Guevara builds up losing program with optimism and a new attitude

By Andy Latack
Daily Sports Writer

"1999 Final Four."

The words race across Michigan women's basketball coach Sue Guevara's computer monitor, a screen-saver with an attitude.

"That is definitely a goal for us at Michigan," the third-year coach said proudly, glancing at the hefty prognostication behind her. "Right now, things are only going to get better."

Such talk would have seemed ridiculous two years ago, as the former Michigan State assistant stood poised to take over a Michigan program that had finished above .500 just once since the 1981-82 season.

But Guevara has shattered all expectations since taking control of the program.

In her inaugural season, as an interim coach, Guevara led the Wolverines to a record of 15-11 overall and 7-9 in the Big Ten - a performance good enough to have the cumbersome interim label removed in February of that season.

Then, last year, Guevara and the Wolverines posted one of the most successful seasons in the program's history, finishing the year 19-10 overall and 10-6 in the Big Ten.

Michigan also won its first-ever Big Ten Tournament game, and garnered just their second NCAA Tournament appearance.

Guevara

So now, as Guevara sits in her spacious corner office in Wiedenbach Hall, it appears as if her optimism surrounding the Wolverines is justified. In her two seasons, Guevara has surpassed Michigan's conference win total from the previous six years before her arrival.

Michigan owes its resurgence in large part to Guevara's fast-paced coaching style, an approach taken from Michigan State coach Karen Langeland, whom Guevara served under from 1987-88 until 1995-96.

During this time, the Wolverines were a doormat for Guevara and the Spartans, winning just four of 21 meetings.

When Guevara was offered the interim position at Michigan in 1996, she was undeterred by their previous mediocrity, an outlook representative of her unceasingly positive demeanor.

"I knew there was talent on the team," Guevara said of her attitude upon replacing Trish Roberts as head coach. "There were shooters and a strong inside game, and I knew the W's would come."

Although Guevara and the Wolverines dropped their only game of the 1996 season with the Spartans, Michigan avenged the loss, beating the defending Big Ten champions twice last year.

Guevara has worked hard to elevate the program to where it is today. For the majority of her first season, Guevara was branded as interim, a label which limited her freedom as a coach, especially in her ability to recruit.

"We lost some kids because I was an interim," Guevara recalled. "They really loved Michigan, they liked me, and they liked my coaching staff, but they were afraid that we weren't going to be there."

In hindsight, it would be very difficult to find someone better than Guevara at what she does.

From the time she assumed the position of interim coach, Guevara began developing a bond with her team.

"I'm a communicator," Guevara says of her coaching style. "I love my kids and I like to let my kids know when I'm happy with them and when I'm not."

Because of this straightforward attitude, the team and Guevara began to gel, even though the coach's future was mired in uncertainty.

"My approach was: I am the coach, and that's not going to change," Guevara said. "Being named head coach didn't change our relationship, because we never approached it like I was an interim."

Indeed, Guevara views team unity as essential to a successful season. Requiring that players alternate roommates every road trip, Guevara consults her troops on many decisions regarding the program.

When a recruit makes a visit to Michigan, Guevara quickly introduces the newcomer to the team.

"The recruits won't be going to the bowling alley or out to lunch with me, they'll be going with their teammates," Guevara said.

Guevara's commitment is paying immediate dividends.

During her first two years, Michigan set numerous attendance records, a testament to the fact that Guevara's up-tempo style is breathing new life into the program.

"People have been waiting for this program to come out of hibernation for a long time," Guevara said, referring to Michigan's numerous sub-.500 years. "Everything is in place, I just need to do my job, and that's the fun part.

"I can't think of anything else in my life that I'd rather do than coach here," Guevara said. With that, the coach flashed a smile and rushed off to practice, moving even faster than the large, red letters flashing on the screen behind her.

09-08-98