Episode 172: Brooke Wyckoff, Moms in Coaching

Guest: Brooke Wyckoff, Florida State Associate Head Coach

Florida State associate head coach Brooke Wyckoff joins the Basketball Podcast to discuss moms in coaching and serving as an interim head coach.

Wyckoff was the Interim Head Coach for the 2020-21 year as Sue Sem Rau took a one-year leave of absence. The result was leading Florida State to its eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and a 4th place finish in the ACC and earned a Top-4 seed despite being picked eighth in the ACC preseason coaches poll. Since the ACC added Louisville in 2014 and set its current group of 15 teams, the 2020-21 Seminoles are the only team in the league to be picked as low as eighth in the ACC preseason coaches poll and finish with a Top-4 seed.

Wyckoff has sparked the rise of the Florida State women’s basketball program as a standout player, as an assistant coach, and as the interim coach. She was a Florida State women’s basketball standout player on the court from 1997 to 2001. She joined Sue Semrau’s revamped staff beginning in the 2011-12 season. Through 10 seasons, Wyckoff’s tremendous results in defensive game planning, coaching the post players, recruiting, scouting, and other areas resulted in a reward: Being named the team’s associate head coach on May 1, 2018. In her five seasons of taking over the defense, FSU’s sub-60 points allowed in three of the past six years mark the only three times the program has surrendered less than 60 in a season.

In 2014, Brooke co-founded an organization called Moms in Coaching. This is a support group for mothers who are coaching but are unsure if they can be full-time coaches and full-time moms.

Without a doubt, Wyckoff was one of the greatest Seminoles ever to wear the Garnet and Gold on the hardwood before playing nine seasons in the WNBA. Wyckoff played in the WNBA from 2001 to 2009, competing for the Orlando Miracle, the Connecticut Sun, and the Chicago Sky.

Breakdown

1:00 - Head Coaching Role

4:00 - Gratitude

9:00 - Debrief Session

12:00 - Leave of Absence

15:00 - Concept of Mentorship

17:30 - Having Kids at Practice

21:00 - Breastfeeding and Health

27:00 - Removing Mom's Guilt

33:00 - Strategies to Keep Women on Coaching

36:00 - Former Players on Coaching

41:00 - Women Sport Coaches