Four years of collegiate women’s basketball proved not to be enough for Kirsten Prue ’14. After playing on the Bowdoin women’s basketball team as a point guard for four years, Prue has spent the past year serving as assistant coach for the Bates women’s basketball team.
Prue became aware of the position through her former coach, Bowdoin Head Coach Adrienne Shibles, who mentioned her name to Jim Murphy, the head coach at Bates. After Murphy reached out to her, Prue eagerly took the position.
Though most people would likely find it difficult to coach a team that was one of their rivals just a year prior, Prue approached her new position professionally.
“It wasn’t difficult at all because I was really able to remove myself from that rivalry and get excited to be able to be a Bates coach. As soon as I agreed to be a coach I viewed myself as a Bobcat. I wanted [the girls] to win and do as well as they could do,” Prue said.
Although Prue was a loyal and supportive coach throughout the season, she still has her Bowdoin allegiances. With Bates’ season finished and Bowdoin moving on to the NESCAC playoffs, Prue plans to support her alma mater.
“I’m totally rooting for the Polar Bears next weekend. I’m really hoping they’ll be in the semi-finals and finals at Tufts. If so, I’ll definitely be there to cheer them on,” she said.
The Bates coaching position came at a convenient time for Prue, who has spent the year preparing for and applying to occupational therapy (OT) graduate programs. Though she does not plan to continue coaching in the immediate future, Prue hopes to somehow incorporate basketball coaching into her ultimate career choice.
“Coaching is definitely something I’m thinking about for the future. Occupational therapy is a pretty flexible career. In an ideal world I would graduate, get my OT license, and then work part-time and get involved with [a school’s basketball program], whether that be voluntary or part-time, and go from there.”
Prue has found both joys and difficulties in transitioning from her role as a team member in college to a coach.
“It’s definitely an interesting transition, because as a player it all came naturally to me,” she said. “A lot of playing is subconsciously taking action, while coaching is mostly watching every little thing and thinking about it and what the other team is doing. I enjoyed providing feedback, but it was definitely a different kind of experience.”
Shibles expressed excitement at having a former member of her team as a fellow coach, even if they are on different sides of the court.
“[Prue] brought an intelligence and a composure to the court as a player that was critical to our team’s success. I know this has translated well for coaching. I’m in full support of what she’s doing and hope that she continues with coaching as a profession,” said Shibles.
Prue is one of nine Bowdoin women’s basketball alumni currently coaching collegiate basketball. These alumni currently coach at Bates, Connecticut College, Dartmouth, Harvard, Navy, Niagara University, Rochester University, Tufts University and here at Bowdoin.
“We take a lot of pride in developing leaders here. I think it speaks to the passion that our players have for the game,” said Shibles.