Jacie Hoyt Introductory Press Conference Quotes

OSU Women's Basketball Head Coach Jacie Hoyt

Opening Statement:
"Wow. This is an incredibly special day for me. There are no words. Looking out at all these faces and standing on this floor – you don't get here – you don't get to a place like this without an incredible support system and a group of people who believe in you and give you opportunities. I want to start by first of all thanking you for being here with me on such a big and special day and also just want to start by acknowledging the people who really have been with me since day one and I'm looking at those people right now. Team Hoyt as we refer to ourselves in our family group chat. So, I want to start – Dad – the best girl dad that I can imagine, literally plane rides, train rides, car rides to every game that I ever played in, following our team, even as I coach now. Thank you for everything and your support. Mom, we're doing it Mom. You've started this and you've paved the way for me, and I would not be here with the blueprint that I have for coaching and investing in players' lives; so, thank you for that. My sisters – Corinna, Tarren, Tabitha I know you're watching – just my biggest cheerleaders. I love you guys; just thank you so much for all your support. Lastly, over here for my family: my husband, Daniel. I know it takes a special person to marry a coach and a coach at this level. This is our job. You have been amazing for me. I cannot imagine a more supportive husband and I just want to thank you for not just being supportive but always pushing me and encouraging and never holding me back from chasing my dreams, in fact, quite the opposite: pushing me and encouraging me that I can do whatever I set my mind to, and I cannot wait for these girls to get to just experience being a part of our family. I thank you so much for just taking such a great investment in what I do but also in who I get to do it with. I love all of you very much. Now I want to specifically address the people here at Oklahoma State that have believed in me and given me opportunities. I'll start with you, Chad. An incredible athletic director who I want to talk a little bit more about moving forward. Early on, I got the pleasure of meeting Reid Sigmon, Brandon Meyer, Karen Hancock and of course the fiery and stylish president that leads our university: Dr. Shrum. Let me put it this way: being a young head coach, I've gotten the question a lot throughout my career of, 'What's your dream job?' I learned really young, unfortunately, through having to overcome hurdles and obstacles and different challenges that I can make my own plans and I can have a dream job, but ultimately, God is the author of my story, and I don't really get to make my plans. He writes them for me. So, with that being said, I've always been really conscious to never really get caught up in having a dream job and really just knowing that if I work incredibly hard and treat people incredibly well that good things will happen. Then, enter Oklahoma State and Chad Weiberg. And all of a sudden, I start realizing, 'Okay, maybe I do have a dream job.' Maybe I do because every conversation that I had with the people that I mentioned, with every conversation I got this burning desire – a fire in my soul – that would just keep burning brighter and brighter and more intensely with every conversation with them. I'll go back to Dr. Shrum: a strong female president who – A – cares as much about shoes as I do and – B – is just as fiery as I am, but most importantly, who truly cares and invests in athletics. I mean, that's a dream, to get to have an administrative team that so clearly cares about student-athletes as more than just athletes but as people and who have made it very clear to me that they're willing to invest in whatever ways it takes to help us be successful and pour into these young ladies' lives; that's a dream come true for me. And most importantly, to get to work for an athletic director who so clearly aligns with the things that I value most: faith, family, relationships, winning and striving to win at the absolute highest level, but also knowing that we can do that the right way; with integrity. I am so excited to get to work with you guys and learn from you and be under your leadership. And then, I had a great conversation even with Coach [Mike] Boynton before I got the call from Chad. That was really kind of the final bow on the present for me because when you have a men's basketball coach who publicly professes his faith and cares about his players the way he does: that's special. That's really, really special. That also really aligns with me and the things that I value. So, all of a sudden now I do have a dream job and I realize it's right here at Oklahoma State and all those people that I talked about are a dream team, a dream team that I knew that I so badly wanted to be a part of. Thank you to all of you, guys. I cannot wait to work with you and for you and I know that we're going to accomplish really great things here. A couple things I want to share with you all about just understanding me and who I am and what I'm about and what you can expect from me. Outside of my faith, the most important thing for me is family. Family to me, I don't take it lightly. Family to me, as you guys all know being a part of your own families, those are the people you go through the highs, the lows – the people who are always by your side, those are the people you will do anything for. That's very important to me. That is the mindset and the culture that I want to have as I lead this program."

