Will Boothe, Cyclone Chronicle interning staff member, interviewed Rose Haller, head women’s basketball coach, at John M. Reeves Student Recreation Center.

In her nine years at Centenary, Coach Haller has become known for her dedication to the Cyclones’ women’s basketball team.

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Q: Where did you go to college, and what major did you study?

A: I went to East Stroudsburg University. I was a Physical Health and Education major with a teaching degree.

Q: I heard you played basketball during college. How would you describe your experience of being a college athlete?

A: I had a great experience as a college athlete. I had a good coach that cared about the team. I got to play on winning teams, which was a lot of fun, and I had teammates that I got along with.

Q: What inspired you to become Centenary’s women’s basketball coach?

A: I had always coached throughout my career. I coached at East Stroudsburg University for ten years. I went back into the high schools when my children went to school, so I could be with them.

College coaching requires a lot of traveling, and when both of my children graduated, I decided to go back to doing what I loved, and that’s how I got here.

Q: What do you expect from the women’s basketball team this season?

A: They have their own expectations and goals, which I think is very important. I only always have one expectation of them, and that is that they work as hard as they can every single night.

Q: How do you keep the team motivated throughout the season?

A: The nice part about this team is that they are very self-motivated, and I think that’s important. I don’t feel like it’s a job as a coach to motivate their athletes, and I think the best athletes are the ones that are self-motivated. One of the many things that I really like about this team is that they are self-motivated and that they are probably one of the most hard-working teams I’ve ever coached.

Q: What would you say to high school students hoping to continue their basketball career in college?

A: I think it’s really important that they have a menu, that they understand what kind of experience they want, and that they choose a place that they can play. I think a lot of high school students choose a place based on what they’re going to tell their friends, but it’s important to know that this is the last four years you’re gonna play. You should choose a place where you’re gonna get a good experience, on and off the court, and where you’re going to be able to get some time off the floor.

Q: What does your life look like outside of coaching?

A: I like to spend a lot of time with my four children. I have two stepchildren and two of my natural children. I have a house down the Jersey Shore, so I love going there all summer and spending time with my husband. I also love to work out since that’s one of my favorite things to do.

Q: Is there anything you didn’t talk about that you would like us to know?

A: I think the only thing that I would say is that the women’s basketball team and I have really appreciated the support that we’ve gotten from the crowd last year, and it seems to be continuing this year. It’s a really big help when our faculty, staff, students, their parents, and friends come out to support us. It does make a great difference in the games.

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Coach Haller’s presence added a lot to Centenary’s athletics department. By joining the Cyclones, she helped the women’s basketball team grow as a team.