>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

I'M YOUR HOST, DOCTOR JUHANNA ROGERS.

THIS SEASON WE WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME AMAZING WOMEN WHO ARE ELEVATING NEW YORK.

THESE WOMEN COME FROM ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND ARE JOINING ME ON THE COUCH TO SHARE THEIR STORES.

1 TO KICK THE SEASON OFF, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE FELICIA LEGETTE-JACK.

COACH JACK IS THE HEAD COACH FOR SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY'S WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM WHERE SHE WAS NAMED RECENTLY AS ACC COACH OF THE YEAR.

AS A LEADER AND FORMER PLAYER OF THIS PROGRAM FELISHA IS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING LEADERS BOTH ON AND OFF THE COURT.

SO CALL YOUR FAMILY DOWN TO THE LIVING ROOM AND SEND A TEXT TO YOUR FRIENDS, BECAUSE THEY WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS EPISODE OF BEHIND THE WOMAN.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WHERE DO I START.

WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT LED YOU TO BASKETBALL?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

I WAS ONE OF THOSE YOUNG LADIES WHO WAS THIS TALL, SIX FEET... >> I KNOW ABOUT THAT.

>> YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT.

I JUST, MY BROTHERS ALWAYS SAID WHY DON'T YOU DO SOMETHING WITH YOURSELF.

IN THE FIFTH GRADE I SAID WELL, I SEE YOU GUYS PLAY BASKETBALL, I'LL JUST TRY TO PLAY BASKETBALL.

AND I JUST STARTED DRIBBLING THE BALL AROUND THE HOUSE AND IT BECAME SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T NEED A FRIEND TO DO.

I DID IT BY MYSELF.

I ENDED UP LOVING IT.

AND BY THE TIME I WAS IN THE SEVENTH GRADE, I GOT THE ATTENTION OF A LADY NAME WOLETTA SPEECH AND SHE GOT THE JOB AT NOTTINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL AND THE NEXT YEAR, EIGHTH GRADE, SHE ASKED ME TO TRY OUT FOR THE TEAM AND I TRIED OUT FOR THE VARSITY TEAM AND I MADE THE TEAM AND I WAS THE SHYING PERSON YOU WOULD EVER MEET AND I WOULDN'T LOOK UP OR LOOK IN YOUR EYES.

I JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, I'LL KEEP TRYING THIS BASKETBALL BECAUSE THIS IS MY COMFORT ZONE.

AND IT JUST GAVE ME CONFIDENCE.

BY THE TENTH GRADE I WAS LOOKING PEOPLE IN THE EYES AND DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE IT.

AND IT JUST-- A LOT OF PEOPLE DO IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THE ATTENTION YOU CAN GET FROM IT.

I DID IT BECAUSE IT GAVE ME CONFIDENCE.

AND I WAS ABLE TO LOOK PEOPLE IN THE EYES AND FROM THERE, I LEARNED THAT IT COULD BE SO MUCH MORE AND IT BECAME THAT.

>> SO MUCH MORE.

>> DID YOU END UP BEATING YOUR BROTHERS IN BASKETBALL?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

MY BROTHERS WOULD BE SO MEAN TO ME AND SO ONE YEAR WHEN I WAS A SOPHOMORE IN COLLEGE, MY BROTHER RONNY SAID, I'LL PLAY YOU AT WESTMOOR LAND PARK AND WE CHECKED BALL AND I KILLED HIM.

>> YOU DID.

>> I BEAT HIM BY ONE POINT.

I NEVER PLAYED HIM AGAIN.

I WAS LIKE NO!

>> HE NEVER LET YOU PLAY AGAIN.

>> HE WANTED TO PLAY TO GET IT OUT OF HIS MIND THAT HIS SISTER BEAT HIM BUT WOULD I NEVER PLAY AGAIN.

HE IS 59 AND I'M 57.

HE SAID WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE THAT GAME?

I SAID NEVER, RONNY.

>> I WON.

>> 18, 19 WINS IN A ROW.

I WON THE LAST ONE.

I GOT THAT ON YOU, BIG GUY.

