Episode 69: Ryan Pedon and Kristin Gillespie

John: Welcome to Redbird Buzz. I'm John Twork from University Marketing and Communications. It's that time of year again when the temperature cools off outside, but it heats up inside CEFCU Arena as basketball season is upon us, we're excited to bring you a special Redbird Hoops edition of Redbird Buzz today with men's coach Ryan Pedon and women's coach Kristen Gillespie. Coach Gillespie will join us later on, but first, we're happy to be joined by Coach Pedon in his fifth season as the head coach of the Illinois State men's basketball team. Coach Pedon arrived at Illinois State in March of 2022 after five seasons as an assistant coach at Ohio State University for head coach Chris Holtman, and before that he was an assistant at Butler, Illinois, Toledo, and Miami University. Coach Pedon played college basketball at the College of Wooster, where he was a three-year letter winner and earned a degree in communications in 2000. It's my pleasure to welcome Redbird Men's Basketball Head Coach Ryan Pedon to Redbird Buzz. What's the word, Redbird? Coach Pedon, we're recording this episode the Wednesday before the start of the 2026-2027 basketball season, which starts on Monday at St. Mary's. Just tell us what's keeping you busy this time of year with less than a week to go before the season starts. Yeah, sure. Great to be with you. First of all, this is this is a lot of fun, and it's a great time of year for a basketball coach or player. This is an exciting time of year. 

 

Ryan: All the work that you put in in the off season begins to take shape now, and the games count. We've had some productive exhibition games. Learned a lot about our team here in the off season and in the early preseason, and we're excited to tip it off. We've got a very challenging schedule early, especially, but all in all, that's what we want. We want to be challenged. I think that's the the way the way to the greatest way to improving your team is to challenge them. You know, we don't want it easy. You're only going to grow and learn through adversity, and some of the environments and the opponents that we have early are really going to challenge us and force us to become our best through through some adverse conditions. You mentioned those two exhibition games. One of those was here at FQ Arena against Northwestern. Of course, Northwestern coached by Doug Collins' son, Chris Collins. That was a special game. Of course, Doug was back for that. He even helped coach each team. Right, splitting time. 

 

John: What was it like to have Doug back for that game, which the Redbirds ended up winning?

 

Ryan: Well, I'll tell you this: First of all, very thankful that Chris brought his team. Most most Big 10 coaches won't even do that, and for him to be able to bring his team here, that means a lot. First and foremost, says a lot about him. Doug having Doug here in the house and being here for the weekend made it even more special. I know it was a very special thing for their family. It was for us as well. Having the greatest player to ever play at Illinois State here, his son on the other sidelines, and a lot of love in the building. So it was it was it was a lot of fun. But it was truthfully it was really cool to see to see what it meant to the Collins family, to Doug, and also to Chris. Yeah, absolutely. We'll talk about the highly anticipated upcoming season here in a few minutes. The Redbirds pick to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll. 

 

John: But before we get into that, I want to talk a little bit about you, Coach Pedon. This is your first time on Redbird Buzz. Tell us a little bit about your background. You grew up in Ohio, right? Like, when did you first pick up a basketball? How did basketball become ingrained in your DNA? Tell us about a little bit about your background. 

 

Ryan: Yeah, sure. So for for whatever reason, basketball has always been the apple of my eye, and I've been a basketball fanatic since I was very young. I was into sports, but basketball, by far and away, was what drew me in. You know, I can remember my dad installing our hoop in our driveway. We had lights in the backyard, and then he had to put some perimeters on. You know, what time I had to cut it off at night. I was keeping the neighbors up, so I've just always had an affinity for the game. The love of team sport has has always drawn me in, and I think the sacrifice and what's required of an individual to in a group of individuals to comprise a winning team, a winning program, a winning organization. What that has meant to me personally, I can't put it into words. It's taught me so many lessons: the game of basketball, the sacrifice that's required, and the commitment level to to be a part of something special. And be a part of something bigger than just yourself. So it's been a lifelong love affair that I couldn't have imagined it turning out as it has. Right, but that's life. That's life. I think the visions you have as a kid, you want to play the NBA. Rubber met road very quickly for me. There coming to the realization that wasn't going to be an option, but kind of morphing that into a career for myself, you know, and where that has taken me, the places it's taken me, the relationships that I've benefited from over the course of, what, 27 years. This is a this has been one heck of a journey, and I'm very thankful for my experiences, and I'm very thankful to be here at Illinois State. And you've gotten to pass on that love for basketball to your own son. 

 

John: And how special is that? 