On the importance of bringing energy to the program:
"I'm very passionate, and that's where my energy comes from. I love the game of basketball, I love to compete, and I want to love the people that I get to do those with. To me, my energy comes from a passion that I have and that's another quality that I know everyone here can count on, getting that energy and getting it consistently. I don't know any other way to coach, so they can definitely count on that."

On how her previous coaching experience in the Big 12 influenced her decision:
"I've been incredibly blessed with an opportunity to have already been in the Big 12. I was at Kansas State under very similar circumstances where a new coaching staff came in, and the program was looking to go in a direction was raising a standard and getting back to a standard that had previously existed, but really wasn't there at that time. I was able to work for an amazing coaching staff, and again get that blueprint for how to do it, and how to do it in the Big 12 specifically. In just those three short years I spent at Kansas State, we got there in a time when the standard wasn't quite being met and then when I left, being a top-25 program and playing into the NCAA tournament. So, it has prepared me without a doubt and I'm really thankful for the things that I learned and part of that blueprint of what's going to make it work here."

On what the moment was like when she received the call from Chad Weiberg:
"Life has a funny way of humbling you, I took the call outside so that I wouldn't be distracted from all the March Madness games that were going on inside our household. I remember just taking a moment and being overwhelmed and shedding some tears and sharing that moment with God, and again gratitude for everything that had been happening. Then, my sister's dog ran down the street and I had to chase the dog down the street, so it's just funny how life humbles you. You think, oh I've made it and what a dream come true and then I had to chase the dog down the street before I could tell anyone else."

On how the previous connection between Chad Weiberg and Jacie Hoyt influenced their decisions:
"Our time did overlap (at Kansas State) and to be honest, Chad was someone I knew of, of course we had met each other but really hadn't spent a lot of time together. What I did know was that he was a man who was really well-respected across the department, a man of great integrity, and just someone who really believed in doing things the way that I believe in doing things, and that's all I really wanted. So, it has been really neat for me to see things come back full circle."

On if she had any thoughts about Oklahoma State since she grew up one state away from Oklahoma:
"Of course, I followed it, you grow up in Kansas and that's Big 12 territory. I grew up having a great knowledge of the Big 12 in general, and Oklahoma State as well. I know that it's always been a place that I could relate to, I could relate to the fan base. I'm a small-town girl, I grew up walking across the street to the gym and on Sunday's the church was right next to my house. Stillwater has always been a place where you could turn on the TV, and say wow, that's a passionate fan base. A place where I just felt was a good fit for me and who I am, and just the tradition, the success that the women's basketball program has had as a basketball person, of course you follow that and mindful of that. It's been, again, such a neat thing for me since I grew up following it and having a great respect for it, to now be in this position."

On her plans to recruit the players on the roster currently:
"I can't wait, that's why I do what I do. The relationships, just getting to know them and for them to get to know me, so that's the next step for me, to have the opportunity to spend time with them and share more about how I want to do things here and how we are going to do things and making sure their beliefs and philosophies align with mine, and if that's going to be a good fit. The next step for me, I got to have a great team meeting last night and that was really awesome for me to have that time with them, but I can't wait to have more time so that we can take those next steps."

On if she expects much change in the coaching staff:
"Everything has been so fast and furious; I really haven't gotten to that point yet. What I know is that I want to surround myself with people who are like-minded but can also challenge me and complement the things that I know I need in order to get where we're trying to get. I want to do that quickly; however, I do not want to rush that because I think it's incredibly important to make sure you're surrounding yourself with the best people. For me right now, that just looks like evaluating and having conversations and taking that as it comes."