>> RIGHT!

SO HERE YOU ARE, THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU HAVE HAD THE ABILITY TO IMPACT, YOUR JERSEY IS RETIRED.

YOU HAVE WINNING SEASONS.

WHAT YOU HAVE DONE THIS SEASON WITH THE SYRACUSE WOMEN'S TEAM, WHAT, IF YOU THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE MOMENTS IN YOUR CAREER, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN MOST PROUD OF?

>> HIS GRACE.

HIS GRACE.

YOU KNOW, YOU AND I WERE AT INDIANA TOGETHER AND I WAS LET GO, RIGHT?

AND NOW-- HOW DO YOU BOUNCE BACK, YOU KNOW?

AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN DON'T BOUNCE BACK AND GET A SECOND OPPORTUNITY.

AND SO I WAS BUILDING A HOUSE IN CHARLOTTE.

I WAS GOING TO START MY ADVENTURE OVER THERE AND TRY TO BECOME A LIFE COACH.

AND A LADY NAMED ANUKA BROWN CALLED ME IN THE MIDDLE OF IT AND SAID I KNOW THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A GREAT SITUATION BUT I THINK YOU CAN STILL COACH.

I THINK THAT YOU ARE REALLY GOOD.

I WATCHED YOU AT INDIANA AND I WANT YOU TO AT LEAST INTERVIEW FOR THE JOB AT BUFFALO.

I SAID IT'S BEEN THREE MONTHS SINCE I HAVE BEEN LET GO.

IF YOU BRING ME THERE, GET READY TO HAVE TO CONVINCE YOURSELF THAT I'M NOT THE ONE FOR YOU BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY LEARNED LESSONS.

AND SO I ENDED UP GOING TO BUFFALO, INTERVIEWING AND BEFORE I COULD GET ALL THE WAY BACK TO INDIANA, DANNY WHITE CALLED ME AND OFFERED ME AN OPPORTUNITY.

AND I JUST WANTED TO COACH YOUNG LADIES.

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE FOR ME FOREVER.

I WAS THERE FOR 10 YEARS.

WENT TO THE SWEET 16.

THE ONLY TEAM IN THE SUNY SYSTEM MEN OR WOMEN, TO EVER GO TO THE SWEET 16.

SO I HAD SOME REALLY FANTASTIC COACHES AND PLAYERS WHO HELPED ME ALONG THE WAY.

I SAW THAT OUR UNIVERSITY, WHERE I WENT TO SCHOOL AND THE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PROGRAM WAS DISHEVELED AND THINGS WERE NOT GOING AS WELL AS THEY NEEDED TO GO.

THE COACH WAS ASKED TO LEAVE AND THEN AN INTERIM WAS IN PLACE.

AND I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE I GO TO PLACES WHERE CAN I HELP IT BECOME BETTER.

AND I KNEW THAT THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO COME BACK AND HELP.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY THOUGH WAS, IN THE MOMENTS-- AND I REMEMBER YOU BEING AT I.U....

BUT YOU MENTIONED LIKE YOU HAVE LEARNED THINGS IN THE THREE MONTHS IN BETWEEN BEING LET GO AND CALLED FOR AN OPPORTUNITY.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THOSE THINGS?

>> EL WITH, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE, WHEN YOU ARE FIRED, IT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT.

YOU QUESTION YOUR SKILL SET.

AND I'VE NEVER-- I'VE ALWAYS SUCCEEDED IN EVERYTHING I'VE DONE, AND I REALLY WAS, YOU KNOW, WE LOST A LOT OF GAMES.

WE WERE 6-21 AT THE YEAR'S END.

IT WAS INEVITABLE AT THAT LEVEL, BUT IT STILL DOESN'T FEEL GOOD.

AND SO A PROFESSOR ASKED ME TO SPEAK AT HIS CLASS IN KINESIOLOGY AND IT WAS OVER 200 PEOPLE IN HIS CLASS.

AND I SAID CAN I TALK TO HIM ABOUT-- TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE FIRED?

AND THAT WAS MY HEALING PROCESS RIGHT THERE.

