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 Henrickson, new TV contract to bring renewed attention to KU women’s hoops
 With the appointment of new Jayhawk head coach Bonnie Henrickson, Kansas embarks on a new era in women’s basketball that promises to bring excitement and enthusiasm to Allen Fieldhouse.
Among the hottest young coaches in the nation, Henrickson’s impressive resume includes five NCAA appearances, two WNIT appearances and an average of 23 wins per season in her first seven years on the sideline—all at Virginia Tech.
Although Henrickson and the Hokies enjoyed a fantastic run, the Willmar, Minn., native could not resist the opportunity of taking over at KU.
“Kansas has a national academic reputation and the quality of the Big 12 is outstanding,” she said. “The Big 12 has a strong national reputation, but it’s a conference where we felt like we could compete.”
Henrickson inherits a team that has struggled in recent years but is excited about the possibilities ahead. “I have confidence in myself and my staff without hesitation that we can coach,” Henrickson said. “Our biggest challenge, like every program in the country, is to bring in the type of players it takes—kids that want to be coached, are good people, good students, are committed to every aspect of their life.”
As the 2004-05 season approaches, Henrickson is clear about what she wants to accomplish in her inaugural campaign. “What people can expect from our staff and this team is effort, enthusiasm and unselfishness,” she said. “For us right now, we’ve got to narrow our focus and figure out how we are going to get better everyday—whether it’s an individual workout or a weight workout—we want to make a big deal out of little successes. Will our win total this year equal the number that anybody wants it to be? I can’t guarantee that, but I can guarantee that these kids are going to have a tremendous amount of self esteem in how they work, that they will earn victories, that they will be proud of how they represent the University.”
KU fans will be able to see Kansas Women’s Basketball more during the 2004-2005 season. KU has announced an 18-game women's basketball television package, making the Jayhawks one of the most televised programs in the country. More information on kuathletics.com.
The Henrickson File:
As A Leader
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2004 Virginia SID Coach of the Year
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2003 Head Coach USA Jones Cup Team—Gold Medal
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1999 National Coach of the Year finalist
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1999 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year
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1999 Assistant Coach USA World University Team
Under Her Leadership
7 consecutive postseason appearances
Average 23 wins per season
2 conference championships
1 NCAA Sweet 16
#9 AP Top 25 ranking
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