MACON, Ga. — This winter, there will be a new face on the sidelines at Hawkins Arena.
Following Susie Gardner’s resignation as Mercer women’s basketball coach in early March, Mercer Athletics announced the hiring of coaching veteran Michelle Clark-Heard as the Bears’ next leader.
13WMAZ's Connor Hines sat down with the Bears' new leader to talk about arriving in Macon, hitting the recruiting trail and what to expect from Mercer in 2024.
Connor Hines: Coach, first question from me -- why Mercer?
Michelle Clark-Heard: I just think Susie (Gardner) did a phenomenal job here, all her years here in building. This is an amazing institution, very prestigious academics in an amazing area. When you’ve been around women’s basketball for a long time, you understand what an amazing program is and what it looks like. I’m all about winning championships and Susie’s done that a whole lot, so that was something for me that really attracted me to Mercer.
CH: You talked about the prestige – what did you know about Mercer women’s basketball before taking this job and beginning the interview process?
MCH: As I said, the location was a big deal. I had never been to campus but I just understood being a private institution with the education. At the end of the day, when you’re a basketball coach, you understand and know what programs have been winning consistently over the years. Definitely that was something that Mercer women’s basketball was doing.
CH: Tons of Southern Conference championships here, NCAA Tournament appearances. I know you went to a handful when you were at Western Kentucky as a head coach. What do you think it takes to get a mid-major program today to be successful on a consistent basis?
MCH: Well a ‘fistful’ was maybe four years ago. It’s different now. I think the biggest thing for me and across the country at the mid-major level is, you have to understand and know what the landscape of the game is right now. Relationships and understanding what type of players are going to be great for you and for your program. I think that’s something I’m really excited about. Myself and my staff have tried to identify players that can come in and play the style that we want to play.
CH: If you had to list out some bullet points, what is a Coach Heard team at Mercer going to be about?
MCH: Our energy, definitely. Energy and effort, playing hard, getting up and down the floor. I just think that’s really important. We want to put a great product on the floor for these amazing fans that we already have here, and we want to gain some more. I think that’s the most important thing. I’ve been very fortunate as a head coach. I can say probably most of my teams have averaged 70 points or more (per game). We try to put the ball in the hole but we also try to make sure we can defend and guard.
CH: I think one thing I picked up on at your press conference last week is, this is a team that’s going to work hard but also play hard. Talk a little bit about the importance of that.
MCH: I think the most important thing is when you recruit student-athletes and recruit players to come play for you and your program, you’ve got to find those different things that stand out for them but also stand out for what you’re trying to do. It’s like a mix you put together. For me, defense is something that I’ve always loved. I just try to make sure we can find a balance. When I say I love it, I love it as a coach. I’m not saying I was great at it as a player. Just being able to put offense and defense together. I definitely think defense leads to offense, but also, if you don’t guard, defend and rebound, you’re not winning championships. But you’ve also got to be able to put the ball in the hole. Allowing them to be able to have some freedom on offense, I like players who can play multiple positions, so no one person can bring the ball up the floor. If we get pressed, it’s not looking at one person to try to get open. It’s being able to go right into whatever offense it is that we’re running.
CH: So we know a little bit about the on-court tactics. Who is Coach Heard the person? What are you like away from the court?
MCH: My family is the most important thing. My family, my faith, my husband Luther is my best friend. I’m very fortunate to have someone that understands my role as a head coach and all the hours and things we put in. But also too, we love the simple things. When you have that time away from basketball, you want to be able to enjoy and we love to do a lot of things off the floor. When we have a chance to go vacation, we like to just have down time and just be present in the moment. I always say that, and that’s something I’m really trying to make sure as the years go on, I continue to do that and be present.
CH: I think one thing Mercer did a good job of is getting you here as soon as possible to get on the recruiting trail. I’m sure it’s still not enough time for you but what have these last few months been like for you in terms of settling in and hitting the recruiting trail right away?
MCH: I think you make a great point. Mercer did a phenomenal job of getting the process going and being able to get myself here and get a staff hired, which is really important. It’s been great. As I said, with the relationships and with Mercer being who Mercer is as an institution, and academically, the community, all the support, it’s been really good. We’ve been trying to go back with some of those relationships that we know, AAU coaches, former players that know recruits, and putting all those things together and then finding a way to get them on campus. I feel like when you get them here, it sells itself.
CH: I know there will be a few familiar faces that fans will see next year. As for those players that you’ve retained, what have those conversations been like? Change is hard, but you do have a few that are going to stick around.
MCH: I do. A ton of credit to them. They’ve been amazing. When I first got here, I sat down and talked with everyone. I just really talked about who I am. Like you said, change is hard, change is different. In life, there’s always going to be adversity. There’s always going to be change. Things are going to happen. I want them to understand that they’re a big part of everything that’s going to happen with this program. They’ve been great in helping me and helping us on visits. It’s been really cool. It’s been good because myself and the staff had an opportunity to be here and kind of got to know their personalities a little bit. So when we bring in recruits, we know what will mesh with them. That’s something we’ve really tried to make sure we’re doing. They’ve been amazing.
CH: When you got up there last week, you got a little emotional. Why is the opportunity to coach this team so special to you?
MCH: I’ve been in the business for a long time. I’m very fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach a lot of amazing players, won a lot of games, did a lot of great things, coached USA Basketball. In life, just as I told the young ladies, when adversity hits or change hits, you have to learn how to adjust. As I spoke about in the press conference, I’m very grateful to (Mississippi State head coach) Sam Purcell, but that was a different role. I had to take a step back but it was a great step back. I think I got emotional because I understand and know how blessed I am to have another opportunity to be a head coach again, and not only be a head coach but be a head coach at an amazing institution with great people. Sometimes coaches don’t get second chances. I’m grateful to Mercer and to President (Underwood), to everyone entrusting and believing in me to take this program and to continue to build on all the success that was here.
CH: I’ve got a few rapid fire questions if you’re up for it.
MCH: Ok, here we go!
CH: Defense or offense?
MCH: Defense.
CH: Three-pointer or take it to the rack?
MCH: Take it to the rack.
CH: What’s on the pregame playlist?
MCH: I don’t know if I’m a playlist person. I have a ritual. I have my time to myself, I read my coaches bible and get my mind right. Then when I hit the gym with the kids, I guess what they’re listening to becomes the vibe.
CH: Maybe pick up a few things from the team on the way?
MCH: You’ve got to stay in the know.
CH: What’s the number one pet peeve for Coach Heard?
MCH: Talking and communicating, because if you don’t talk and you don’t communicate, we can’t be successful.
CH: Controversial one here in the south: fried food or fresh food?
MCH: It used to be fried, but I’ve been trying to be more on the healthy side. I’m going to go with fresh right now.
CH: You can get your fried food fix in Macon. You find any spots to eat yet?
MCH: I’m a breakfast person so we found a couple of spots for that. The great thing about recruiting, is whatever the recruits like (we eat). We’ve had a lot of pasta. I told the staff the other day, we can’t. Hopefully we find some recruits that like something else. We’ve had some different looks at different places.
CH: Anything else that you’d like to talk about with this team and this opportunity for you?
MCH: I’m just really excited. I just want people to – as they always have – come out and support. We’re going to put a great group of young ladies together that are going to play hard and represent this university. I’m just excited to have the opportunity to see everyone come out. As we build our roster, and as we continue to grow, we’re going to make sure we get out in the community and do all the things we need to because I’m really looking forward to that.
CH: Coach Heard, thanks so much. We appreciate it.
MCH: Thank you for having me.