AND I STOOD BEFORE 200 YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING THROUGH WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH, BEING A STUDENT.

AND THEY SAT THERE WITH THEIR HATS TURNED SIDEWAYS.

BY THE END OF THE CONVERSATION, THEY WERE SITTING UP AND THEY WERE LISTENING AND THEY SAW THE REALNESS.

I CRIED IN FRONT OF THEM.

I SHARED THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY MISTAKES I'VE MADE.

THIS IS THE SUCCESS I'VE HAD.

IF I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT WOULD I DO DIFFERENTLY.

AND I JUST LEFT THAT CLASS AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS WROTE A LETTER ASKING ME TO COME BACK AND SPEAK AGAIN, BECAUSE EVERY STUDENT HAS THAT IDEA THAT THEY'RE NOT ENOUGH.

AND EVEN THOUGH I STOOD THERE AS A FIRE COACH, I ASSURED THEM THAT I WAS ENOUGH FOR THE MIRROR THAT LOOKS BACK AT ME.

AND THAT'S ALL THAT REALLY MATTERS IS THAT MIRROR, RIGHT?

>> THAT LOOKS BACK AT YOU.

>> RIGHT.

SO THAT PERSON WHO FIRED ME, BECAUSE WE LOST GAMES, YOU KNOW, BUT MY SUCCESS WAS WE AVERAGED 3.0 G.P.A.

AND EVERY YEAR THAT WE WERE THERE, EVEN THOUGH THE TOUGH YEAR, OUR ATTENDANCE WENT UP.

SO I SAW ALL THE SUCCESS AND HE SAW ALL THE FAILURES.

HE HAD A RIGHT TO.

HE WAS THE A.D.

I GIVE YOU THE GRADE THAT YOU WANT AND YOU KNOW YOU DID BETTER THAN THAT B +.

YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE BETTER THAN THAT AND YOU TAKE THAT HOME WITH YOU.

YOU HAVE A BETTER FRIEND WHO NOW IS A BEST FRIEND TO SOMEONE ELSE AND, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT THINGS OF THAT NATURE AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS-- IT GAVE ME CLARITY AND I WENT BACK A COUPLE MORE TIMES AND SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS-- I TOOK RESPONSIBILITY.

YOU DON'T WIN, YOU PICK WRONG COAST, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COACHES AND IT DIDN'T WORK OUT AND THINGS WENT WRONG AND I WAS THE HEAD OF THE PROBLEM AND I OWNED IT AND I OWNED IT PUBLICLY.

THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED IF I DON'T GET A COACHING JOB, I WAS GOING TO BE A LIFE COACH.

I WAS GOING TO SHARE SHARE THE STORY.

>> BECAUSE YOU ARE LIFE COACHING RIGHT NOW.

>> [LAUGHTER] A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO COMMUNICATE ABOUT BAD THINGS THAT HAPPEN.

BUT BAD THINGS HAPPEN EVERY DAY TO EVERYBODY.

IF WE KEEP IT A SECRET, IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE.

BUT IF YOU SHARE IT, MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT BECAUSE YOU SHOWED WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE.

AND SO WE WORK ON OURSELVES ALL DAY EVERY DAY.

AND I TELL MY PLAYERS ALL THE TIME, I'M A COACH THAT MAKES MISTAKES ALL DAY EVERY DAY.

I CONSIDER MYSELF A PHENOMENAL WOMAN.

WHY?

BECAUSE I SHARE I MADE A MISTAKE.

SO YOU, THAT COME BEHIND ME, FEEL FREE TO MAKE A MISTAKE, TO GET IT RIGHT, TO BE FREE FROM IT ALL.

AND SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS I TRY TO DO AND IF YOU CAN CONTINUE TO ALLOW ME TO BE IN FRONT OF PEOPLE, I THINK THAT'S THE MESSAGE.

THE CALLING I HAVE FROM GOD THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO SHARE WITH OTHERS.

>> THERE IS SOMETHING TO REAL ABOUT WHAT YOU SHARED.

