Colorado University Athletics

Coach Barry Memories

My favorite memories of Coach Barry? Well, it is hard to say...I have had a lot in three years at CU: waking up at 5:30am to go lift, 21X100m on the track, 27 suicides (for 27 turnovers), breakfast club on saturday morning... hard times but great memories because it is true nothing is impossible. Coach Barry always wanted us to go beyond our limits...and it still helps me a lot now on and off the court. I loved the barbecues we all had at her house at the end of the season. I loved to watch CB bench pressing with 5 pounds on each side (too funny!). I loved all the wins we had... and especially the win against Stanford in 2002 to go to the Elite Eight. I could go on and on... All I want to say is: Thank you Coach Barry for everything you did for me on and off the court. I will never forget you... A bientot
--Virginie Delepine, Saint-Amand-les-Eaux, France

"In the beginning" of Ceal's career, at Cincinnati, things were different for women's basketball. There was the very "tiny" locker-room, and little creepy crawly creatures scurrying around the shower; there was the field house, where we practiced and played, and every Monday we could tell there had been a weekend party by the odor that lingered for days; not to mention the "hum and roar" of the big "fans," in the field house.. the ones circulating air in the ceiling, not in "fans" in the stands; and my favorite memory were the "van" rides to games. The coaches drove, the heaters broke, and after one game, it was so cold in the van, we killed time by writing out plays on the inside of the ice covered windows. O, how far the game and Ceal have come since those days in the early 80's. Despite the distractions, Ceal and her team were very successful, and we learned many life lessons along the way. And as always Ceal handled the program and her players, with dignity and grace, and I'm proud to say that she was my coach.
--Cheryl Getz, San Diego, Calif.

My favorite Coach Barry moment...that's a tough one. But Di already stole my favorite off the court moment...Coach Barry and Tim singing Adelvice (I don't know how to spell it either Di!!). Defintiely a side of Coach Barry that a lot of people don't get a chance to see. Without a doubt, my favorite on the court moment was when we advanced to the Elite 8 in 2002 by beating Stanford. Thanks CB, for everything!!
--Sabrina Scott, Como, Italy

The Walks! The walks in Ames and Lubbock (the cats!) and Manhattan and Vienna ("we haven't crossed a river all day, I'm not crossing it now") and Waco and Austin and especially Lincoln (it was always minus 10 in Lincoln but we never missed a walk - even this year when the university was shut down because of snow!). No one works harder and laughs harder than Ceal Barry. Thanks for letting me walk by your side.
--Kris, Gate 8

"Don't be a coach Elizabeth" at first I didn't understand why you kept saying these words to me...I do now, but I still want to be a coach. I joined the basketball program because I wanted to gain knowledge and learn from the best, and I have. You have more knowledge, insight, and inspiration than I ever thought possible. You are tuely an inspiration and a legend to more people than you will ever know.
Thank you for always making me feel important to the team even though my role was really small. This was a truely amazing experience for me, thank you so much.
And.. if you ever need a point guard, you know who to call!
--Elizabeth Bojanowski, Boulder, Colo.

We had lost against Iowa by a lot two days before, I remember that game, it was my first game as a starter....it didn't go really well though!!!
We knew right away that the next practice would be tough (as always, in fact), really tough but I don't think anybody was expecting that. After a "cool start" Coach Barry asked us to go on the base line and told us to run suicides until she said stop. And at CU Basketball, you don't run suicides in 45''.....35'' at the most. The first ones were ok but we realized pretty quickly that we had to run 27.........as much as the number of turnovers we had against Iowa!! Right now, I still don't know how we actually made it. I would lie if I say that this is the most happiest moment I had at CU but for sure this is the one I will always remember. I understood that day that we had to deserve our Colorado gear (after that game, we were not allowed to wear Colorado gear for a week...) and learned that nothing was impossible (even run 27 suicides). Thank you Coach Barry for everything i've learned from you. It helps me everyday, on.....and off the court!!!
--Caroline Koechlin, Mondeville, France

My favorite Coach Barry Moment was when she took away all our Colorado gear because we stunk so bad in a game, but we ended up responding as a team and had a successful year.
--KJC, Raleigh, N.C.

I was at basketball camp and she called us from the olympics in athens right after the team had won gold! i will never forget that moment, thanks coach Barry!
--Michelle, Lakewood, Colo.

You were one of CU's great coaches of all times! You will be missed!
--Charles Carlson, Longmont, Colo.

I remember well the first game with Ceal Barry as our coach 22 years ago. Last night's game, ceremony and tribute still bring tears to my eyes. I wish Coach Barry nothing but the best and, Ceal, you will be missed by your fans.
I should add that I have been attending CU women's basketball since the very first game played in Balch Fieldhouse in front of about 20 people. Those sellouts were great and they would never have happened without Coach Barry at the helm.
--Linda Robbins, Boulder, Colo. 