On how she plans to engage the student-body:
"However, that looks here, whatever I need to do I'm going to do it. You mentioned energy earlier and being around people gives me energy. I love getting to be around people and learning about people and I cannot wait to engage with the student body, and that's incredibly important. You guys that follow basketball, you know how important that is to have the student section full and I find myself being energized by spending time around young people. I think that whatever that looks like here, whether that's going out and connecting with them on campus or getting them here. I do want them to know that they're a very crucial piece in what we're trying to accomplish here I want to have a home game atmosphere that people fear coming to play us. That is largely in part to our students, and I can't wait to get them fired up, I'm going to be fired up with them and that will be something that we definitely feed off of."

On her style of basketball she wants to put in play:
"I played and I think that my philosophy is shaped by the coaches I've played for and the way that I loved to play. That style is a fast, up-tempo style that if you look back on the teams that I coached in Kansas City, we scored a lot of points, we shot a lot of threes, we really want to push the ball in transition, but you can't do that if you don't play defense and get stops on defense, and rebound the ball in a way that allows you to play fast. Philosophy-wise, we definitely want to play an up-tempo style and I'm excited to find the recruits who want to play that style and I think that our players will really enjoy playing that style. They'll have a lot of freedom to make plays on their own and have a green light if they've earned it, to shoot the ball. It's going to be a fun style to watch and to play and to recruit to."

On what she took away from her mother's experience coaching:
"The biggest thing that I learned from her was to never back down, there might be things that come across your life, whether that's male/female, or the color of your skin or the things that happen to you across the point in your life that we all can fall victim to that. My mom grew up without having a lot, and I watched her rise above, work hard and never back down. Those are the things where she's been a huge inspiration to me and the way that she's lived her life, not just coaching but the way that she's lived her life that I've really drawn away from her."

Closing Statement:
"A couple things that I want to say to you, first just thank you for being here, I really hope that you will be two feet in for us, I am clearly two feet in if you see my outfit, I am all in. If we're going to have the success that we're striving for it's going to take that so please buy your season tickets, and I look forward to getting out and connecting with you guys and I will not be shy on telling you ways that you can help and support us, and I'm going to hold you accountable to doing that. But the first thing you can do without a doubt, buy your season tickets and just continue to show us support by showing up and being present."

