As Averett University gears up for another season in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Head Coach David Doino and Sophomore small forward Terrell Fitzgerald are excited at the prospect of a new season.
Coach Doino and the men’s basketball program are going into their third season in the ODAC while trying to shake off a rough season last year. The team has a young roster that is learning from their mistakes from the previous season. Coach Doino gave some insight into his coaching philosophy with his players.
“I am an old school coach and heart with new school swagger. I believe in Team Culture and Mental toughness leading to success. I try to instill that in my guys by setting an example every day with my energy focus and how I treat people,” Doino said. “I believe you can be tough on players if they know you have a love for them”.
Combined with Doino’s philosophy on coaching he also looks to foster a positive culture going into year three in the ODAC.
“By practicing the right way every day and when we step off the floor being serious about being good people and great teammates. If we can be in the moment every day and worry about what we control we will be able to stay positive in tough moments this year.”
With the last seasons overall record of 4-21 on everyone’s minds what are the goals for the team going forward in the ODAC.
“Grow and remember that feeling,” Doino said. “Scouting our opponent and paying attention to detail when preparing our guys for game days. We will know everything there is to know about the teams we play and we will show a film on how we want to attack them on both ends of the floor.”
Fitzgerald is from Chatham Virginia where he grew up playing for his dad at Hargrave Military Academy. As a returning player who went through a tough season full of ups and downs, Fitzgerald has found a new form of motivation.
“Being told I can’t do it,” Fitzgerald said. “ I always got hate even when I was in high school due to my dad being the head coach and everyone saying that I got everything handed to me which is not the case. Having that chip on my shoulder motivates me to get better and show that everyone was wrong about me.”
Fitzgerald also brought up personal and team goals for the upcoming season.
“Personal goals are to contribute 5 to 10 points a game while getting rebounds and second-chance points as much as possible while being a good defensive player. For the team, we are looking to improve from last year while trying to make the ODAC tournament.”
As the season progresses matchups of strategies will change rapidly in the ODAC. Just like the army Fitzgerald, believes being adaptive is essential.
“Listening, trusting the progress, and paying attention to detail is key because anything can change at any moment when we are playing teams with an offensive scheme or certain player matchups.”
As the Averett University Cougars gear up for the 2024-2025 season, the team is poised for growth and improvement under Coach Doino’s guidance. With a renewed focus on team culture and mental toughness, the Cougars aim to overcome past challenges and make a significant impact in the ODAC. Terrell Fitzgerald and his teammates are eager to prove their abilities and contribute to the team’s success. As the season unfolds, the Cougars will strive to build on their experiences and achieve their goals, both individually and collectively.