AND I MENTION THAT COACHING MOMENT BECAUSE YOU ARE RIGHT.

SO MANY TIMES WE, AS PEOPLE, RUN INTO THOSE MOMENTS WHERE WE MAYBE DIDN'T MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION OR WE DID OUR BEST, BUT IT WASN'T PRODUCING THE RESULTS THAT WERE NEEDED AND NECESSARY.

AND HOW-- IF WE CAN TURN THOSE MOMENTS INTO LESSONS, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S WHERE YOU GET YOUR POWER.

YOUR POWER COMES FROM TRUTH.

YOUR TRUTH CAN ALSO BE YOU ARE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB AND YOU JUST DON'T GET IT.

BUT YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE AND YOU WALK AWAY UNDERSTANDING THAT.

BUT THE TRUTH CAN BE YOU FAILED.

BUT YOU CAN FAIL BACKWARDS OR YOU CAN FAIL FORWARD.

I JUST MADE A CONCERTED EVERY TO FAIL FORWARD IN ANY CAPACITY I NEED TO SERVE, JUST LET ME DO YOUR WILL.

AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A IFFY NOMINAL WOMAN IN YOUR LIFE LIKE MY MOM, SHE NEVER SAW A BAD DAY.

SHE ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT HER TOMORROWS.

I SHARED WITH THAT TODAY.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

TODAY WE GOT ONE LITTLE SAND WITCH WE CAN EAT BECAUSE WE AIN'T GOT NO MORE FOOD.

TOMORROW, TOMORROW YOU MIGHT GET SOME KOOL-AID, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

AND WE LAUGHED AND HAVE FUN THROUGH THE PROCESS.

OUR TOMORROWS.

>> YOUR TOMORROWS.

WE WERE JOKING BEFORE WE CAME ON CAMERA ABOUT MY FIVE YEARS ELIGIBILITY THAT I STILL HAVE.

>> LET'S GO!

>> WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.

I'M GOING TO GO OUT AND DUST IT OFF AND SEE WHERE I AM.

BUT AS YOU TALK ABOUT FAILING FORWARD AND MOVING BEYOND THAT MOMENT, YOU GO TO BUFFALO AND DO RECORD SETTING AMAZING THINGS THERE.

AND THEN YOU SEE THIS OPPORTUNITY AT SYRACUSE, A PROGRAM THAT YOU CAME OUT OF THAT IS IN NEED.

TALK ABOUT WHAT IT TOOK TO THINK ABOUT TOMORROWS AND DO THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE AT SYRACUSE AND TURNING THAT PROGRAM AROUND.

>> YOU KNOW, AFTER A WHILE, IT JUST CAN'T BE ABOUT YOU, RIGHT?

AND I DID A LOT OF FUN THINGS AS A BASKETBALL PLAYER, AS AN ASSISTANT COACH, AND EVEN AS A HEAD COACH.

MY WHOLE OBJECTIVE WHEN I TOOK THAT BUFFALO JOB IS TO NOT MAKE IT ABOUT ME.

THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT COME IN FRONT OF ME, WE NEED TO HELP THEM GROW INTO THE YOU ARE ENOUGH, YOU GOT THIS AND LET'S GET IT DONE AND YOUR DREAMS, LET'S PUT THAT ON THE TABLE AND LET ME HELP YOU BECOME WHAT YOU SAY YOU WANT TO BECOME.

AND IT BECAME ABOUT THE STUDENT ATHLETE.

LET'S BE A GREAT STUDENT, LET'S BE A GREAT CHARACTER PERSON, LET'S BE A GREAT BASKETBALL PLAYER.

WHEN I TOOK MYSELF OUT OF THE EQUATION, WELL, I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT NO COACH OF THE YEAR.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT-- I CARE ABOUT THE STEPHANIE READS AND EVERYBODY EVOLVING INTO PEOPLE THAT THEY KIND OF THINK THEY COULD BECOME IF SOMEBODY PUSHES IT OUT OF THEM.

BUT NOBODY AROUND THEM BELIEVED THAT THEY COULD AND WE FIGHT FOR THAT.

