Episode 14: Katrina Beck

John Twork 0:09
Welcome to Redbird Buzz. I'm John Twork from University Marketing and Communications. Our guest today is Katrina Beck, a two-time Illinois State graduate who earned a bachelor's in journalism in 2019, and a master's in sport management in 2021. Katrina was a four year letter winner and starter for the Redbird women's basketball team. And now she's in her first season as an assistant coach for Kristin Gillespie's staff, the head coach who Katrina played for during the final two seasons as a Redbird player.

It's my pleasure to welcome Illinois State alum and current women's basketball assistant coach Katrina Beck. What's the word Redbird? You're two games into the 2022-2023 season coaching at your alma mater--What's it like to be back?

Katrina Beck 0:59
I mean, it's awesome. Obviously, we we've had a great server to announce. So that makes it a lot more fun and a lot better to kind of hit hit the road on a good start. But it is, it's been awesome to be back. I mean, getting two degrees from here, basically living in the Bloomington Normal town for six years before moving away. It really is my home away from home. So part of that having that community and then Kristen and Scott who are still on staff who are like family, being here, it just it, it's been great. It's been awesome. And it really does feel like home.

John Twork 1:32
And earlier this week, you played in your first regular season home game, there was a banner raising for last year's Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship. And just what was that like to be back at CEFCU Arena, but not as a player as a coach?

Katrina Beck 1:50
I made it I mean, especially I don't know if it's a if it's, if it's another word that I can use to describe it. Being from Chicago and growing up in Illinois, you know, that Redbird Arena, CEFCU arena host, the Redbird or the Illinois State playoffs. So I came down here through my four years in high school, and it was always kind of a destination place to get here and be able to play at Illinois State play CEFCU Arena. So that was always a highlight as I was choosing where I was going and growing up and knowing that this arena and this campus was a great place. And then being able to play here for four years was also really special and awesome. And then now being back. So really, I mean, really it is my home, I think I've been here longer, obviously than I've been anywhere else. So seeing the banner raised obviously really special for the players on the team who were on that championship team. But for me, it just is motivation and kind of a driving force. Because I know that when I played here, the program wasn't in, you know, the best place that it has been Historically and traditionally. But you know, me and the rest of my class and the rest of my teammates tried to kind of get the program back moving in the right direction. And so over the years, Kristen, and Scott and the rest of her staff have been able to do that. And so for me, it's a great opportunity that I am really grateful for to be able to come back and be on the staff and not as a player but as a coach be able to help the program continue to move forward and hopefully go win another championship this year.

John Twork 3:23
Let's talk a little bit about your your playing days. You played on teams, your freshman and sophomore year that averaged eight wins during your first two years. And then there was a coaching change. And they hired Kristen Gillespie and then you help lead the team to 14 wins as a junior 19 wins as a senior captain. From from your perspective as a former player and now an assistant what's been the formula for that rebuild, which really started with you and your your teammates during Kristin Gillespie's first season and culminated last year with that championship. And now you're trying to build upon that. But But what's been the formula for that, that rebuilding success?

Katrina Beck 4:00
I mean, I don't think we can answer this question or have this conversation without obviously saying how great of a coach Kristen is, at every level that she's played and coached that she's won. And so she just kind of has that innate competitive fire and ability to be a winner at every level. So obviously, she brought that here and bought that winning mentality here. And then also, I think I say this all the time, over and over to anybody who asked me, but just the relationship piece. I think that people it gets lost sometimes. And people don't realize how important it is to have relationships with your players and anybody who's in your program. But if you build a genuine relationship with all your players, and what Kristen did with me, it's easy to kind of buy into her vision and where she wanted this program to go because you trusted her and you knew that she had your best interests in mind as a person first before a player so playing for her was easy. I mean, I would -- I would've run through a wall for her as a player. And, obviously, you know, that was a transitional period. So we didn't really have all the pieces and we weren't able to do everything that you know she's accomplished and my time after. But again, being back here to be able to coach with her, it's just, it's awesome being able to learn the basketball side from her, to the extra notes, the execution, like picking her brain and everything that she all the experiences that she's had. But again, I will just come back to it's even more awesome to have a relationship with her as a coach now as a mentor, as a person, because outside of basketball, I mean, we're all we're all people. And I think that that's probably the most fun part about being back here. And working with her is just knowing her as a person and continuing to build on the relationship that she had with me as a player.