I first met coach Barry when she spoke as a guest speaker for the Presidents Leadership Class the fall of 1991. Although it has been over a decade, I still remember some of the things she said that night. She talked about having integrity, and shared about a recent recruiting dilemma and having to choose between doing the right thing versus compromising to achieve short-term success. Near the end of the talk she addressed the topic of inequities between mens and womens athletics and (among others) asked the question "Why does only half of the band show up for women's basketball games?" At that time the pep band was divided into an A group and a B group. Both groups were expected to attend all of the men's games, but the groups alternated for women's games. A few of us in the audience who were members of the pep band were inspired by coach Barry's comments - so we went to the band director and asked if we could volunteer to play at all of the women's games. By the end of that season pretty much the entire band was volunteering to play at all of the games. I respect coach Barry for her on court success, but I admire her more for her integrity and ability to inspire others to make a positive difference in their own sphere of influence.
--Eddie James, Monroe, Wash.

I, for one, was not much of a girls basketball fan before the Ceal Barry era. Now, that is very different, what she has done for those girls, girls basketball, and the game of collegiate sports is incredible.
--Matt, Broomfield, Colo.

When we were kids playing in the back yard the ball would get so cold (wintertime) it would not bounce. ceal and i developed the "hot treatment" which was running hot water over the ball in the bathtub.the ball would bounce perfectly for about another 15 minutes.we were ecstatic.
--Bob Barry, Louisville, Ky.

There are a lot of memories from the last 15 years but one that really stands out for me is a practice involving the 92-93 team. Practice was not going well and Coach Barry finally lost her patience, stopped practice, looked at the team and finally told them; "if you're not going to practice hard then just leave. Practice is over." She then turned her back on the stunned players and started walking to the far end of the court. A few players moved a little ways towards the exit but the majority just stood there looking at each other, at Coach Barry's back and then at each other but nobody made another move towards the exit. By this time Coach Barry had reached the end of the court and turned around suprised to see the team still there. That quickly passed as she told them; "Well, if you are not going to leave then you are going to run" And run they did for the next 30 minutes. I kidded Sherrice King about it later and she told me, "Next time Coach Barry tells us to leave, we're going!"
--Kelly Huettner, Longmont, Colo.

Cannot think of another Women's Basketball coach who has continued to teach basic skills and strategy year after year like Ceal Barry has. She has been a wonderful role model and coach for CU players to help them excel in their "life after basketball".
I have watched Coach Barry for years molding individual players into team players. These CU players graduate mature, grounded, and full of self esteem. They are ready to begin their future with confidence and become successful in their lives.
Coach Barry knows the importance of player's basic skills during competetion, especially, close games. Coach Barry continued to develop individuals into team players. How many NCAA coaches have achieved Coach Barry's coaching record while demonstrating integerity?
More people than Coach Barry realizes are proud of her and her teams. She will be a tough act to follow and certainly understand why she has chosen to step aside.
Good luck to Coach Barry in her new position. You will find sleeping is a daily rest technique. The change will be new, refreshing, and a diffferent kind of challenge. Like your coaching career you will excel in your position.
Next season will be a change for fans and I will miss you along with many thousands of others. My love for basketball will continue getting me to the games cheering for CU.
Wishing Ceal Barry and CU Women's basketball players the best for the remainder of the season and in the future.
I will be at the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City, MO, in March watching the CU Women find a win.
--Jan Weeks
ex-AAU Player and Coach
AAU State and Regional Chairperson
High School Coach
From Oklahoma to Coloardo

My favorite memory of Ceal is when she played shortstop on our softball team. Always a great competitor, on a line drive up the middle she dove toward second to catch it (one out), using her momentum she somersaulted across second base to double off the runner who had left second for third (second out). Finally, as she can to rest on her rear-end she tagged the runner coming from first base (third out.)
The vision, hustle and result that Ceal exhibited on this great play was evident in what she did for the University of Colorado Basketball Program. Coach Barry had the vision to see what could be accomplished at CU and hustled to fulfill this dream. The result was a nationally ranked basketball program. Most importantly, along the way, Coach Barry instilled great values and taught life lessons to her players and provided inspiration to the 1000's of girls in Colorado and throughout our country.
Ceal, now that you are retired, we are getting the old softball team back together. Are you interested? We are offering a year's supply of Skyline Chili and all the Graeter's ice cream you can eat!
Congratulations on a great coaching career at CU.
--Coach Billy, Cincinnati, Ohio

I come to the games and have had season tickets for over 10 years. I come to watch Ceal's passion on the sidelines and to watch her teams mature. I highly respect her philosophy of coaching and the life skills she teasches the kids. i have always liked the fact that she promotes "team" vs. "ego". I lost respect forsome of the players who left because I think their "egos" pulled thm away and they robbed themselves of a wonderful life experience. I have always respected Ceal's honest and integrity and I' m proud that she never compromised that. Ceal will be missed in the gym, but I expect her to have a profound influence in the athletic dept. C.U. made a good choice in giving Ceal and opportunity to influence the athletic dept. at C.U.
--Merri Foster, Longmont, Colo.