WE FOUGHT FOR THAT EVERY DAY AT BUFFALO.

AND THE WORK ETHIC BECAME AMAZING BECAUSE EVERY NOW AND THEN I WOULD WORK OUT WITH THEM.

AND JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE WON A MAC CHAMPIONSHIP AND ANOTHER ONE.

THEN SWEET 16 AND ALL OF IT COMES BACK 10 TIMES FOLD WHEN YOU GIVE IT AWAY.

I WANTED TO GIVE IT AWAY.

SO I'M IN THE BUSINESS, MY BROTHER THINKS I'M CRAZY.

I LOVE TO HELP SOMEBODY IN NEED.

BUFFALO NEEDED US.

THEY WON EIGHT OR NINE GAMES BEFORE I GOT THERE.

AND WE NEVER TALKED ABOUT WINNING.

WE TALKED ABOUT WINNING BEING EASY AND THE PROCESS.

ARE YOU WILLING TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

SO WE WENT THROUGH BUFFALO FOR 10 YEARS AND THIS THING CAME UP FOR SYRACUSE.

I HAD FOUR PLAYERS THAT STAYED.

I HAD TO COME UP WITH AT LEAST EIGHT MORE TO HAVE A TEAM.

>> RIGHT.

TO BE ABLE TO PLAY.

>> AND IT WAS A TOUGH TIME BECAUSE EVERYBODY THOUGHT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE.

NO ONE REALLY CAME AROUND TO REALLY SAY HEY, DO YOU NEED ANYTHING?

ARE YOU GOOD?

THERE IS LIV WITH ME RIGHT NOW.

SHE WAS MY MAJOR SUPPORT PERSON THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS AS FAR AS INFORMATION AND MADE THE WORK SEEM LIKE IT WAS GOLDEN WHEN WE HAD NO PLAYERS.

WE WENT AND GOT EIGHT MID MAJOR KIDS THAT REALLY WANTED TO TELL THEIR STORY.

AND WE DID.

AND THAT YEAR WE WON 20 NAMES.

AND IT DOESN'T HURT TO HAVE A YOUNG LADY NAMED DIAJAH FAIR AND GEORGIA AND SONIA WILSON, THEY CALL CAME WITH-- THEY ALL CAME WITH ME FROM BUFFALO AND THEY BELIEVED.

WHEN YOU GET KIDS THAT LA'EL THEY'RE YOUR RIDE OR DIES WITH.

YOU CAN GO TO ALASKA TO BE HEAD COACH AND THEY'RE COMING WITH YOU AND I GOT LUCKY ENOUGH AND BLESSED ENOUGH TO HAVE THREE AMAZING YOUNG LADIES JOIN ME.

AND IT'S BEEN A BLESSING EVER SINCE.

>> YEAH, WHAT I DO KNOW FROM EVEN BEING A MOM OF AN ATHLETE IS THAT THAT PROCESS THAT IT TAKES, RIGHT?

THAT IT'S BIGGER THAN THE INDIVIDUAL.

>> YEAH.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND MY QUESTION AROUND THAT IS, IN TODAY'S AGE, WHERE THINGS HAVE BECOME MORE ISOLATED AND BEING AN INFLUENCER HAS BECOME FULL TIME JOBS... [LAUGHTER] >> SO TRUE.

>> AND THE WORLD OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS IS ALSO CHANGING.

HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN THAT PROCESS, THAT TEAM ORIENTED CULTURE WHEN SO MUCH OF SOCIETY OUTSIDE OF THE SPORT IS KIND OF COMING IN AND REINFORCING INDIVIDUAL SIGNIFICANCE?

>> YEAH, THAT IS GETTING TOUGHER EVERY DAY.

AND SO I TELL MY PLAYERS THIS ALL THE TIME.

ALL WE HAVE IS THE MOMENT.

WE MITE JUST HAVE THIS DAY BECAUSE WHO IS TO SAY THAT AFTER PRACTICE SOMEBODY DON'T GO OUT AND GET HIT BY A CAR.

I HATE TO SAY THAT.

