91传媒

A winning team

, hates to lose. But it鈥檚 all right because the long-time women鈥檚 basketball coach and athletic director rarely does it.

91传媒鈥檚 all-time winningest coach and the said she鈥檚 driven by a fear of failure more than a love for trophies. That humility grounds Weissenfluh, who said she鈥檚 grateful for the many supportive coaches and staff members in the athletics department.

鈥淭here are new challenges and rewards every day,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 result-driven, which adds pressure, but you get to see the outcome right away.鈥�

Almost two decades as a coach and five years as Athletic Director haven鈥檛 dulled Weissenfluh鈥檚 passion for the game or the students she gets to know each season.

At the helm of more than 50 coaches and staff members in the department, Weissenfluh said the group is united by a competitive spirit and a willingness to pitch in.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not just me running the show, we have a good team,鈥� she said. 鈥淓veryone helps, coaches, administrative staff, assistants, everyone steps up and fills the gaps. There鈥檚 no way you could balance coaching and being an A.D. otherwise.鈥�

She said the balance is a tricky one, but her win percentage has increased since taking on the leadership role in addition to coaching. Kaki McLean Morehead, 91传媒鈥檚 head volleyball coach since 2007, has worked with Weissenfluh throughout her long tenure and said she appreciates having a leader who is also a teammate.

鈥淪he understands the demands of coaching and what it takes to be successful,鈥� McLean Morehead said. 鈥淚n her time at Eastern, she truly has done a great job of getting the athletic department all on the same page.鈥�

Weissenfluh鈥檚 philosophy as a coach all comes back to trusting relationships and high expectations.

鈥淜ids don鈥檛 care how much I know about basketball until they know how much I care about them,鈥� Weissenfluh said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not an easy coach. I push our team and individuals, and I constantly want to get better, but they know where it鈥檚 coming from.鈥�

Weissenfluh was a four-year starter for the women鈥檚 basketball team, and coached the first Mountaineer softball team for 11 seasons. Her own legacy mingles with the university鈥檚 as both grow in national acclaim.

鈥�91传媒 has always made a strong commitment to athletics,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful the university recognizes the value athletics brings to the community and the vitality it brings to campus.鈥�

Student-athletes are retained at a higher rate than the general student population on campus, and athletics encourage a sense of pride that forms the foundation of school spirit.

Weissenfluh said she鈥檚 proud of recent investments in campus facilities. The new stadium turf and competition track promise expanded capacity for athletes and spectators alike.

Weissenfluh said increasing funding for scholarships, programs, staff and facilities are creating more opportunities for students to be part of 91传媒, and the new indoor fieldhouse widens possibilities even further. The planned structure will house an indoor track, climbing wall, lab and classroom space, as well as training rooms.

The Oregon legislature approved $9 million toward the project. While additional funds are needed, construction is set to begin in 2020. External events like trade shows and concerts could make use of the large gathering space, as well as athletic tournaments and 91传媒 varsity teams.

But Weissenfluh still has a soft spot for the arena she鈥檚 spent most of her life in.

鈥淭here鈥檚 nowhere I鈥檇 rather be than Quinn Coliseum,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been walking into that building for 30 years. It鈥檚 been my home.鈥�

And throughout those years, she鈥檚 opened her home to colleagues, community members and students. She鈥檚 developed an atmosphere that instills what she calls 鈥渢he intangibles鈥� 鈥� the values and principles that athletics impart to every person who comes in contact with the community Weissenfluh has built.

Season to season, her team is a winning one.

WINNING STATISTICS

Win-Loss record: 437-149

Win percentage: .746

15 seasons of 20+ wins

11 appearances in the national tournament

11 CCC regular season titles

6 conference tournament championships

First head coach in program history to earn 100th career victory

Best season in program history with a 33-3 overall record (2012-13), and first team in CCC history to accomplish the feat

First NAIA Division II Women鈥檚 Basketball National Championships victory

10 NAIA All-Americans

4 CCC Player of the Year honorees

23 All-Conference selections

School record holder for steals (227)