MILLERSVILLE, Pa. — First-year Millersville University Women's Basketball head coach Kira Mowen is no stranger to life in Pennsylvania.
"I just think it's a great state, and I think there's a lot of good talent. I think that my upbringing and just where I'm from has helped me, and I think it's developed me into a better coach," said Mowen.
Growing up in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, Mowen was a standout on the basketball court, catching the eye of plenty of college coaches. Now, a coach herself, she remembers when she found out the head coaching job at Millersville University was open.
"We just came off of a great year out at Knox College--and I like the Midwest, don't get me wrong. I went to Illinois, I've been to Milwaukee before, so like it's not like I haven't been there," recalled Mowen. "But, there's a time in which you probably will look to go home. My Mom and Dad are still here. They still live in the same house and 20 years removed, I left Waynesboro in 2003 and never came back. So I think it's the return home for me that is the big thing. I got on campus here and did my interview with them and I left. I actually drove back to Illinois and I said that's my job. That's the job I want."
Mowen knows that every coach will face adversity in their first season at a new school. Sitting at 4-8 right now, 'Ville has taken nationally-ranked California University of Pennsylvania to overtime and been in every game they've played. Coming out of the holiday break, she knows what she wants to see most from the Marauders as they enter the heart of their schedule.
"Defensive effort has been there and great, with the exception of some of these high numbers. We do our job and like I said, we usually do our job for one or two or three quarters, and then one quarter, we just don't do our job," recalled Mowen. "So I think putting it all together, can we have four quarters where we're effectively having good ball control while also playing the defense? The defense that we preach, and even though I'm an offensive coach, I think our defense has led us most of this year, so we're gonna continue to try to work on that in those areas and spice some things up as we head to Eastern Conference play."
You can hear more from Coach Mowen in the video above from the Sunday Sitdown.