Kristy Curry is in her sixth year at the helm of the Purdue women's basketball program, leading her charges to a 136-31 overall record (81.4 winning percentage) and 64-16 Big Ten record (80.0 winning percentage) prior to this season. The Olla, Louisiana, native coached at Weston High School, Mansfield High School, Tulane, Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M and Louisiana Tech before being named the Boilermaker head coach. The Northeast Louisiana alumna lives in West Lafayette with her husband Kelly, a Purdue assistant coach, and their daughters Kelsey and Kendall. To learn more abot Coach Kristy Curry, read her bio page at the official Purdue sports Web site:Kristy Curry Profile
OGFP: How did you become interested in coaching?
Coach Curry: I grew up in a coaching family with my grandaddy, dad and mom all being coaches.
OGFP: Which coach (from any sport, any era) do you most admire and why?
Coach Curry: Jim Valvano. I admire how hard he fought. I'll always remember his words: "Don't give up. Don't ever give up."
OGFP: What is the best part about Purdue University and the West Lafayette, Indiana, community?
Coach Curry: The best part about Purdue and West Lafayette is that it is a true college town and a great place to raise a family. I like the fact that it has a lot of the things a big city has, yet it doesn't have the feel of a big city.
OGFP: What words do you want to come to mind when people think of Purdue's women's basketball program?
Coach Curry: I want them to think that we are a very classy, hard-working group, that we graduate our players, and that we are a championship program.
OGFP: What is good right now in the world of collegiate women's basketball?
Coach Curry: I think the way the game is played. The women right now seem to be more fundamentally sound, and that may be because we're still, for the most part, below the rim. I also think our graduation rates are very good.
OGFP: What rule would you erase from the books?
Coach Curry: The possession arrow. I would like to see us go back to having jump balls for all tied-up possessions and at the start of both halves.
OGFP: True or False: It is more difficult to sustain a program's excellence than to achieve it initially.
Coach Curry: True.
OGFP: What traits or attributes do you look for when recruiting high school or junior college players?
Coach Curry: I look for people who are good students, with an outstanding work ethic, high character, and leadership qualities.
OGFP: Can you describe how it feels when you coach against a former colleague or a very good friend?
Coach Curry: It tears at your emotions.
OGFP: How would you describe yourself in one sentence?
Coach Curry: High energy, enthusiastic, hard working, classy.
Thanks to Kathleen Offer for making this Q&A possible.
