultures and at the same time share my experiences with the people down here. When they saw me play for a little bit they said..WOW you play like a man! Haha, just imagine if they saw the whole team playing together, they would be blown away! I hope one day they may get the opportunity to check out a game - perhaps online!!! Keep working hard and I am looking forward to sharing some pictures and more stories upon my return....Adios!

Con Amor,
Alli

On the Road Again

Greetings from the recruiting trail! For those of you who don’t know, summer recruiting is like no other travel. People often think that being able to travel all over the country is a really neat perk to the coaching profession. Often times it is, but the travel doesn’t always come with the greatest perks. Most often travel occurs very early in the morning and extends late into the night. We watch some great games, some blowout games. There are some good concession stands, some bad ones. Early morning flights combined with late night double overtime games keeps things interesting in this fascinating world we call recruiting. It is amazing what we do in search for the perfect pieces to complete the recruiting puzzle.

Here are the top three components that determine the quality of the trip.

Number 3: Level of talent: If the player you go to see is really good it makes everything else ok. Talent trumps all other factors.

Number 2: Quality of the Game: A close game is always better than a blowout, unless you are trying to catch the last flight out and overtime will make you miss your connection.

And the Number 1 component that determines the quality of the trip is…: Selection at the concession stand (nachos!!). Most of the time coaches are at the gym from 8:00am until 10:00pm at night. A crucial factor in rating the trip is determined by how good the nachos are at the concession stand. Nachos are my favorite!! However, anything homemade ranks high on the scale. BBQ sandwiches instantly garner a 5 Star rating. Sometimes hotdogs are a necessity, chili is a bonus.

So for those of you who think you could be a great recruiter, you first need to start evaluating the snacks. By the way, you should always pack a few in your bag just in case there is no concession stand at all.

Joke for the day: This is a taco and burrito nacho conversation!!!

Looking for future Pirates in Orlando at the Milk House!

Un-thinkable (I’m Ready)

I am ready. There is no other way to describe the feeling about being the head coach at ECU. I am ready.

It has been a great journey getting here. All of my past experiences have prepared me for this. Sure, I may have borrowed some lines from Alicia Keys song, but she hit the nail on the head when she said, “This is exactly how it should feel when it’s meant to be.” And that is how I feel with my relationship with East Carolina University and this community; this is my home and where I am meant to be.

Greenville, ARE YOU READY?

We are seeking treasure In July recruiting!!

It’s hot outside but even hotter on the recruiting trail for the ECU Women’s Basketball staff. The month of July will be filled with intense travel and evaluation of prospective student-athletes for our crew. We will be blazing a trail up and down the east coast in search for the perfect fit of new recruits to blend with the seasoned veterans who won 23 games and advanced to the second round of the WNIT a year ago. We want to do even better than that when the ball goes up in the air in November.

Our suitcases are already packed and ready to go. It is our goal to fill our treasure chest with players who can continue building on the outstanding foundation that has been built at ECU. We are in search for golden players that will take the program to new heights! We want to see our ladies in the WNBA one day!

There is momentum building and an excitement buzzing around the Women’s Basketball program as our ship begins to set sail and dreams go into motion. We have a challenging non-conference schedule to prepare us for the difficult C-USA slate. Come join us on our maiden voyage as we set sail towards the NCAA Tournament!

Welcome to Pirate Country!

It is an honor to be a part of the Pirate Nation and we have the best crew in the country. When I think of pirates, the first thing that comes to mind is a treasure chest. But they do not just get treasure, all Pirates have to work and fight to get it and that is what we are ready to do. Our crew works long days and nights because we all want a treasure chest full of rewards. We know that it will not be handed to us, so we are willing to outwork all the crews around. The vision, planning, and goals start now. It’s a Pirate’s life for us!