John Twork 5:48
Obviously, you learned a lot from her when you were a player, and she was your coach, what are some things that maybe some new things that you've learned from her now in this new role, where she's the head coach and a mentor, as you're, you know, in your first year on her staff as an assistant coach?

Katrina Beck 6:06
Yeah, I mean, we were, we were actually just joking about this in a staff meeting. I don't know that I knew that they had, you know, two, three hour staff meetings every day. You know, I know that it takes a lot of preparation that goes into practice, and scout for games and all of that. But the amount of time we spend together is unfathomable. We're around each other all the time, hanging out with each other every day. A lot of it is basketball talk, a lot of it is personal talk. But I would say probably one of the biggest things I learned from her is how much we actually do dive into the game. I don't know that I've ever worked for or heard of a more prepared coach. We're never going to go into a situation where we haven't thought it through fully thinking about every scenario, every outcome, what can we do to be most successful in every situation. And so I love that most about her is that we're always going to be prepared, our girls are going to feel prepared, they're going to feel like we're putting them in the best positions to be successful in every game, every night, every practice. So that's been really fun just to sit in the office, we we meet every day. And then sometimes, like I said, those meetings will go on for hours and hours. And we're just in there talking about who knows what, and going down to hinges. But it's been cool to kind of understand the method behind the madness of everything that we did in practice as a player, and why we're doing it, I can I'm in those conversations now. So it's really cool to be on that other side of like, oh, they were talking for three hours, and then it was an actual three hours. So it's been great to be a part of those conversations.

John Twork 7:43
And then to be on the bench. As I mentioned, at CEFCU Arena last night, the first your first home victory as as an assistant coach, how did it feel the same or, or different, you know, in your role as an assistant versus as a player, when you you know, the team's singing the fight song at the end? How was how was that similar or different?

Katrina Beck 8:03
I would say a little bit of both similar and different. I mean, obviously, there's a lot of nostalgia there with the fight song coming on. And there are so many boosters and season ticket holders and just people in the community who have been here since I played that, that know me that know my family and all that feels kind of similar in the same and I can't help but sing the fight song when the band is playing and our girls are singing. But also different in that I'm way more way more stressed out. I mean, as a player, you you obviously are in tune to all the scouting report and all the details and making sure that you're executing your offense and all that. So you're still having a very mental game. But once you win, it's a lot more easy to relax and breathe and kind of really just dive into the celebration. But as a coach is you know, especially when it's your scout, and your first time being back here on the other side, you're definitely a lot more like your your breath is a sigh of relief isn't Alright, we got this one done. But now we gotta go to the next one. So I think that part of my brain not shutting off anymore, maybe is how I did it as easy as a player. My breath is just quick two seconds. All right, we got this one done. We did we're supposed to do it. Now. I'm looking over to the next game.

John Twork 9:19
So the the home opener against St. Thomas was your scout?

Katrina Beck 9:23
Yes, it was my scout. Okay, no pressure, huh? No, no, it's awesome to have the home opener. I mean, obviously a lot of like I said people in the stands that I knew that I'm familiar with and my first game back at CEFCU Arena, so it's just been awesome.

John Twork 9:40
Can you explain to our listeners who may not be familiar with you know, the life of an assistant coach and what what it means to be a scout. Oh, can you walk us through? You know, so you're the scout for St. Thomas. So what does that involve?

Katrina Beck 9:53
I mean, really just hours and hours of preparation. And what that looks like is a lot of film you watch a ton of names, you know, that looks different for every team and every you know where you're at in the season. So, for example, St. Thomas, this is the beginning of our season. So they they had only played two games before us. So I'm watching the two games they played before us, but I'm also going back to last year and watching their, their last three or four games there. And then just breaking down all those films, offensively defensively. And then, like I said, noticing all the all the details. So I'm looking at, you know, baseline out of bounds, play side, how to balance plays, man press, zone press, everything that you know, maybe a naked eye watching the game or a fan watching the game may not think about. But like I said, we have to be as prepared as we can be, and make sure that our players feel very confident and good going into the game. And so yeah, I'm watching a ton of film, if you if you definitely don't like watching basketball film outside of live games, you probably don't want to be a coach. But if you can do that, yeah, aside from watching a ton of film, you're just kind of breaking down and noting different things so that you can kind of give your players keys and tendencies, things that will make it easy for them to guard and score on whoever the opponent is.

