Retirees Association

DDN: Home woes puzzling to Nagy, players

Raiders huddle

Excerpt from the Dayton Daily News

Wright State players probably dreaded going to their first practice this week, figuring after two straight losses they could count on getting picked apart by the staff and pushed to exhaustion.

And if effort were an issue, coach Scott Nagy might have been inclined to take that approach. But he knows the Raiders are giving their all.

They’ve stumbled to an uncharacteristic 11-10 record and 4-6 mark in the Horizon League, but what’s happening so far isn’t a mystery: They’re just getting beat by better teams

The way Nagy sees it, what’s the point in berating your players when they already feel bad enough?

“If we’re just loving our kids when they win, then we’re not better than anybody else. Where they really need love is now because they’re hurting. As coaches, that’s what we’re called to do,” he said.

“How that looks is different (with each team). Sometimes, it’s being kicked in the rear. Sometimes, it’s being hugged. Usually, when they think they’re going to be kicked, they need to be hugged. And when they think they’re going to be hugged, they need to be kicked.”