Let us (re)introduce Coach Adrienne Shibles to Colby’s women’s basketball team! Coming back as head coach, Shibles was raised in Knox, Maine, and began her collegiate coaching career as an assistant coach for the Mules. She went on to establish herself as one of the most distinguished figures in college basketball. Shibles is a member of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame and was the 2019 WBCA Division III National Coach of the Year; she currently brings 419 DIII wins and 12 NCAA Tournament appearances to Waterville.
Returning to lead the program has been a meaningful full-circle experience for Shibles. Her initial weeks have centered on establishing relationships and shaping the vision for the upcoming season. “Colby has always been a special place for me,” Shibles said during an online interview. “It helped shape me early in my coaching career, and the relationships I built here have stayed with me over the years.” She said the coaching staff has been focused on hiring, recruiting, and getting to know the players over these first few weeks.
The emphasis on team relationships has struck a chord within the team as they prepare for their season. Returners like Ana von Rumohr `27 noticed the elevated atmosphere that higher standards have created. “The transition to Coach Shibles as our head coach has been great,” von Rumohr said. “The intensity and expectations have been ramped up in a way that we needed. She has pushed us to create a winning culture both on and off the court. Our core values: grit, togetherness, discipline, and gratitude, are at the center of everything we do, and she holds us to that.”
Emily Ryan `29 highlighted how the coach’s tactical approach aligns with the roster’s strengths, creating widespread buy-in across the squad. The aforementioned shift in intensity is now paired with a fast-paced tactical approach. “Coach Shibles has already brought positive changes to the program that demand a lot out of the team,” Ryan said. “This has created an early feeling of commitment across the team and a hunger to begin competing. I am excited to adopt her style of play, which is very uptempo offensively and defensively. I think that this style fits our personnel very well and will best showcase our skill.”
The team hopes to compete at the top of the NESCAC, but Coach Shibles also emphasizes a slow-and-steady approach. “Our primary goal is continued growth,” Shibles said. “We want to get one percent better every day in how we practice, compete, communicate, and lead. If we focus on the process, hold ourselves accountable, and continue to grow together, we believe the outcomes will take care of themselves.”
The athletes understand the importance of translating off-court friendships into an on-court team dynamic; they recognize it needs trust. As Ryan pointed out, the team’s “close-knitness” has grown into a building drive for excellence. “We’ve focused on holding ourselves and each other accountable, even if that means a bit of tough love because we know it is what we need to reach our goal this season,” Ryan said. With a clear vision in mind, the Mules enter the new season eager to make a mark under Coach Shibles.
~ Mandy Zhang `30
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