Our Culture
LEAVE IT BETTER.
From Head Coach Sa'de Gatewood-Wiley, in coordination with Coach Winn.
LEAVE IT BETTER
- Leave the gym better.
- Leave practice better.
- Leave your teammate better.
- Leave yourself better.
- Leave the classroom better.
- Leave the community better.
- Leave the jersey better.
What We Believe
Basketball is what brings us together, but who we become through basketball is bigger than the game. We want to compete, improve and win — and we want every young woman who comes through this program to leave stronger, more confident and more prepared for wherever life takes her.
Every player and coach who becomes part of Cuyamaca Women's Basketball receives something from the program. Our responsibility is also to leave something behind.
What It Means to Be a Coyote
Being a Coyote is not something you turn on when the scoreboard comes on. It is how you prepare, how you communicate, how you respond when things are difficult, how you treat teammates, how you handle success and disappointment, and what you do when nobody is watching.
Some will start. Some will come off the bench. Some will score, defend, rebound, lead with their voice — others through consistency and example. Your role may change during the season. Your responsibility to the team does not.
Better People Make Better Players
Our responsibility as coaches goes beyond teaching basketball. Basketball is an incredible classroom — it teaches teamwork, exposes pressure, requires discipline, creates adversity, demands communication and gives us chances to lead and to fail. We intend to use all of it to help you become a better student, communicator, teammate, leader and decision-maker.
Our Basketball and Our Culture Are Connected
On Defense
We communicate, help, rotate, recover and finish possessions. That is Follow the Spearhead. A teammate gets beat and we help — that is Sweep the Sheds. We give up a three and go to the next possession — that is Blue Head.
In Transition
On the Coyote Break everyone has a job: rebound, run, fill your lane, advance the ball, attack. Everyone moving together is the spearhead. Speed without chaos: Fast Body. Blue Head.
On the Bench
Being out of the game is not being out of the team. Communicate, celebrate teammates, recognize coverages, bring energy, help players coming out, stay ready. You can lead without being on the floor.
In the Classroom
Go to class. Communicate with professors. Ask for help early. Use the resources. Leaving the jersey better includes representing it when nobody from the program is around.
Our Commitment to You
- We ask you to communicate. We must communicate.
- We ask you to prepare. We must prepare.
- We ask you to stay accountable. We must stay accountable.
- We ask you to learn from mistakes. We must admit ours.
- We ask you to serve the team. We must serve you.
Culture cannot be something coaches demand from players while exempting themselves. We are building this together.
A Message from Coach Sa'de
You have an opportunity here. To compete. To earn an education. To grow. To build lifelong relationships. To represent Cuyamaca College. And to be part of building something that lasts beyond any one season or any one player.
We will challenge you. We will coach you. We will support you. And we will keep reminding you that your value to this program is bigger than one game, one mistake, one statistic or one moment. Bring your talent, your personality, your dreams, your work and your voice — then connect them to something bigger than yourself. That is what being a Coyote means.
— Coach Sa'de Gatewood-Wiley, Head Coach
Culture philosophy developed in coordination with Coach Winn.
LEAVE IT BETTER.