New Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach Rekha Patterson quickly goes to work

After she was announced as the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach on April 15, Rekha Patterson had to make a trip back to Muncie, Indiana, where she was an assistant at Ball State, to pick up some of her belongings.

The first-time head coach longed to be back in Cape Girardeau with her team and has since had a whirlwind two weeks on the job.

"When I went back to Muncie to pack up a few things I couldn't wait to get back here because these are my girls, this is my team, and we're going to get this thing turned around together," Patterson said with a smile stretched across her face.

Patterson has been with her team for workouts and meetings, spent time recruiting and signing future Redhawks, worked to compile her coaching staff as well as make herself visible in the community at various events, and her enthusiasm hasn't let up so far.

The energy that she's put into the multiple aspects of the job is exactly what she's stressed to the returning players from last season.

The team completed their final on-court workout until the summer on Wednesday.

"Our emphasis has been energy, intensity, positive encouragement and communication and competition," Patterson said. "The quote the first week was 'Choose to be your best.' I'm not asking them to make every shot because realistically they're not, but just be your best in that drill. Work hard. When you get tired push past that point. Know that you've got more in you. That's been the focus. Fundamentals have been the focus."

All 10 players leftover from Ty Margenthaler's squad that went 10-19 and 3-13 in the OVC chose to remain at Southeast under Patterson.

She's spent time meeting with them individually to learn more about them as well as how their goals match up with hers.

"I'm meeting with some of them today and it's just going to be ongoing, all summer, just meeting, talking, finding out what motivates them, how to help them be their best," Patterson said.

The four high school seniors that signed with Southeast during the early signing period in November -- Olivia Crozier, Amber Lindfors and Jennifer and Jessica Mackowiak -- were all granted a release from the National Letter of Intent.

The Redhawks have six available scholarships, according to Patterson, and will possibly sign four or five players.

Fishers High School senior guard Adrianna Murphy, of Fishers, Indiana, signed with Southeast on Thursday.

"I'm not just bringing in bodies," Patterson said. "I want it to be ladies that take pride in wearing a Redhawk uniform, who will bring good attention and again will be a good fit and something that the community will be proud of."

Patterson will continue to reach out to high school, AAU and junior college coaches to introduce herself as the Redhawks coach. She'll also bring more potential 2015 signees in for official visits and evaluations.

Patterson has not finalized who will be on her coaching staff, but said that she did not retain assistants Heather Ezell, Cameron Tucker or Lavesa Glover from Margenthaler's staff.

"I'd like to thank the previous staff for their commitment to the university and these young ladies," Patterson said. "I just felt like it was in the best interest of the program to go in a different direction, but I'm excited about the people that will be coming in hopefully."

In addition to meeting Southeast supporters at regional events, including the Redhawks Road Trips, Patterson has tried to communicate with high school and AAU coaches in the area to drum up interest in the program.

"Can't call enough of the local coaches to build some of those relationships with them and make sure they know that they are always welcome to come on campus for a practice, sit down and talk basketball, whatever the case may be, and then obviously the AAU coaches, that's huge, too," Patterson said.

She'll be in attendance at the Southeast baseball team's game at Capaha Field tonight to throw out a first pitch along with men's basketball coach Rick Ray.

"It's huge because they've got to get to know me, they've got to get know our players and feel like this is their team," Patterson said of visibility in the community. "I want them to take pride in saying, 'Yeah, I'm going to the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball game,' and can't wait to bring their teams and can't wait to get them on campus. Then for the community I want them to be proud and take pride in what we're putting on the floor and they know that I'm giving my best, the players are giving their best and that's something to be proud of."