John Twork 11:14
And then you're the go to for Coach Gillespie when you're the scout. Right? Yeah,

Katrina Beck 11:18
yep. You're always in. You sit at the front of the bench. So you can get play calls, you can have a easy eye on what's going on. And then yeah, any any advice, you're kind of talking to the team talking to the coach, but we're all kind of all hands on deck in that regard, you're definitely the go to because you've watched the most film, you know everything about that opponent. So you will be able to answer all the questions the easiest. But honestly, what I really do love about our staff is that, again, we're all in those meetings. So it's not like it's my scout, and I'm on an island and I'm on my own. And I'm the only one that could say something. We're all watching the film that I create. So I'll put together a little edit. And I'll you know, a little condensed version, they're not having to watch the same amount of games I watched, but I'll put together a condensed version that everybody on our staff can see. So they'll all have knowledge and eyes on what the opponent looks like. So that when we're in practices, and we're in shooting around and we're in the game, and they can they can answer the kids' questions, too. It's not just me having to be the end all be all.

John Twork 12:19
We're talking with Katrina Beck, assistant coach for the Illinois State women's basketball team and a former Redbird player.

Rachel Kobus 12:25
Gladly we learn from you our Redbird alumni. this month, check your inbox, find our survey, share your thoughts to help us make a greater more collective Redbird alumni experience. Complete the survey and be entered to win prizes, including air pods, an iPad, Illinois State jewelry, apparel and more. Can't find your email? Visit alumni.Illinois state.edu/alumnisurvey,

John Twork 12:49
Katrina? What about recruiting? That's another huge role of an assistant coach. And it seems like you'd have sort of an advantage having been a former player, you can really tell prospective student athletes what the experience is gonna be like on Kristin Gillespie staff, right? Can you just talk about that the recruiting part of your job?

Katrina Beck 13:08
Yeah, I mean, I definitely am in a unique perspective, just because I not only am young, so I am not too far removed from what these kids are going through. But also I've been in the exact shoes that they've been in here, having played at Illinois State and then also played for Kristen. So it's kind of a great kind of storm of, I know, I know exactly what they're going through. And so it's really easy to relate in recruiting I can, I can be as honest as, as anybody else. And give them like the true what they can expect when they come here. And obviously I had a great experience. So that helps, I wouldn't have come back and been a coach at Illinois State or been on Kristen's staff if I didn't love this experience, right. So it's easy for me to talk about it because I love everything about this school, the people, the academics, the opportunity to play division one basketball. So it's easy for me to talk about every aspect to not just the basketball part of it. And this specifically what Kristen I mean, on those hard days is probably most important. As I'm talking to recruits, you know, the transfer portal is huge. And people are kind of choosing universities for not all the right reasons. And so that part is it's been big for me in recruiting just because I can be genuine and real and that not every day is going to be sunshine and roses. But again, going back to that relationship piece, no matter what the day looks like. I know from experience that Kristen cares about all her players and that she'd do anything for them that she loves them. And that you know you're gonna get coached harder. Some days things are gonna go your way some days, but at the end of the day, it's not personal. And whatever happened on the basketball court, we'll leave it there and she's going to care about you as a person outside of what you can do on the basketball court. So that's a huge piece too, because I think that because I live there people, people can trust my word and know that it's true and that it's genuine because I went through it myself.

John Twork 15:13
And recruiting, there's no such thing as recruiting season, right? I mean, it's it's a constant, a constant process. And so while even though you're having these three hour staff meetings and watching hours and hours of film and traveling to games, you're also you're still recruiting and talking about like this time of year, what what sort of involvement do you have in that recruiting process for future Redbird teams?

Katrina Beck 15:35
Yeah, I mean, recruiting is definitely all year round. And it just looks different in every season. You know, the summer is mostly the, the AAU circuit. And so those are the AAU teams playing in all the summer tournaments. And then you get to this part of the season and high school basketball season is starting. So some of some of that middle ground gray area between summer and now is you know, during your college players and junior college tournaments. And then like I said, Now that basketball, high school basketball is starting, we're just going a lot of high school basketball games so nonstop, because this is the time of the year that we can get out to those games. And so yeah, just just always on the road any any off days or morning practices, we're we're always mapping it out, we have a whole whole schedule, whole grid of every high school recruit that we have, and when their games are so either we're sending texts and and good luck texts when they play that day. Or we're actually on the road in a car trying to get to that game to watch them play. But yeah, it's definitely nonstop and always on the road. But I mean, that's why we do what we do. And we got to keep continuing to bring in good Redbirds so we can keep moving forward and winning championships.

