The first thing that stands out is the difference in sound inside the Chattem Practice Facility.
New University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) Women's Basketball coach Jim Foster, who conducted his first full practice with his team Monday, spoke to the team like he's running a session in a public library, hardly going above a whisper, writes John Frierson for the Times Free Press.
Besides the 10 returning players and assistant coach Katie Burrows, University of Tennessee had another familiar face in the practice facility. Former University of Tennessee All-SoCon guard Jenaya Wade-Fray has joined Foster's staff as a student coach. Wade-Fray, played for Great Britain in the 2012 London Olympics, is in graduate school.
"Coach Foster has a very different coaching style than his predecessor, Wes Moore," UTC sophomore guard Tatianna Jackson said after Monday's practice. "He's more laid back."
A more laid-back demeanor? Yes. Lower standards? No.
Foster has undoubtedly seen and done just about everything in his decades as a women's basketball coach. The Hall of Famer, who is preparing for his 36th season, did have a first Monday: It was his first full practice with his new team since being hired in May.
There might have been some jitters or moments of anticipation for the man with 783 career wins -- that's 50 more than University of Tennessee (733) has all-time -- but following summer and fall workouts with the University of Tennessee, Monday was more of a continuation than a starting point.
"Now that you're in the gym with them in the summer and the fall, that just makes a big difference," Foster said. "You know them better, they know you better -- and that's good."
As for his assessment of the first practice: "They had a lot of energy, and that's what you expect on the first day."
The team wasn't at 100 percent and won't be for a little while. Three of the defending Southern Conference regular-season and tournament champions' six seniors -- post players Taylor Hall (shoulder), Ashlen Dewart (foot) and Faith Dupree (knee) -- didn't practice.
Hall, who said she has a pinched nerve, is UTC's No. 2 returning scorer with 9.2 points a game last season. Dewart led the team with 15.3 and also led with 7.2 rebounds. Hall said being out was a disappointing way to start practice, especially with a new coach.
"It's frustrating, for sure," she said. "I'd rather be in there and be involved."
Foster said the players should miss only a week or so of practice, and in their absence other players, including some of UTC's six freshmen, will get extra work.
"They get out there and get to process things quicker," Foster said. "It's good for them."
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