White brings basketball experience to VC

Heading into the 2011-2012 season, the Vassar College women's basketball team had much to look forward to following last year's historic season. The Brewers captured their first Liberty League title, as well as the team's first ever NCAA Division III tournament bid under Head Coach Candice Brown, who would eventually be named the 2011 Liberty League Coach of the Year. While the players on the court have a fresh start to be excited about, the coaching staff for the Brewers this year has a new face in first-year assistant coach, Margaret White.

White graduated from Gettysburg College in 2009, where she was a four-year letter-winner on the women's basketball team, the Bullets. White further explained her basketball experience and how it has helped her coach at the collegiate level. In an emailed statement, she wrote, "I played AAU [Amateur Athletic Union] at age 10, and varsity throughout high school, and at Gettysburg College." She continued, "I think playing at the college level is an important aspect of being able to relate to college players. I understand what they are going through and all the demands they are trying to balance academically, socially and athletically."

White started her coaching career by running summer camps at various colleges over the past four summers, including Elmira College, where she served as an assistant women's basketball coach. As to why she chose to come to Vassar, White cited "Vassar's academic and athletic reputation" as a major reason for her acceptance of the assistant coach position. "I was really attracted to working at a high academic institution where the student athletes are driven in the classroom and on the court," White continued. "The women's basketball program is on the rise, and it is an exciting opportunity to be a part of such a special group."

After fulfilling several responsibilities at Elmira College, White continues to play several roles at Vassar, both on and off the court. She highlighted specific tasks that she undertakes as a coach for the Brewers, writing, "My role is to work with Coach Brown to help our players develop to be the best athletes and people they can be both individually and as a group. So that means that I work with them to improve basketball-specific skills, motivate them during practices and games, help them to manage their academic workload, scout and prepare for opponents, recruit prospective student-athletes, etc."

Not only does White have many tasks to accomplish, but she also has added difficulties as a new member of the Brewer's family. While the season is still in its early stages, White shared her first impressions of the team, which were full of praise. She stated, "This group is special because of how hard they worked in the offseason and how hard they work every day in practice and on their own to get better. They are highly motivated and a very close-knit group. We also have a great deal of talent so it is fun to work with them."

On Saturday Dec. 10, White's past meets her future as the Brewers host Elmira.