Oklahoma State Athletics Director Chad Weiberg

Opening Statement:
"Thank you for being here today on this great day. I'd like to start out by recognizing a few of the University leadership that is here with us today. We have with us regent Calvin Anthony and his wife, Linda, front row here and regent Rick Davis, front row as well. I know that Dr. Shrum – President Shrum – sends her regards. She wishes that she could be here, but she is in Oklahoma City in meetings, important meetings I'm sure, but she has spent time with Coach Hoyt and is excited as we all are. I'd like to also take this time to thank Coach [Jim] Littell for his leadership of Cowgirl basketball and his service to Oklahoma State University. We appreciate his efforts and stewardship of this program for the past 11 years. I'd like to thank the Cowgirl basketball players for being here today and for their dedication to this program and for your patience and support as we've worked through this process. I'd also like to thank all the former Cowgirl basketball players for their continued support of the program. At Oklahoma State, we have a long history of competitive excellence at the highest levels of college athletics as demonstrated by the 52 national championship banners hanging above us here in Gallagher-Iba Arena. We are committed to providing the best experience possible for all our student-athletes and that experience includes the opportunity to earn a life-changing degree, the opportunity to compete for championships and the chance to be surrounded by the best possible people to lead, coach, teach and mentor them. And that commitment is for both men's and women's athletics. That commitment is demonstrated in the success of our women's programs and the success of our-student athletes, and we are fortunate to have some of the best coaches in the country leading our programs, many of whom are here today, and I appreciate them being here. Oklahoma State is currently ranked in the top 10 in the nation in women's tennis, women's golf, softball and equestrian. We finished the women's cross country season with a Big 12 championship and 13th in the country; and just last week, OSU's Taylor Roe won an individual national championship in indoor track. In addition to this competitive success. In addition to this competitive success, thanks to our incredible donors who share our commitment to women's athletics and have generously invested to make it possible, our teams compete in some of the absolute best facilities in the country: the Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center, where we will host the 2024 NCAA National Championships; the Atherton Family Arena and Pedigo-Hull Equestrian Center; Neal Patterson Stadium – which I believe is one of the best soccer stadiums in the country and is the best women's only stadium in the country; the Greiner Family Cross Country Course, where we hosted the 2020 NCAA National Championships and will again host the 2022 NCAA National Championships; Karsten Creek – that for over 25 years has been one of the best collegiate golf courses in the country; and, of course, the original white maple floor that we are standing on here in historic Gallagher-Iba Arena where we find ourselves for this occasion today. When we started our search for the next head coach of Cowgirl basketball, we wanted to find first someone who had a vision for what Cowgirl basketball can be. We wanted to find a program builder. We were looking for someone whose personal integrity was very important to them and who would demonstrate that to our student athletes in the way they lived their life, lead our players and run our program. We were looking for someone with a great energy that would represent the best of Oklahoma State throughout women's college basketball. We wanted a relentless recruiter with experience in identifying and attracting Big 12 caliber talent. We wanted a leader. We have found all of that and more in Jacie Hoyt. She is the daughter of parents that have raised four girls and have devoted their lives and professional careers to developing and leading young people. Her dad, Scott, she credits with demonstrating how to serve and lead. Her mom, Shelly, is a legendary high school girl's basketball coach in Kansas, whose career includes a state-record 107 consecutive wins and four straight state titles. So Jacie has been around a lot of basketball and a lot of winning. Scott and Shelly, thank you for being with us here today and we look forward to seeing you often in Gallagher-Iba Arena. Also here are Jacie's sisters, but I think I will let her introduce them to you. As an assistant coach at K-State, Jacie helped recruit Big 12 talent to Manhattan and as a head coach at Kansas City she built a culture and transformed that program into a consistently competitive team, including winning the school's first ever conference championship. The more I'm around her, the more convinced I am that we are fortunate to have her joining the OSU family. I know everyone will love getting to know her and will want to do all that you can to support her vision of what Cowgirl basketball can be. I can't wait to get started. So, it is my pleasure to introduce to you, the next leader of Cowgirl basketball: Jacie Hoyt."

On how the previous connection between Chad Weiberg and Jacie Hoyt influenced their decisions:
"Yeah, that's right, we did overlap there a number of years ago, I was in a different position there at Kansas State, and she was in a different position there, but I just know this: I cannot even remember the specific interactions or conversations that I had with her, but I can remember how I felt after I had those interactions with her. She's just somebody that has that about her, she makes you feel great, and that your day is going to be great when you've had that interaction with her. That just always stuck out to me, and probably is a reason why I've followed her path and followed her career as she was continuing her assistant coaching career at Kansas State and then the opportunity at Kansas City. I watched what she was doing there, and she started to have great success there at Kansas City, so it was definitely part of it."

Senior Associate Athletics Director Larry Reece

Introduction:
"Well let me welcome you to the home of the Cowgirls: historic Gallagher-Iba Arena and today is a great OSU day as we welcome a new family into the OSU family. Today we officially announce that we have a new head coach of the Cowgirls and she is a person that was born into the game of basketball. You see, she was born to play it, she was born to coach it and now we know, she was born to coach it right here with the Cowgirl basketball program. Let's begin by giving a warm Gallagher-Iba Arena welcome – we already kind of did but let's do it again for Jacie Hoyt, her husband Daniel and the entire family. Thank you all very much. Coach, I want you to know that your program is very near and dear to my heart. You see, as a student, I started my career with OSU Athletics with Cowgirl basketball, and I've been calling games now for 33 years in this historic arena and I can't wait to see what we have in store under your guidance. You know you'll be coaching on the same white maple floor that legendary coaches Henry Iba – we call him Mr. Iba here – and Eddie Sutton; they coached right here and now you will coach right here and we're so excited to see what the future holds. We're looking forward to it, so welcome. Now I get to introduce a guy who is also from a basketball family, and I think you will see by the look in his eyes and the spring in his step that he believes he signed his number one recruit. Please welcome our athletic director, Chad Weiberg.

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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