Discussion with Bard head coach Chris Wood

1)  For basketball fans who aren’t familiar with Bard, talk a little about the history of the program and what your expectations are for the next 2-3 years.
 

CW)  Twelve wins in twelve years sums up Bard Basketball.  They were the doormat for many years and most people knew it and scheduled for it.  My expectations for the next couple of years are to be more competitive and raise the level of expectations for the players and the fans.  I want to be the best we can be
without the use of scholarship and without sacrificing our academic achievement.
 

2) You came to Bard before last season from Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, VT.  Can you give us a brief overview of your coaching career and what appealed to you about the head coaching position with the Raptors?
 

CW)  I had always coached women in high school and in college - with the current
trend to hire female coaches I felt it was the best option to become a head coach.  At Bard everything that my staff and players do is a "first" and we know we are setting the standard for teams that follow us.  I like that - people will have to fill our shoes in the future.
 

3)  To say you had a young team this season would be an understatement.  Joining you in your first season at Bard were seven freshmen, along with three sophomores and just two juniors.  Did the lack of experienced players make this a difficult transition relative to other coaching positions you’ve taken?
 

CW) This was the best situation I could ever ask for as a first year head coach.  Everyone was young and impressionable without any preconceived ideas.  "The old coach did this" and "This is what we always do" didn't exist - it was very easy
to create an atmosphere condusive to teaching and being part of something bigger - i.e. a program 
 

4)  Adam Turner (Westfield, NJ) earned Division III All-Freshman honors for his performance this season.  The 6’ 6” forward was the only freshman to rank in the Top 50 in scoring average in Div. III, and his 25.3 PPG was the fifth best in the nation.  He posted two of the top 10 scoring performances in the country this season – the only player to accomplish that feat.  Three games into his college career, he broke the 14 year old single game school scoring record with 45 points against Albany College of Pharmacy.  He led your club in nearly every offensive category, and averaged a double-double.  Some consider him to be the top Div. III freshman in the country.  All that being said, what were your impressions of this young man after one season?  What does his presence mean for the Bard program in terms of establishing credibility and a winning tradition?
 

CW) Thankfully - "So goes Adam Turner, So goes the team.  Hard working,
determined, honest, and humble best describes Adam Turner.  He is a leader who leads by example without the need for a constant pat on the back.  His teammates and the coaching staff have the highest respect for Adam.  Our thanks
to Adam as a team will be measured in the form of matching his day to day
efforts and our total support for him as he strives to become the first All-American at Bard College.
 

5)  Nine games into the season, Bard was 6-3 and had matched their win total from the 2001-2002 season.  But a 1-6 stretch followed the fast start, and your club finished at 9-13.  On the up side, this marked the winningest season for men’s basketball in 20 years.  Looking back, are you satisfied with your team’s performance?  Were there sufficient positives and were you able to lay a foundation for the continued development of Raptors basketball?
 

CW) The foundation is clearly established and the players have taken to heart
the steps needed for improvement.  I was very pleased by the effort and
dedication displayed by our young team.  As a coach my total satisfaction will
come with the recognition by other teams and coaches that are on our schedule
or who want to play us in the future as a team that can not be counted as a win
before the game is even played.
 

6)  Having lost no one to graduation, you’ll be seeing a lot of familiar faces in the 2003-04 campaign.  Turner will be back, and classmate Collin Orcutt will join him as a co-captain.  You’ll also be counting on the leadership of returning seniors Raimondo Chiari and Justin Goldberg.  As you look forward to next season, what are the strengths and weaknesses of your team?
 

CW) Actually, Raimondo graduated and will be sorely missed as a leader for our
team.  He was the only captain and did an excellent job.  As for Justin Goldberg, he was released from the team for violation of team rules - one thing that the staff and Bard Administrators do not bend on.  All of the other players are returning ready and eager to take on a more difficult schedule with the incoming freshman and transfers.  Strength of schedule and a lack of height will be something that we have to overcome all year long but with the leadership in place and a strength of commitment by the players we should have a solid showing in all of our games next season.
 

7)  You will be directing the Raptor Summer Basketball Programs at Bard’s Annandale-on-Hudson, NY campus during July and August.  Is this something you’ve done in the past?  What role does it play in the overall scope of the Bard men’s basketball program?
 

CW) Basketball Camp for me is something I grew up with.  Having attended several camps as a youth and having worked about six different camps over the last twelve years I think we are ready to offer a camp that people will talk about
as a place to learn and have fun.  We want people to return year after year for
those two reasons.  The obvious benefit to a camp at Bard is for increased
local exposure, player experience from the other side of the game as teachers
and motivators, and financial support for the program.

Thank you on behalf of the school and the members of the team for allowing me
the opportunity to speak with you about Bard College Basketball. It is an honor
that both the team and I realize is a result of hard work during the past
season.  Best of luck following the teams next winter - we will do our best to
keep you posted on our accomplishments at Bard throughout  the season.

Sincerely, Chris Wood, Head Men's Basketball Coach