Storm Coaching Network Q&A: Quacy (Barnes) Timmons, Eastern Illinois University
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Meet the Storm Coaching Network
Get Storm Headlines!As a member of the inaugural Storm squad, 6-5 Quacy Barnes patrolled the paint during the first two years of the fledgling franchise�s existence. Quacy�s playing days also saw her pursue her basketball career with the Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury as well as overseas, suiting up in locales including China, Israel, Italy, South Korea and Turkey. At the conclusion of her time on the court, she moved to the sidelines as an assistant at her alma mater Indiana University. After two years with the Hoosiers, Quacy moved on to Austin Peay for a season and is now in her second year with the Eastern Illinois University Panthers under Head Coach Brady Sallee. Becoming Quacy Timmons after her recent marriage, she uses her years of basketball knowledge to hone the skills of EIU�s post players.
storm.wnba.com: What have you enjoyed most about coaching?
Timmons: The opportunity to teach the game to young women and that I can help young women. It�s exciting.
Was the transition from playing to coaching a difficult one?
The first couple years - well, this is my first couple years, really - but the first year was like, 'If I were playing I would have done this.' But the truth is, you really want to get the players to do what you want to do as opposed to just thinking, 'If I were playing I would do this move and if I was playing I would have done this that way,' but really you�re not playing, so it doesn�t matter how you would have done it. You have to find a way to get your message to that player.
Was it actually difficult to stop playing?
Well, no, there were personal reasons why I stopped. I have a kid, a young boy. He�s 13 now and a 6-5 basketball player. It was time for me to support him and be mom. It just kind of worked out because he�s always around a university setting and he likes sports - he plays basketball, football and baseball, so it�s awesome.
Is there something you miss about playing?
I miss being a size seven, hahaha. When you are playing you�re so fit, you�re just in tip-top condition. And now it�s not like I�m 300 pounds or anything, but I am a woman, and my body doesn�t get worked out as hard as it used to. Being a size seven, that�s what I think I miss the most.
Is there something that you don�t miss, something you�re glad is behind you?
I can�t say travel, because that�s what I do right now for my job. I don�t know, maybe having someone tell me when to run, when to jump and where to go.
Being a part of the first Storm team was there a sense at the time that you were a part of something special?
Oh yeah, I really think that right away the city of Seattle totally embraced the team and when they won the title a few years ago, that was awesome for the city. I think you could just feel the excitement walking around the town and downtown. You could go to a restaurant and people knew you and were excited about the opportunity to have the Storm in Seattle.
Courtesy Eastern Illinois Athletics
Nine players have gone on to coaching from the Storm in only eight years of existence. Do you think there�s something about the Storm which has contributed to that?
I don�t know. Some people say it�s a natural progression to go into coaching, but I hate to say that. I hope that everyone who is in the coaching profession absolutely loves the game and uses it as a way to stay close to the game. There may be some energy there that the Storm has, but I think you have to love your profession in order to be successful in it.
How did playing for the Storm and in the WNBA help you to be a better coach?
You learn to deal with a variety of people, because everybody�s different. Playing in the WNBA, playing in Europe and playing in Asia, I can absolutely deal with anybody. It was great, I enjoy people and I had a chance to travel to every city in America and go to cities to see more diversity. I really enjoyed that part of it.
Had you always planned on coaching after your playing career ended?
Yeah, it�s something I�ve always wanted to do since back when I was at Indiana.
Did you have a coach in the past that still has an influence on you today?
Probably Louis Harvey. He was my high-school coach and he�s still coaching. He was very instrumental in my life. He gets the joy out of all out of our success - I mean, as a school teacher you don�t make a lot of money - but when your kids are successful you get that gratification.
What are the long term goals for your coaching career?
I�d have to say at some point I want to step out on a limb and run my program. Right now I am just continuing to be a sponge and learning, but at some point I want to give it a shot.
Would you want to stay in the college ranks or would you want to move into the WNBA if that opportunity was presented to you?
My dream is to be a Division I head basketball head coach at some point, but if I could take a WNBA assistant position somewhere, I think down the line it would help me progress toward my ultimate goal.
What�s a favorite Storm memory of yours?
Probably hanging out with people like Lauren Jackson, Semeka Randall, Michelle Marciniak and Stacy Lovelace. Spending time with those girls was invaluable. We just had a good time.