Nineteen years after she played to clinch a 35-0 season for the University of Connecticut, Carla Berube has resettled in college basketball, coaching Tufts womens basketball team to a (near) perfect season.
[My coach] got the most of me as a player, and helped me grow as an individual and leader, and I hope thats what Im helping my own players do -- build confidence, build great leaders for tomorrow, Berube said.
As Tufts pursues its first NESCAC Championship, Coach Berube has already lead Tufts resounding 92-55 dismissal of Bowdoin -- who beat them in the NESCAC Championship opening round last year. Berube has helped motivate an overwhelming hunger in the Jumbos to win their first conference championship.
Its the number one on our goals, and its the only focus right now, Berube said. The only thing Im thinking about is the NESCAC tournament, and never winning the NESCAC tournament is a huge deal.
Although success has often come naturally to Coach Berube, the transition from star player at a Div. I school to NESCAC head coach has taken a while -- she began in her current position in 2002. From a packed stadium in Storrs, Conn. where fans chanted Ber-uuuu-beee, to relative anonymity in Cousens Gym, it took Coach Berube a little while to figure out Tufts, Athletic Director William Gehling said.
But once she figured it out, she realized she is a really good fit, Gehling added.
The tiny Tufts gym, and accompanying close-knit athletic community, has been more than enough for the long-time coach, she said.
Youre never going to have the same degree of attention that UConn women [basketball players] get, Berube said. Well take a little piece of what we got here -- the students, or the local kids who watch us play, or the grandfathers that just really enjoy the game of basketball.
For Berube, working at a smaller school like Tufts has not precluded her from interacting with big-time successes -- namely Colleen Hart (E 11), arguably the most talented womens basketball player at Tufts. Hart still holds Tufts records for most points and 3-pointers scored.
Similar to what her coach at UConn did for her, Coach Berube helped Hart build a future in basketball. Among other things, Coach Berube helped Hart secure a spot on a professional basketball team in Basel, Switzerland, where Hart was the starting point guard and averaged over 11 points per game in her one season there.
People werent really searching for a five-foot guard from a Div. III school [to play professional basketball], and [Coach Berube] got me the contact for the agent, helped me train in the off-season, Hart said. She was really supportive, pretty much doing whatever she could to help me.
Although people doubted Harts chances of playing basketball professionally, Berube said she never did.
Perched on the edge of the couch where her players, coaches and friends have gathered over the last 12 years, Coach Berubes characteristic humble confidence is on display. Not defined by her victorious basketball statistics -- Berube remains among UConns top 30 scorers -- Coach Berube is now known for her prowess as a coach.
I was bred to coach, coming from UConn, Berube said. It was ingrained in me that this is the way you have to teach it, this is the way you have to play it. When Im on the court coaching I feel like its my niche, its where I feel very comfortable and feel very confident with what Im saying.
That confidence, and comfort in the sidelines, has developed over a decade as Coach Berube, who first took the team a 26-year old, grew with the Jumbos basketball program that had room for improvement, Gehling said.
As Tufts has now had eight straight winning seasons, and not including this season, has made the NCAA tournament five of the last six years, it is hard to deny that Coach Berube has done her job exceedingly well.
Bill Gehling has just been so supportive of whatever I need to do, if I have to be home for a good amount of the day then thats great as long as youre getting your job done, Berube said. And hopefully thats what Im doing.
Increasingly in the national college sports media spotlight, with great focus on Coach Berubes influence on the program, Coach Berube has had offers to climb the coaching ladder. But, at least for now, Coach Berube said Medford, Mass., has been a newfound basketball home.
I love my job here, Berube said. I have a lot of goals -- a national championship being one of them, and being in an environment to raise a family and being happy is number one. As for the future I dont know, but as of right now, [Tufts] is exactly where I want to be.