BUT ALL WE HAVE IS RIGHT NOW SO I POUR OUT ALL OF ME INTO THEM FOR THAT PARTICULAR PRACTICE.

THAT PARTICULAR GAME, THAT PARTICULAR TRIP WE TAKE AND/OR THAT YEAR, AND AFTER THAT YEAR, WE GOT TO REEVALUATE WHO IS GOING TO STILL BE HERE.

AND YOU THINK THAT YOU HAVE SAID ENOUGH OR DONE ENOUGH WHERE THEY ALL WILL COME BACK.

THAT ISN'T HOW IT HAPPENS.

WE LOST A MAJOR STARTER THIS YEAR.

WE LOST SOME OTHER KEY KIDS THAT COULD HAVE REALLY HELPED US THIS YEAR.

MY HOPE IS NOT THAT THEY RETURN, BUT MY HOPE IS THAT I GAVE THEM ENOUGH OF ME FROM HIM THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO BECOME THAT VALUABLE PERSON TO THE MIRROR.

>> YEAH.

>> FOR THEMSELVES.

WHEN THEY SIT QUIETLY AND NOT MAKE IT ABOUT NIL OR I HOPE I FIND SOMEBODY THAT DON'T YELL.

MAKE IT ABOUT THEMSELVES.

AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEY BE THEN THIS MOMENT WAS NOT IN VAIN.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S AN EVOLVING SITUATION NOW AND I DON'T SEE IT EVER GOING BACK TO, YOU ARE GOING TO GET A FREE AGENT FOR FIVE YEARS.

THOSE DAYS ARE OVER.

AND I'M ALREADY, BEFORE I EVEN WENT TO BUFFALO, WAS UNDER THAT REALIZATION BECAUSE I CAME FROM A POSITION WHERE I WAS FIRED, RIGHT?

AND SO I GOT TO POUR OUT.

SO WHAT I TRY TO DO NOW IS GIVE IT ALL I HAVE AND ASK EVERY NIGHT BEFORE I GO TO BED, WAS THAT ENOUGH.

AND THERE ARE THINGS YOU ARE GOING TO THINK ABOUT.

NO, I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT.

I DIDN'T DO THESE TWO THINGS.

IF YOU WAKE ME UP IN THE MORNING, THOSE ARE THE FIRST THINGS ON MY LIST.

>> THE FIRST THINGS ON YOUR LIST.

I LOVE THAT.

HE IS SPEAKING TO AND THROUGH YOU RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE I'M THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE, YOU KNOW, COACH OF THE YEAR, THE HISTORY MAKING, THE COMMITMENT YOU HAVE TO NOT JUST SPORT BUT TO THE YOUNG WOMEN THAT ARE ENGAGED IN IT AND EQUIPPING THEM.

BUT I ALSO THINK ABOUT YOU AS A FIGURE, RIGHT, IN THIS WORLD IN AN EVOLVING SENSE OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS, AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST CONCLUDED THE FINAL FOUR AND THE SUCCESS OF THE WOMEN'S TEAM AT U.S.C., AND COACH DAWN AND ALL... >> SHE IS AWESOME.

>> THAT IS HAPPENING.

THAT'S A VERY DIFFERENT MOMENTUM AROUND WOMEN'S SPORTS THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE.

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN PERCOLATING FOR A LONG TIME, YOU KNOW, PLAYING IN THE MIDWEST, I MEAN WE GO INTO NEBRASKA AND PURDUES AND MICHIGAN STATES AND, YOU ARE GETTING 8,000 PEOPLE COMING TO WATCH WOMEN'S GAMES.

IT HASN'T BEEN SO MUCH HERE IN THIS AREA, THE STATE OF NEW YORK, IF YOU WILL, FOR WOMEN'S BASKETBALL.

