New to the blog this basketball season is a series we call 5 on 5: five basketball related questions and five hard hitting questions that everyone wants to know, but only the reporters at Prairie Fire Sports Network have the courage to ask.
Our first 5 on 5 guest is head Coach Kira Mowen. A Pennsylvania native, Coach Mowen comes to Knox after some time at Monmouth University in New Jersey where she showed great success with her individual athletes (NCAA top ten 3pt scorer) and as a team (wins and 35th in defense). Let’s dive into the first five:
PFSN: It’s your first year as a Head Coach at Knox, what’ve been your top three moments from the preseason?
Coach Mowen: My Top 3 moments of preseason would have to involve my players. I thought we had a great first day Oct. 15th they came ready to take on the new challenge. We had a good team BBQ on Sunday the 17th that it was just good to share some time with each other not on the court.
PFSN: You all have put in a lot of hard work so far, what’ve been some things you’ve been working on that we should be looking out for?
CM: We are definitely changing the style here at Knox. Look for the ball to be shared a lot on offense. We are looking to play uptempo and push in transition while also sharing the ball and not having one consistent scorer each game. Defensively we have a whole new strategy that involves multiple defensive looks.
PFSN:Who are your captains/leaders on the team? What have you seen in them that made you select them to be captains?
CM: Our captains are Saxon Alvarez (Jr. El Paso, TX), Kesha Jackson (Jr. Decatur, IL), Catessa Duran (Sr. Albuquerque, NM) and they do a great job of delivering my message. They definitely know how to work and deal with me as a coach and they can communicate that with their teammates sometimes better than when I say it.
PFSN: Some may not know you played guard for the Fighting Illini and Youngstown State Penguins. Give us a highlights from your time as a D1 athlete and how does that experience translate to coaching at Knox?
CM:Competitive Drive. I strived to be the best in High School which got me to where I was as a player. It didn’t come easy so there’s a grit and hard work factor. I’m an undersized shooting guard at best at Illinois but I spent a lot of time in the gym working on my craft to make up for my disadvantages. The same goes for coaching. I haven’t always had an easy path but I’ve had a path of hard work and loyalty for my boss and it has worked out well.
PFSN: Are there any games on our schedule that you’re looking forward to the most?
CM: Any game right now. I’m tired of watching us compete against each other. I think i speak for the whole team when I say that we are excited to face an opponent tonight.
Grit and teamwork. Two words that Coach Mowen both lives by and stresses in her coaching style. With the season starting tonight we are looking forward to seeing how this team embodies this spirit and moves the ball around the court and through the hoop.
Let’s take a look at the five hard hitting questions being asked today that only PFSN is asking:
PFSN: Is a hotdog a sandwich?
Coach Mowen: No. A hotdog is not a sandwich. (*PFSN comment: A meat in an open faced bun. Looks like a sandwich to us….)
PFSN: Where is your favorite local (or Galesburg adjacent) place to grab a bite to eat?
CM: Ironspike, but if I’m looking for cost-effective: Sidetrax
PFSN: What is your Starbucks order?
CM: Right now my order is a grande chestnut praline latte. I love the holiday season. (*PFSN comment: Coach Mowen has an office in Memorial Gym…wink wink nudge nudge)
PFSN: If you had to combine two animals to make one new animals, which would you choose?
CM: no comment.
PFSN: Would you rather fight 100 duck sized horses or 1 horse sized duck?
CM: Which weapon do I get first? But most likely 100 duck sized horses (*PFSN comment: this is the correct answer for all you ‘1 horse sized duck’-ers our there)
As you can tell, we pull no punches at PFSN because you, the loyal fans of the Knox College Prairie Fire, deserve nothing but the best. And speaking of the best, let’s make sure to put on our purple and gold for the Women’s basketball team tonight as they play at Augie. Tip off is slated for 7pm and you can catch the live stream here. We are proud of the hardworking these women have put into the offseason and now we look forward to all the ass they will be kicking. #FireUp
