South Alabama women's basketball assistant coach Dan Presel joined the program on May 16, 2013, after spending the last seven seasons at North Alabama where he helped Terry Fowler guide the Lions to the NCAA Tournament in both 2011 and '13 and a pair of 20-plus win seasons.
Prior to joining Fowler at UNA, Presel spent the 2005-06 season as assistant women's basketball coach at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, where the Lady Mocs put together the nation's longest winning streak at 26 consecutive games. Presel also spent six seasons at Spring Hill where he was part of Fowler's staff.
Leading up to the start of the 2013-14 season, www.USAJaguars.com will sit down with the members on the Jaguar women's basketball staff to give fans a brief introduction to each.
Question: You've been coaching with coach Fowler for a number of years. What led to your decision to follow him to South Alabama?
Dan Presel: "This is probably the only job I would have ever left North Alabama for. There are a couple of reasons. First is my family. I'm from the Gulf Coast, so a lot of my family's down here. Both my mom and my dad are 30 minutes from here. It's a chance for me to be around them. They are getting a little bit older. It's also a good chance for my kids to be around their grandparents.
"I also think South Alabama is a place similar to Chattanooga. When I was there, we were one of best mid-majors in America and I feel like we have the resources and facilities here to gain that same kind of success."
Question: What's it like working for coach Fowler?
DP: "It's great. Professionally, I think there are very few times you get to work with one of your best friends. Obviously, there's a huge comfort level for both of us. I think some of my weaknesses are his strengths and vice versa. We've just been able to blend well together over the years."
Question: Did you always know that you wanted to be a coach?
DP: "No. I originally went to school and got a degree in psychology. I thought I was going to go into some sort of social work or counseling. I didn't really know what I wanted to do and I was done with school at Spring Hill College. Coach Fowler said 'Why don't you just volunteer and be an assistant for a year until you figure out what you want to do'. I did that, along with five or six other jobs and here I am."
Question: Why did you decide to get into coaching?"
DP: "There's' nothing like being part of a team and being able to accomplish something together. Where everybody knows what the goal is and to actually put enough work together overtime to accomplish that goal. I have a couple 'Why's'. One, I like to see kids develop. The opportunity to see them come in as kids and leave on their way to adulthood. Secondly, selfishly, I like the moments you can't really get from doing anything else. Like the moment in the locker room after a big win on the road. Things like that. Those rushes are things you can't get in any other field."
Question: When you're not at practice or recruiting, where can we find you?
DP: "I'm at home. I have a nine- and a six-year old. Me, my wife and my kids do everything together or as much as we can. The other night, I was doing gymnastics with my daughters. Whatever we're doing, we're doing together for the most part. Coaching has a long calendar, especially as you get into the school year, so any chance I get, I'm with my kids."
Question: What is your favorite place in Mobile?
DP: "Besides my back yard, we like to go out to eat a lot on the Causeway. We like to sit outside while we eat and just hang out as a family."
Question: If you had to pick one word to describe the 2013-14 South Alabama Women's Basketball team what would it be?
DP: "Becoming. I think we just have to be focused on the daily process of getting better and not worry about being. Worry about becoming and getting better."
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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