One of my favorite memories is from the 1993 West Regional in Missoula, Montana, when the Buffs knocked off defending national champion Stanford. For my daughter and myself, it was a treasured family ritual to follow the team to every game in the NCAA tournament each spring. We were staying at the team hotel, and the next morning after the big victory, the hotel front desk was overflowing with flowers and congratulatory messages for Coach Barry. This was, arguably, the pivotal moment of her career, the game that put Colorado basketball in the national spotlight. She was standing at the desk, taking it all in, clearly touched and a little overwhelmed by the outpouring of affection for the Buffs and the accomplishments of her team. She turned to us with a little grin and said, with classic Coach-Barry-style understatement, GÇ£Looks like we get to stay for a few more days.GÇ¥
--Cathy and Jen Olson, Davis, Calif. (Formerly of Boulder).

It was the Nebraska game in 2001 at Lincoln. After the game my family and I went to the floor to congratulate Coach Barry and ask her to sign my Nebraskans for Colorado flag. She was very gracious and enjoyable to talk with. I have only asked two coaches to sign the flag, Coach Barnett and Coach Barry. I am very honored to have her autograph on the flag. Thanks Coach.
--Tim White, Omaha, Neb.

For anyone privileged enough to know Coach Barry, you'll know what I mean when I say..."THE HILLS ARE ALIIIVE WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIIIC!" Coach Barry loves that movie and turns into a big ham whenever it's on or even mentioned..we teased her about it all the time, but I remember her sticking it in the tape player during a road trip and we actually liked it! Whenever it comes on now I watch it and laugh...can you picture Coach Barry as a singing dancing nun?? (sorry to do this Tim) but one year Coach Barry and Tim Smile sang "Adelvice" (sp?) together....boy was that a moment! CB we'll miss you!
--Di Spencer, Newark, Del.

Coach Ceal Barry was my first inspiration to being a coach. Watching her on the sidelines, the intensity, the class, her contagious smile! I came all the way from Texas just to work one of her basketball camps. I had worked four different Big 12 basketball camps that summer and no other coach was more involved in their camps then Coach Barry! She taught the defense session the entire week. Thanks for all the wonderful memories and most of all.... the inspiration to Coach!
--#1 Fan in Texas

I will remember Coach Barry roaming the sidelines yelling and jestering but always with dignity and class. Also, her warm words and graciousness the few times I was able to speak to her in person for a few minutes.
You will be greatly missed!!
--Ruth Sutton, Broomfield, Colo.

Congratulations Ceal! As a father of 2 young female athletes, I wish that more coaches and individuals involved with girls athletics had your enthusiasm and class. I am confident that your involvement with CU athletics into the future will do nothing but enhance our ethics and class well into the future. I sincerely wish you and your family the absolute best in all future plans. Most of all THANKS for the class that you have shown towards your position and for all of the memories that have provided as the leader of women's athletics in the State of Colorado.
--KCBUFF80, Stilwell, Kan.

The way coach Barry and the team held together in 2000 when basically the entire sophomore class quit on the team. The way she never publicly bad mouthed the players who left and the way she was able to motivate the remaining players to become a very special team. The freshmen class of 2000 will always be one of my favorites because of how they emulated their coach's class and dignity.
A personal memory happened after Coach Barry helped the 1996 Women's Basketball team win an Olympic gold medal. It was an autograph day and one of my friends asked Coach Barry if we could see the ring she was given for being an assistant coach. She casually took it off her finger, handed it to us, and then turned around and continued talking to the people she had been talking to. She trusted us with her Olympic gold medal ring. To me, that personified the way Coach Barry felt about her fans. She always appreciated us, especially those of us who stuck with her during the lean years.
--Maureen Rahrle, Littleton, Colo.

My favorite moment of "Coach" was early in her career at Myers Arena. She faked left, spun to the right and laid the ball in the basket, as I went flying into the peach tree. I discovered early she was very special.
--Dan Barry, Cincinnati, Ohio

In 1992 I had been a die-hard Lady Vols fan for 10 years, but those Buffs teams with Shelley Sheetz, Amy Mathern, and Jamillah Lang came along and stole my heart, and I've been a die-hard Buffs fan ever since. I wrote Ceal a letter and said her team had won me over from the Lady Vols, and she wrote back to tell me how much she and the team enjoyed hearing stuff like that.
--Ken B., Littleton, Colo.

December 17, 1994, I was in the house as CU played Tennessee. That evening we all got posters of our coach, Ceal Barry and that poster has been hanging on the wall in my computer room since that night.
Ceal, you have always been the perfect role model to all your players and fans. You were the "coaches coach!!!" Best of luck to you.
--Fern Oliner, Denver,  1963 CU graduate

MY FAVORITE MEMORIES--CEALLLLL BARRYYY, when we won in overtime and then we almost missed the flight to go back home. Her words,how good she teach. I will never forget .....Hugs.
--Yari, Boulder & P.R.

The way she carried Buff basketball into the national limelight with class and dignity, and pushed her student-athletes to their utmost potential.
--Bob Barry, Louisville, Ky.

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