Morgan Valley was a Guard for the UConn Huskies from 2000 – 2004. While at
UConn she was a team member who won three National Championships, and
established a National Collegiate Athletic Association women’s basketball
record with 70 consecutive wins. I spoke to Morgan in July 2006, about her
basketball memories and experiences.
Morgan grew up in Colchester, Vermont. Her dad was a basketball coach of a
boys’ team so Morgan, and her sister Ashley were often at the gym. Their
dad soon became their basketball coach. Morgan went to a private catholic
junior high school that had no girl’s basketball team so she had to settle
for playing on the boys Amateur Athletic Union basketball team. She went
to Rice Memorial High School in Vermont, and was a stand out player
enjoying many honors; Women’s Basketball Coaching Association All-American
Team member, two time Full Court Press First Team All-American, state
Gatorade player of the year, and Vermont player of the year. Morgan led
her team to two consecutive undefeated seasons, and state titles, and set
new records in points, assists and steals. While in high school Morgan
enjoyed playing against Essex Junction High School who were, and still are
the powerhouse of Vermont. Rice Memorial had been beaten by Essex Junction
six consecutive times until Morgan’s junior year when Rice Memorial won.
It was time to make a college decision. “A lot of schools were recruiting
me. I’ve always been a winner so I just wanted to go to a winning
program.” Morgan didn’t know a lot about the University of Connecticut
other than that they won the National Championship in 1995. Morgan
narrowed her college choices to five schools; Old Dominion University,
Rutgers University, Boston College, University of Notre Dame and
University of Connecticut. After a visit to Connecticut, and having played
in some pickup games during her visit to UConn, Morgan went back to
Vermont, and told her dad she wanted to go to UConn. “I love basketball.
The players at UConn were like basketball gurus. It felt like they played
basketball all the time, and when they played, they played hard, and I
just felt like there was no other place like UConn.”
The transition from high school to college didn’t seem that difficult at
first because Morgan was used to working hard, and being prepared. “At
first nothing seemed too hard. I wasn’t tired like some of my classmates.
I didn’t realize it at the time but I didn’t balance myself. I worked so
hard that I worked my body down, and my body just eventually broke down
causing injuries that slowed my career. You go to college to win a
National Championship, and I did that. I didn’t necessarily do it the way
I wanted to but three championships out of four years of college is not
bad.”
Morgan and her sister Ashley Valley
While at UConn Morgan ’s most memorable game overall was a game against
Texas Christian University in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in
2003. UConn almost lost except Diana Taurasi scored 35 points to win the
game for UConn. Morgan said she enjoyed winning the third National
Championship the most. “The first Championship was expected with players
Sue Bird, Tamika Williams, Swin Cash and Asjha Jones. The second
Championship was by fluke. UConn really wasn’t the best team in the
country. The third National Championship was the same team as the prior
year. UConn needed to win that championship to reinforce to everyone that
we were a great team.”
Morgan graduated from UConn with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development
and Family Studies. Currently she is an assistant coach for the women’s
basketball team at Holy Cross University in Worcester, Massachusetts. “I
wanted to play basketball until I couldn’t anymore, then I got a job
coaching which is the next best thing to playing. As a coach I try to
bring the same passion, and energy that I brought on the court as a
player, and I try to make my players work hard, and feel like when they
leave the gym they’ve done something.” A day in Morgan’s life during
basketball season as a coach is very hectic. She gets to the office early
in the morning, watches a lot of basketball films, works with players
individually, goes to team practices, then there is on-going recruiting,
and of course the games.
Morgan’s thoughts on Coach Auriemma, “He’s the best coach that has ever
walked on to the basketball court, and he is a great man. He taught me so
much through basketball about life, and I’m honored to have played for
him. He gave me some of the best years of my life to this point.”
What UConn needs to get back to the Final Four is time. “It’s a cycle; you
can’t be on top all the time. It’s just a down time; they’ll be right back
there in no time.”
Morgan also had the pleasure of having her sister Ashley on the UConn team
for three years. They each had their own friends from their class, and
their own experiences but it was great to have each other to lean on when
they needed to.
Morgan ended our conversation by saying, “Having gone to UConn was exactly
what I wanted, athletically, academically, and some of the best
friendships I’ll ever have. It was all worth it.” |
