July 8, 2008

 

Since Coach Agnus Berenato arrived at Pitt in 2003, the women’s basketball program has experienced unprecedented success. After making their first ever NCAA Tournament in 2007, the team followed that up with their first Sweet 16 appearance in 2008. When she begins her sixth year with Pitt this fall, Coach Berenato will look to achieve even more success and continue to teach her life lessons on and off the basketball court. PittsburghPanthers.com sat down with Coach Berenato to talk about her summer, the family and the upcoming basketball season.

 

 

 

How has the summer been for you and the family?

 

“It’s been super crazy with the camps and everything else. We spent a few days at Cape Hatteras but that was it.”

 

 

 

 

How important is it for you to make time within your busy schedule for your kids and your husband?

 

“It’s more important than anything else. It’s going to sound corny but every night we sit down as a family and have dinner. We may not finally sit down until 10:30 at night but that doesn’t matter to me. It’s the one time we all can be together.”

 

 

 

 

What is it like being able to have two of your daughters, Clare and Christina, with you at your camps during the summer?

 

“It’s great. They love it. I’m a camper at heart and my kids are too. It’s a great experience for both of them.”

 

 

 

 

What values do you want to instill in the children who attend the summer camps?

 

“It’s about learning life values before learning anything basketball related. I want them to learn how to say please and thank you and to go out of there way to do something nice for their parents. That’s what’s most important. You have to be a good person before you can become a good basketball player.”

 

 

 

 

You will be heading out on the recruiting trail very shortly, where all are you going and how long will you be away from Pittsburgh?

 

“I will be leaving July 5 and not returning until the 16^th. I start in Orlando, Fla., and will be making stops in Atlanta, Ga., and College Station, Texas as well.”

 

 

 

 

With the conference becoming stronger each year, how tough is it to recruit in the Big East?

 

“It’s extremely difficult but we are lucky to have one of the best coaching staffs in the nation. Getting to the Sweet 16 in just our second appearance in the NCAA Tournament sure looks good too.”

 

 

 

 

When you are recruiting a potential player, what is the most important thing you want them to know about the University of Pittsburgh and the women’s basketball program?

 

“That we have tremendously high athletic and academic standards for our student athletes. You can’t just come in wanting to make an impact; you have to work your way up.”

 

 

 

 

You were one of 10 children growing up and your father passed away when you were very young, how was your mom able to raise such a family on her own?

 

“She had phenomenal fortitude. When my father passed away, she wasn’t able to just sit around and do nothing, she had to move on. My mom always said ‘Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan,’ and that’s exactly the way she lived her life.”

 

 

 

 

Because of all that she has done, how much do you respect what she did for your family?

 

“I think she is a saint. She had such an amazing disposition and was so good to everyone. She was constantly giving and giving and giving.”

 

 

 

 

What was the hardest thing about leaving Georgia Tech after 15 years to become the head coach here at Pitt?

 

“The hardest part was leaving my son Andrew who had just enrolled at Georgia Tech. Changing locations wasn’t the issue. A city is just a city, I can sleep anywhere. Leaving my son behind, that’s what was most difficult.”

 

 

 

 

Why is community service and outreach so important to you as a head coach?

 

“Because I think it’s so much better to give than to receive. I want all my players to believe the exact same thing.”

 

 

 

 

Since you arrived at Pitt in 2003, the program has become a winner. To what do you most attribute the program’s quick turnaround and recent successes?

 

“My coaching staff and the administration are the main reasons. Chancellor Nordenberg has always believed in my crazy ideas since the first day I arrived. I’ve talked about winning since day one. I don’t want to settle and always want to be challenged.”

 

 

 

 

When will you be satisfied as the head coach of the Pitt Panthers?

 

“I never want to be completely satisfied. I want to win a National Championship, want my assistants to become head coaches and my players to all graduate. I always am wanting more.”

 

 

 

 

If you could use only one word to describe what success means to you as head coach of the Panthers, what would it be?

 

“I would say either work-ethic or fulfillment. If you are able to lay your head down at night and feel satisfied with your day, you have been successful. Also, if you can go above your potential, success will eventually come.”

 

 

 

 

Lastly, what would you say is your favorite quote or phrase?

 

“I have so many but my favorite probably would be, ‘What you are is God’s gift to you, what you make of yourself is your gift to God,’ meaning that you must do everything to the best of your ability everyday.”