Having a familiar face coming back to the sidelines for the Women’s Basketball team is a comfort for players and administrators alike, backed by votes of from both sides as well.

“It makes the process better, an easier transition,” Senior guard Ta’Kenya Nixon said.

Over the summer, Nixon and her teammates will begin workouts, class and meetings, and begin to delve into the nuances that new Head Coach Lee Buchanan will try to implement and solidify before the season tips off in November.

Some of these new wrinkles will include a few less minutes for Nixon, which she is fine with.

“I’m prepared for it, if that’s what’s best for the team then I think that’ll be okay. It’s not the minutes you play, its how you play in those minutes. So whatever I need to do to make this team win, I’m ready to do it,” Nixon said.

Junior guard Jordyne Crunke expressed her excitement to have her old assistant back as the headman in charge.

“Me and Lee, we’ve always gotten along really well. I’ve always gone to him for basically everything. We’ve got a good connection,” Crunke said. “We’ve got a lot to work on. It’ll be interesting.”

Athletic Director Barbara Burke, fresh off of three head coaching searches in one year, said she feels she’s got the right people in place to lead the football, men and women’s basketball programs.

“It has been a long process, a long year for all 3. It feels good to have it done, but more importantly, in my heart, I feel we have the right people in place to lead these 3 programs,” Burke said.

Buchanan’s tenure as an assistant at Eastern helped in the application process, but nonetheless he proved himself throughout each phase of interviews.

“There were some things that set himself apart from the other candidates. In our private conversations I really got a chance to get to know him, his philosophy, his style and communication abilities,” Burke said.

Burke praised Buchanan’s ability to respond to individual questions. Buchanan also sold himself efficiently at a private dinner with Burke.

Nixon said it is comforting knowing Buchanan.

“Just knowing that I’m not going to have to learn a whole new system. He’s been my assistant coach since I’ve been here,” Nixon said.

Joshua Bryant can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]