John Twork 16:46
Let's talk a little bit about why you've decided to make this your life. You you studied broadcast journalism as an undergraduate at Illinois State. Can you talk a little bit about kind of what your original plan was, and then why that shifted into coaching.

Katrina Beck 17:01
Yeah, so my original plan was definitely to be a sports broadcaster. I loved everything about my experience in undergrad, I worked for the TV 10 program here. And that was great, amazing, I love that. I did an internship. So my junior year going into my senior year, that summer, I did an internship at NBC5, Chicago, which was awesome. I love the experience. But I love to tell people that internships are so good to tell you what you want to do. But they're also very good to tell you what you don't want to do. And so that's kind of what happened. For me, it was a great experience. And I loved it. And I had so much fun doing it. But I just realized that it wasn't what I wanted to do every day for the rest of my life. And so that that's kind of where my focus shifted, came back to school that fall for senior year. And I was like, Well, I gotta figure it out. Because this is my last year here and didn't have any plans to change my major because like I said, I love journalism, I love writing and wanting to continue doing TV 10. But I knew that after that I was probably going to pursue a master's in some type of sports program, because I wanted to do something with sports. didn't quite know what that was until I kind of got some guidance from Scott Gillespie on staff. And part of it was not even the X's and O's. I think I speak to this a lot. But I didn't know a lot about the game. I was a very smart player, I was very Scout driven. I knew the X's and O's and knew the strategy. And I was very understanding of what preparation it took behind the scenes. But I didn't know that that translated to me wanting to be a coach. Until I mean, Kristen and Scott kind of put a little put a little birdie in my ear, saying that I how great of a coach I would be and that that's something I should look into doing. And so that kind of got me pushed to look at graduate assistantships. And then, I mean, Scott Scott definitely has a hand in me wanting to be a coach because of the relationship that he's built with me. I don't know that I quite knew the impact that coaches had on me, or, you know, on any student athlete, and how much bigger than it is in basketball. So that's probably the biggest reason that I wanted to be a coach just because, I mean, I'm still very young. But I know that they had such an impact on my life during my four years of college that I wanted to pay that forward and have an impact on young girls in the same position that I was in. And so I got a graduate assistantship at Illinois Wesleyan in town, division three in town, and that was phenomenal. I mean, obviously they're, they're a very great program. And so that was so fun to be able to do that and got to experience my first conference championship there and NCAA tournament appearance. So that was obviously a great experience and loved everything about it. And that was like, Well, this is it. Same thing. At the internship, I said, I love this. And this taught me what I did want to do, and that I would have never known that unless I stepped into that role. So that kind of that kind of was what sealed the deal for me. After doing that graduate assistantship, I was like this is, this is what I want to do. This is what I want to pursue and kind of move forward from there. So right after getting my master's degree in graduating, I applied for the assistant coach position at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri, got that job and then went out there for a year and with coaching at that division two, and then they just kind of snowballed- i didn't know that it would happen this fast that I would that I would be back here in Illinois State I, you know, thought that I would be at Lindenwood for for a couple more years before anything moved around. But obviously, it worked out that, you know, Coach Jeff left for a better opportunity and at Nebraska and then coach Mariah left just to be closer to home and be with her family. So had the opportunity to come back here. And for me that that was a no brainer. I definitely can't turn down this opportunity for many reasons. But obviously a step forward in my career as well.

John Twork 21:07
How'd you find out about the opening? And was it like an immediate Yes, or what? What was the process?

Katrina Beck 21:14
Yeah, it was definitely an immediate, yes. Actually, Coach Mariah told me and she, I knew that her mom was having a little bit of health issues, and that she was thinking about going back home and being closer to home. And so she kind of gave me a little a little hint there just that, you know, it was planning to come and the whole staff knew Kristen and Scott, and she had already kind of forewarned everybody that she probably wasn't going to continue to move forward and wanted to be back closer with her family and her mom. And so yeah, Kristen, Kristen gave me a call. And I expressed interest once I heard about the position being open. And I talked to Kristen and Kristen talked to me. And she offered me the position. I mean, I don't remember the timeline. Exactly. But she offered me the position. And yeah, it was definitely an immediate Yes. I definitely couldn't, couldn't say no to that. And some of the logistical things, you know, I had to think about or consider, but honestly, there was no doubt in my mind that that I would say no, I knew that I would say yes, for sure.

