Sept. 6, 2006

TCU associate head coach Larry Tidwell will be traveling to Scotland for five days this week to work with Basketball Scotland. He and Oklahoma State assistant Jim Littell will host an array of clinics and workshops for high school and professional coaches. This trip is nothing new for Tidwell as he traveled worldwide over the last 10 years to share the passion and love for women's basketball that he so proudly displays on a daily basis. As a TCU and women's basketball ambassador, Tidwell will provide a daily diary of his experience right here on GoFrogs.com so make sure to check back soon!

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GoFrogs.com: Wow coach! What a great opportunity for you to travel to Scotland. Talk about what you have planned.
LT: I will be leaving today and will return late night Sept. 10. I will be working with Basketball Scotland and Donna Finnie, the director of Basketball Development in Scotland. The program helps develop athletes from a young age all the way through their careers. It's sort of the same concept of AAU - it's just more widespread. Right now soccer is the dominant sport but women's basketball is up and coming.

GoFrogs.com: You mentioned Donna Finnie. How did you meet her?
LT: I met Donna by working with FIBA (International Basketball Federation). I have a lot of basketball contacts worldwide that send me to various countries and events to talk about the sport. I do clinics and show coaches and athletes various skills and drills. These events prepare them for coming to America to play at the college level. It helps the international players make a smooth transition to collegiate basketball in the United States.

I cannot say enough how intense and hard-working Donna is. Donna has been working our basketball camps here at TCU five of the eight years we've had them. We have built a relationship. She brings teams over and we take teams over there. Now basketball is not an American sport, it belongs to the world. So, it's imperative that we can come together around the world to celebrate a sport like women's basketball.

GoFrogs.com: What do you hope to get out of the trip professionally?
LT: Professionally, I want to get over to Scotland and spread as much knowledge about basketball as possible. I have a passion for the sport and it's my hope that I display that enthusiasm to the people. I have a lot of different people go with me on these trips because it helps me get new ideas.

GoFrogs.com: Who is going with you and what is your relationship with him?
LT: Jim Littell, an assistant from Oklahoma State, is a good friend of mine. We got to know one another when he was at Seward Community College. He had three JUCO All-Americans out of there; he is a great coach with tremendous credentials. He is really strong in teaching post play. So, we'll work with coaches from all levels when we are in Scotland. We'll cover the whole gamut from post play, to defense, to guard play, to transition defense, secondary options, set plays, etc.

GoFrogs.com: What do you know about Scotland?
LT: This is my second time to Scotland. I have traveled all over the world. I have done clinics in Denmark, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Iceland, and Trinidad Tobago, to name a few. I love to go over there and introduce them to college-level basketball.

I'm an old high school history teacher so you go over and see all the castles and such. The people are really genuine and it's a great society of folks. They have a great culture that you want to know more about. These people are really intent on making basketball a major sport. They are really focused and I enjoy being around people like that. They are driven and work extremely hard.

GoFrogs.com: Any chance you'll get to do anything else in Scotland?
LT: As part of the clinic I am required to play 18 holes on the prestigious Gullane Golf Course, I think they played the British Open there not too long ago - the things I do to continue good international relations between TCU and Scotland are amazing - but, it is part of the job!!

Well, thanks Coach Tidwell and we'll look forward to reading your diaries and viewing pictures during the next six weeks! Spread the love for PURPLE and women's hoops in Scotland!