MADISON – Robin Pingeton might be the new coach on the block at Wisconsin, but we learned Tuesday that she has been familiar with the Badgers for quite some time.
In addition to being friends with former UW coaches Jane Albright and Lisa Stone, Pingeton played high school ball with former Robin Threatt, a former Badgers standout who lettered from 1988-93.
And then there was Pingeton’s time as the head coach at Illinois State when she would travel the state of Wisconsin recruiting players.
“I always had my eye on this job,” she said, “and I thought it would be a really, really special place to coach someday.”
Now is her chance. Last week Pingeton, 56, was hired as the ninth women's basketball coach in Wisconsin history. Tuesday she was officially introduced during a press conference at the Kohl Center.
Here is what we learned.
Protecting state borders will be key to UW rebuild
Pingeton comes to Wisconsin with a 585- 375 record in 30 seasons as a head coach. What is most relevant when it comes to taking over the Badgers is the success she had revitalizing the programs at Illinois State and Missouri.
Illinois State had four straight losing seasons before she took over. In Year 4 of her tenure, the Redbirds had the first of four straight seasons with at least 20 wins.
Missouri had three straight losing seasons before she arrived. In Year 2 the Tigers were back over .500 and in Year 5 they made the first of four straight NCAA tournament appearances.
It's a relentless process.
"It takes a village. It really does," she said. "I think great attention to detail. I believe how you do anything is you do everything. I think it takes a relentless approach to recruiting ... I think really recruiting players that align with your vision, that are tireless workers, that have an uncommon work ethic, that do more than what's required, that have a skill set to play In your system and that are passionate about being here at the University of Wisconsin."
In-state recruiting will be key, she said.
Iowa has plucked many of the state’s top players away for years. UConn’s Final Four team this year has two Wisconsin natives on the roster. Also, in this year’s class of high school seniors in the state are players headed to Michigan State, Minnesota and Maryland.
“The one thing I know for sure is we have to lock down the borders if we want to bring women's basketball back to the level of excellence that I know we all want,” she said. “We're going to work very hard to keep the best players in this state right here at home at the University of Wisconsin."
Pingeton has met out with Serah Williams, is working transfer portal
Pingeton’s first call as head coach went to junior forward Serah Williams, a two-time all-Big Ten selection with the Badgers who entered her name into the transfer portal after former coach Marisa Moseley resigned.
“I'm not going to over promise and under deliver,” Pingeton said. “I think she's pretty far along with some other programs. But really (I) just met with her, we texted and talked on the phone a couple of times and then she was on break.
“She came over yesterday, and we sat down for a while. I really just want to get to know her and wanted to get to know her story. And, you know, just tell her how proud I was of her and what she's accomplished.”
That said the Badgers have six players on this year’s roster still projected to return next season plus two incoming recruits. That leaves seven spots to fill on the team’s 15-players roster.
Pingeton and assistant coaches Chris Bracey and McGhee Mann have been working the portal hard since coming to UW.
Pingeton envisions going ...