I MEAN YOU GET 35,000 PEOPLE TO WATCH A MEN'S GAME AND YOU GET 1500 TO WATCH A WOMEN'S GAME BECAUSE WE ARE NOT SEEING PEOPLE LIKE ME ON TV AND SHARING THE STORY AND WATCHING US GROW AND GOING THROUGH IT AND UNDERSTANDING OUR STORY AND I THINK IT'S ALL CHANGED NOW BECAUSE 18.3 MILLION SAY WE SEE YOU ALL AND WE ARE TUNED IN TO 12 MILLION TO WATCH MEN.

NOT TO PUT MEN DOWN, BUT I THINK IN ORDER TO BALANCE THIS THING OUT, IT HAS TO BE AN ASSUREDNESS THAT WE GOT YOUR BACK.

AND WE ARE GOING TO WATCH AND WE ARE GOING TO FIGURE THIS THING OUT.

THIS WIMSZ BASKETBALL GAME AND WE ARE GOING TO TO LEARN THROUGH THE PROCESS, LIKE YOU TAKE YOUR TEAM THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WE ARE COMING AND IF YOU DO COME, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE KAITLYN CLARKS OF THE WORLD, SHOOTING WAY BEYOND, AT THE LOCAL THEY CALL IT.

SEE A LITTLE KID, A YOUNG LADY I SHOULD SAIMED NAME DEAJAH FEAR WHO FINISHED THIRD IN THE SCORING HISTORY OF WOMEN'S BASKETBALL IN ITS TOTALITY AT 3400 POINTS PER GAME AND YOU ARE GOING TO START APPRECIATING WHERE WE PLAY THE GAME UNDERNEATH THE RIM OPPOSED TO MEN ABOVE.

AND IT'S JUST TIME FOR SYRACUSE TO REALLY BUY INTO WHAT WE ARE DOING.

I COULD HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE ELSE.

I DIDN'T NEED TO BE AT SYRACUSE.

THERE WERE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME TO BECOME A HEAD COACH.

I MADE A CALCULATED DECISION TO DUMB BACK AND HELP MY ALMA MATER.

I WANT THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE LEFT SYRACUSE TO WANT TO COME BACK AND SUPPORT, FOR A DAY OR TWO, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO MOVE BACK, BUT TO LOVE WHEN YOU COME BACK AND SEE THE GROWTH, HOW DO DO YOU THAT?

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE AND THAT ARE STAYING, YOU GOT TO GET INVOLVED AND YOU NEED TO LOVE UP ON OUR PROGRAM.

>> I CAN FEEL IT.

I'M LIKE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A "BEHIND THE WOMAN" NIGHT AT THE GAME.

BECAUSE I'M ALSO THINKING ABOUT WHAT THAT SAYS FOR THE LADIES THAT STEP ON TO THE COURT, RIGHT?

AND HOW THAT ENERGY, THAT SUPPORT MAY ENCOURAGE OR HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE A PART OF IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

IF THERE WAS SOMETHING SOMETHING FOR A YOUNG PERSON WHO IS IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR THAT CONFIDENCE, LOOKING TO PUT ON THE UNIFORM AND SAY HEY, I WANT TO PLAY FOR COACH JACK AT SOME POINT, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WOULD TELL THEM, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WOULD WANT THEM TO FOCUS ON?

>> JUST KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN AND TEND TO THE SHEEP.

WORK ON YOUR CRAFT.

GET AFTER IT.

I WAS ONE OF THOSE PLAYERS, PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T HANG OUT WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I JUST KIND OF WORKED ON MY GAME AND I JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, STAYED AROUND MY MOM AND STUFF AND I STAYED SAFE.

I WASN'T A PARTY PERSON.

NOT TO SAY THAT YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

BUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND THE LITTLE WEIRDNESS THAT NOBODY ELSE WANT TO DO THIS KIND OF GO TO THORNTON PARK AND SHOOT HOOPS AT THE CHAIN AND NETS.

I'M BY MYSELF.

BE THAT EAGLE.

AND IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT-- I COULD HAVE WENT-- I WAS A TOP 40 ATHLETE AND COULD I HAVE WENT ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY TO PLAY.