John Twork 22:15
And here you are, the season is underway. You know, fresh off Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship and the expectations are high. The Redbirds picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference. There's some players who fans remember in some new ones too. Can you talk a little bit about the 2022- 2023 Redbirds for us?

Katrina Beck 22:39
Yeah, hopefully. I mean, it's gonna be an exciting year. We definitely have some, some new pieces. But I think the biggest thing for us is that we're experienced. We're returning four of our five starters. So that definitely helps because they they played a lot of minutes they've been in big moments, they know what to expect. And then Paige Robinson kind of coming into that fold as a starter. Also, as an experienced player, some people might not see that and look at it differently. But she's a fifth year senior. Even though she's coming from that division two level she's she's seated at the highest level of play for national championships and conference championships, was player of the year. So she kind of just fitting right in and, and mixing in the fold well. And then the rest of our players to we have some some obviously newcomers with Abby Aalsma, Taylor Veach freshmen and Ta'Shonna, and Dai-Dai is junior college transfers. But honestly, I think he's just, it's gonna be a lot of fun. I think that we're playing well together. And like I said, we have the experience. And as long as we can continue to stay healthy, we have so much good culture and chemistry and energy. I think that's kind of most important for great teams moving forward. But really excited to see where we go this year. And I think we definitely have a chance to be really good. Like I said, as long as we can stay healthy. We're hoping that we're going to be playing our best basketball when it counts.

John Twork 24:02
Last question for you. And I'll let you go. But you you mentioned you know, you're you're back home and you're here at Illinois State. What, what are your goals for this team? And for you personally, now that you're on the sidelines as a Redbird assistant coach?

Katrina Beck 24:18
Yeah, I think I think it goes without saying that, that my goal for this team is definitely to go back and win that conference championship and get to the NCAA tournament. I think that, you know, last year they that was the goal for last year, because we hadn't been there in a long time. But now that we've been back there that we wanted, we're trying to make a step forward and go win a game in the NCAA Tournament, make to the Sweet 16. That's kind of our new focus, and we don't we don't talk about that a lot with our players. I mean, obviously we're taking it one game at a time, one day at a time. They kind of know we put that little inkling out there. They know that that our goal at the end of the season is to be you know, play our best basketball and to be a conference championship team. Um, so I would say that that's definitely our expectation and standards as a coaching staff for this team. And then for me personally, I think, you know, my personal goals align with it. Like I said, I wasn't able to win a conference championship and play in postseason when I was a player here. I think my senior year like you said, we won 19 games and have you won 20, maybe we would have gone to the NIT. I don't know. But I didn't get that opportunity either. So for me, personally, it's definitely a goal of mine to as a coach, have my team be back in the conference champ championship, win that championship and then have an opportunity to go play in the NCAA Tournament, I think it's just, it's a cool opportunity. And not all teams get to do it. And so that's definitely a personal personal goal of mine to get back there. And then I mean, just wint a lot of games. I think that good teams are Conference Champions outside of the tournament. So I think as a coach, that is definitely a personal goal of mine. At some point during my time here, I think that we have a chance to be really special chance to be really great. And I think that if we can piece together wins and be really good in our conference in conference. I would like us to win a regular season championship and not just be conference tournament champions.

John Twork 26:20
Let's hope that just about a year from now, you'll be hoisting another banner up at CEFCU Arena.

Katrina Beck 26:25
Yes, I definitely hope so. I see that in our future.

John Twork 26:28
Well, thank you so much, Katrina Beck for joining us today. Best of luck for the rest of the season. And for all the fans listening, go out and watch this Redbird team. It's a fun team to watch and again, hoping for a lot of victories this season. Katrina thanks so much. Thank you.

That was Illinois State alum and current Redbird women's basketball assistant coach Katrina Beck. And you can see the Redbirds in action this Sunday, November 20th. At 2pm for a white out against Wisconsin at CEFCU arena. There'll be a t shirt giveaway for the first 500 fans--you can visit goredbirds.com For tickets and more information. Thanks for listening to Redbird Buzz and be sure to tune in next time for more stories from beyond the quad

Transcribed by https://otter.ai