MILWAUKEE - She still refers to her players as “my babies;” but the term of endearment by Milwaukee Bradley Tech girls basketball coach Alina 'Doc' Cunningham is often followed by a huge sigh and hardcore snap. “These girls gotta catch the ball.”
This is Cunningham’s baptism of patience as she returns to the basics of basketball and eases her career back into coaching.
NEEDING A BREAK...
In 2008, after eight years of success, conference titles and state tournament appearances at Milwaukee King, Cunningham retired to spend more time with her family.
Cunningham stepped down just before the start of last season as the General’s head coach saying she wanted to spend more time with her family.
A mother of four, a full time school counselor at Francis Star and a demanding coaching regime were starting to take their toll on the 39-year-old.
Within five short months, Cunningham was bored, driving her family nuts, and longed for a return to the game.
“My five- year-old called me a quitter,” joked Cunningham; that June coach decided to get back in the game.
A BRETT FAVRE RETURN..
Bradley Tech finished last year with a record of 1–20 overall and in last place at 0-14 in the Milwaukee City Golf Conference.
“We have about 30 to 35 kids come out for basketball but they’re not focused on basketball; they believe practice is not an everyday thing,” she said.
Although the team is 1-1 so far this season, Cunningham acknowledges – they have a long road ahead.
“I’m like, if you don’t know how to catch I’m thinking we should be here on Saturday and Sunday,” she said.
In an effort to knock down walls and develop team bonding, ‘Doc’ returned to her old-school book of tricks and took the girls on a weekend basketball retreat.
“We did the BINGO name game, team activities, we broke into groups with girls who normally don’t talk to each other and I had a motivational speaker come in.”
Cunningham said the difference at team practice Monday was wonderful. “Oh the retreat definitely helped but we still need a lot of work on catching the ball and making layups.
“I tell them, if you can’t catch and run you need to stay after and practice and work on it.”
COACHING CHALLENGES..
Cunningham is no stranger to situations that need a little more time, tenderness, and tough love.
When she started her coaching career with the junior varsity at John Marshall High School there were four girls that came out and, said Cunningham, they were overweight.
“I was like, are you kidding,” said Cunningham with a good-natured roll of her eyes and a smile.
Hard work and determination, paid off and Cunningham was able to turn the John Marshall program around, notching a final season record of 16-0.
It was a similar story when she started coaching at Milwaukee King; that team only had two wins.
Over a span of eight years, Cunningham built the Generals girls basketball program securing five City Conference titles and two trips to the WIAA state tournament.
“This is all part of the process,” said Cunningham. “You have to go through all this to get to where you want to be.
“These are the same type of kids I’ve had before … they just need to be about basketball.”
NEW DAY…
The Bradley Tech Trojans are 1-1 this season. Cunningham’s team opened their schedule with an 89-13 rout Aqsa Legends from Bridgeview, IL.
In the second game, the Trojans had a reality check when they were overwhelmed by Destiny, 74-25.
The Trojans are on the road tonight with a 7 o’clock game at Milwaukee Ronald Reagan High School.
