New York Liberty finalizes staff for 2016 WNBA season

From left, New York Liberty assistant coach Herb Williams, head coach Bill Laimbeer, director of player development Teresa Weatherspoon and assistant coach Katie Smith watch during the fourth quarter of a WNBA basketball game against the Washington Mystics at Madison Square Garden, Friday, Sept. 11, 2015. Photo Credit: Jason DeCrow

April 19, 2016

By Mike Rose

The Liberty announced on Tuesday that Katie Smith has been promoted to associate head coach and Teresa Weatherspoon will oversee the Liberty Basketball Academy.

Smith, who is in her third season with the team, had been an assistant coach since 2014. Weatherspoon will oversee youth instructional programs and camps, and will continue in her role as director of player development. Weatherspoon is in her second season as director of player development.

Liberty coach Bill Laimbeer will also have Herb Williams back as an assistant coach.

Smith played 15 seasons in the WNBA, and Weatherspoon is a Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer. Williams played 18 seasons in the NBA and spent 11 seasons on the coaching staff of the Knicks.

The Liberty also announced Rosemary Ragle has been named head athletic trainer. Ragle had been the head athletic trainer for the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team since 1999.

The Liberty had a franchise-record 23-11 mark last season, finishing first in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2002.

Dallas Clark Signing Memorabilia to Benefit Child Success

By Brea Love, KCRG-TV9
March 4, 2016

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG-TV9) – Four Oaks is holding a special fundraiser featuring NFL champion Dallas Clark to encourage the community to support its mission.

The organization’s mission is to assure children become successful adults through its many preventative programs, emergency shelters, residential centers, and school based programs.

Clark will be signing Hawkeye and Colts memorabilia at the Wilson Avenue HyVee in Cedar Rapids from 5 to 8 p.m. Photos and Autographs are $10, he will also sign Train Wreck Winery bottles for $5. Herky the Hawk will also be on site until 7 p.m.

Before heading to the HyVee fundraiser, Clark is meeting with youth in Four Oak’s residential center. Education and Employment Officer Debbie Craig said the visit will have a big impact on the kids.

“You can only imagine what that would do for a youth in a residential program to have that inspiration. We’re going to have this gentleman he came from a small town in Iowa, he went to the University of Iowa, and then went on to the NFL and won a Superbowl, that gives them hope,” Craig said. “When those children achieve their success, their families, their neighborhoods, even their communities all get stronger. If we can help these children achieve success we in fact get stronger communities.”

Charles Davis Sees A Bright Future For Brandon Scherff At Guard

Last year around this time, when the Redskins and general manager Scot McCloughan were trying to determine who might fit as the No. 5 overall pick, NFL analyst Charles Davis believed one of the team’s prime targets, left tackle Brandon Scherff from Iowa, should really be a guard.

By Jake Kring-Schreifels

February 29, 2016

“I moved him to guard in my position rating,” Davis said in early April. “I didn’t leave him at tackle; I made him my No. 1 guard in the position ranking. I think that’s where he’s going to be best.”

That analysis proved true. After a week in training camp, and some time for head coach Jay Gruden to determine who fit best and where on the offensive line, Scherff was moved to right guard, while Morgan Moses took over the starting spot at right tackle.

The decision proved more than effective. Scherff, standing at 6-foot-5, 319 pounds, would only miss one snap – thanks to his cleat falling off – the entire season, growing into a strong blocker up the middle and forming a powerful right side.

“I think the more comfortable he gets, and remember, we’re talking about a guy that moved into a position he hadn’t played, he’d always been a tackle, always out on the edge, and things are different inside,” Davis told Redskins.com at the NFL Combine. “But I thought body type, strength, I thought the way that he played the game fit.”

Davis chose not to brag about his foresight. Instead he made even more predictions.

“It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him become a perennial pro bowl, All-Pro type of a guard because he has those types of skills and now with one year under his belt, going into this year, everything’s not foreign anymore,” he said. “Everything’s not super-fast anymore. Now it’s just adding some polish to some things. He’s the type of kid that will work and get that done, have no doubt in my mind that we’ll see him going to Pro Bowls and be listed on All-Pro lists coming up.”