I CHOSE SYRACUSE BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY SCHOOL THAT MATTERED TO ME BECAUSE WATCHING MEN'S BASKETBALL AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GAMES AND SEEING HOW INCREDIBLE IT WAS TO GET UP THAT HILL-- I KNOW MY BROTHERS WANTED TO GO TO SYRACUSE IN THE WORST WAY AND THEY WERE DENIED THAT OPPORTUNITY AND I JUST WATCHED AND LISTENED AND I BECAME.

WHEN I PUT ON THAT UNIFORM, NOBODY KNEW, IT WAS THE MOST EMOTIONAL MOMENT THAT I'VE EVER HAD BECAUSE I DIDN'T GO THERE TO PLAY FIRST FOR SYRACUSE.

I REPRESENTED THE LEGGETTE FAMILY BECAUSE THEY WERE DENIED AN OPPORTUNITY AND EVERY PERSON THAT LIVES IN SYRACUSE CAN BE THAT PERSON AND REPRESENT THEIR FAMILY AS THEY PUT ON THAT UNIFORM, AND IT IS MAGICAL.

AND I DIDN'T TRY TO BECOME THE ALL TIME LEADING SCORER REBOUNDER WHICH I WAS FOR 20 YEARS.

>> I DIDN'T TRY.

IT JUST HAPPENED.

>> I DIDN'T TRY TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS.

WE'VE DONE THAT.

I TRY TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT AFTER THE WHOLE THING WAS OVER WITH, MOO I MOM AND MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS WERE PROUD OF ME BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE WITNESSING WHAT I DID ON A DAILY BASIS BECAUSE THEY COULD JUST COME UP THE HILL AND SEE.

>> IT WAS BIGGER THAN YOU.

>> IT WAS ABSOLUTELY BIGGER THAN ME AND I'M TRYING TO BUILD THIS PROGRAM WITH NEW YORKERS.

I WANT-- I GOT SOME AUSTRALIANS ON MY TEAM, PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

BUT MY, IF YOU LOOK AT MY RECRUITING OF THE LAST YEAR, AND THE PEOPLE I'M BRINGING IN FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON, IT'S LACED WITH THE MECCA OF THE WORLD.

THAT'S WHAT I CALL THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

WE ARE THE BEST SCHOOL IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK IS SYRACUSE.

AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE FROM NEW YORK STATE REPRESENT AND THAT'S WHEN THEY WERE GREAT.

>> I FEEL LIKE AFTER THIS EPISODE WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE PARKS FLOODED.

>> LET'S GO.

IT'S TIME.

>> IT'S TIME.

>> THAT'S WHERE YOU GET IT DONE.

BARRY PARK.

I'M TIRED OF WATCHING BY-- BY WALKING BY THE PARK AND SEEING ONE PERSON THERE.

THAT FENCE WAS LACED WITH PEOPLE SAYING I GOT NEXT.

LET'S GO THORNTON PARK, PERK PARK.

THAT'S MY HOME I HAVE TO SEE IT FLOODED!

YOU NEED BASKETBALLS?

OUR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT CAN BRING BASKETBALLS TO THE AREA TO DROP OR SO PEOPLE CAN SHOOT AND PLAY.

TELL US, COMMUNITY, WHAT DO YOU NEED BECAUSE WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

LET'S PLAY.

>> LET'S GO!

THANK YOU FELISHA FOR JOINING ME TODAY ON BEHIND THE WOMAN, AND ALLOWING US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOURSELF AND HOW YOU ARE WORKING TO CREATE LEADERS ON THE COURT AND IN THE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THIS EPISODE AGAIN, OR WATCH PAST SEASONS OF THE SHOW, GO TO WCNY.ORG/BEHINDTHE WOMAN.

JOIN ME NEXT TIME AS I SIT DOWN WITH WORLD RENOWNED CONDUCTOR, JOANN FALLETA, TO TALK ABOUT HER TRAILBLAZER CAREER.

AND HOW SHE CONTINUES TO INSPIRE OTHERS THROUGH HER WORK WITH THE BUFFALO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA.

MY NAME IS DOCTOR JUHANNA ROGERS, AND ON BEHALF OF THE BEHIND THE WOMAN TEAM THANKS FOR WATCHING.