When at a press conference, nothing is supposed to interrupt the introduction of a new head coach.

But something tells me the new head coach for the women’s basketball team, Brady Sallee, didn’t mind considering the interjection of the conference since it came from his little daughter.

“You can see who runs our household,” the coach said with a little chuckle.

But he also made it clear that while his daughter may run his household, he will be the man running the women’s basketball program at Eastern.

The new man running the team sensed disappointment in Eastern women’s basketball from miles away, as he spent time as assistant coach at both Kent State and most recently Eastern Carolina.

“I saw the results Eastern was getting, and I knew they could be better than that,” Sallee said.

Its good to see that the coach understands that what was happening in Lantz Arena over the past couple of years wasn’t quite up to par.

But Sallee brings a new energy and excitement to a program that is in desperate need for it. Being in his 30’s, Sallee says he has a passion for basketball that will prove itself on the court and immediately as he expects better from this team next season.

Not only does he hope that passionate coaching style will result in victories on the court, but Sallee also wants fannies in those empty seats at Lantz Arena.

I can’t imagine something more demoralizing for a team when you leave the trainers and coaching staff behind in the locker room, only to run out to a court that has fewer people in it than the locker room had.

While it may not have been that bad in actuality, there still weren’t many people sitting and partaking in a women’s basketball game last season.

But the dedication Sallee seems to have for this team and this university might actually be enough to change that.

Another thing he wants to do is use his friends in the coaching fraternity to bring a higher level of competition to Lantz Arena. In this case, he spoke of teams like Boston College, Virginia and others to be possible teams to bring as potential national contenders to Eastern.

If this doesn’t help spark some interest, I don’t know what will. Especially if Eastern can find some sort of success against teams like this.

Also, the style in which Sallee coaches will also bring some excitement to the court. Up tempo and defensive pressure should be a couple of terms that college basketball fans should love to hear.

While one of the strengths for Eastern next year will be the center Pam O’Connor who will anchor the post. But even though she benefits when Eastern slows the pace of the game down to get the ball into the post, when she is out of the game the up tempo style of play could be used then.

Overall, the commitment and desire Sallee promises to bring to the women’s basketball program at Eastern could help turn the corner. His success as a recruiter and a coach will be proven over time, but initially he seems like the kind of injection Eastern needs to boost a struggling program.