 

Ryan: It is. It is. Maddox is an only child, so for me to have a boy that does love the game like he does, I've said all along I didn't want to force him to, you know, follow in my footsteps, or to  force him into the basketball world. I want that to come naturally for him. I think his love of the game has has grown in his childhood, and if I can continue to get him unplugged and away from his devices a little bit more, I think the results will follow him on the court. He's got a chance to be, I think, a really good player. Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah, I know you talk a lot about how basketball has the ability to teach life lessons, and that's maybe the most important thing of it all. What has basketball taught you, especially when you were growing up as a player? Yeah, so many life lessons. You know, the humility first of all, required to be great at anything in life. The adversity that you know I had to fight through as a young man to a get what I wanted. Right, I wanted to be as good as I could possibly be. I wanted to play in college, and the sacrifices. You know, you can't be like all your other friends. You gotta sacrifice certain things, and the lessons that that taught me early in life. When I get to when I got to college at the College of Worcester, you know, they didn't tell me in the recruiting process process that there was even a JV team at the college level, and come fall of my first year, I was suiting up and practicing with our JV college team. And you want to talk about humbling? That was very humbling. Coming home at Christmas because I wasn't required to stay with the varsity team, and sort of having to dig myself out of that, I can remember that was one of the most, I think, time period that was probably the most humbling of my life. And we all need that in life. The adversity of being in a position like that, and and then becoming a valuable member of the program over the course of the next three years. Yeah, it taught me so many lessons and the sticktoitiveness that's required, right? The grit, the tenacity to stay with it in the midst of not getting the results that you want, maybe, or having to find your way when you can't see a way. There's so many great life lessons that I've learned through the game, and then becoming a coach. I think very much the same. It parallels life, and that's one of the things that I try to impart on on our players is, you know, how your your your perfect vision of how life will go, right? When you're 18 years old, it just doesn't always end up like that, and that's not a bad thing, right? That that it's our job as humans to make that a great thing, and what the game has taught me in so many ways has helped me be able to pass on to the next generation and to our players, and hopefully take some life lessons that they are learning and apply them to their own personal lives. You were an assistant coach for a long time, so patience maybe too. And I know you were waiting for the right opportunity to become a head coach, and then Illinois State popped up, and and and you sprung at that chance. That was five years ago. Hard to imagine. 

 

John: I was at that introductory press conference, and it seems like yesterday. But tell me, how has that five years gone? Was was that a good decision that that you made to to make the move to be the head coach of the Illinois State men's basketball team. 

 

Ryan: Yeah, absolutely. The reasons that I chose to pursue this job in the first place are the are the reasons that today I look back and I and I think that those were very accurate thoughts of mine, I think some of the background that I'd done on the job is it was a passionate fan base. I feel very much that after being here for five years, it's a great town, it's a great city to raise your family in. I very much feel that. I also think it had a whole lot of untapped potential, which I think we're just scratching the surface of. But we're showing our fan base, we're showing our alumni, we're showing our university and our community what this can become. And you know, we have three goals here. We have three main program goals. Our players know this: number one, to become the standard of excellence in the Missouri Valley Conference. We're not there yet, but we're on the cusp of it. It's right there. Number two, to become a real player on the national stage, and we've done things in the last two years that you know we should all be proud of. We've been on national TV 17 times in the last three years. We're 14 and three in those games. Wow! Putting our brand out there, our university brand, our program brand, establishing Red Bird basketball on the national stage. Of course, playing in two postseason tournaments, national stage. Lastly, you know, our third goal is to do things here at Illinois State that have never been done before. And again, like I can say, for all three program goals, real signs that we're on our way to doing all three, but we're not there yet, and it's right within our our grasp of doing all three of those, and that's keeps us it keeps us chasing, it keeps us hungry. I think our bunch this year is a very determined group, a very competitive group, very humble and hungry group, and the hungry dog gets the bone. That's what we we talk about that a lot. And you know, we got a bunch of hungry guys eager to prove themselves as a as a unit and represent Illinois State as we feel should be. Well, let's dig into this year's team a bit more. Picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll, our listeners are probably well aware of some of the key returners. Chase Walker averaged almost 14 points a game last year. Johnny Kinzinger averaging 12 points a game. Those two guys are back. Also Mason Claybo, another starter who's returning. So right off the bat, three starters returning. But but tell us just about you know you added some newcomers as well. 

 

John: What do you have to say about the 2026/27? What should our fans expect to see when they hit this FQ arena floor here next week? 

 

Ryan: Absolutely. First off, I I hope that for for any of our teams that a consistent brand of basketball is presented every time a fan walks into the building, whether that be for practice, games, workouts, anytime they're around our team. You know we have four basketball values that we abide by, and we talk about really incessantly. Dominate the effort plays. Be a great teammate. Set the rules of the game, set the rules of the competition, and play with an edge. And those are four things that I hope our program will always represent, regardless of year, regardless how many guys we have back. I think in this era, you've got to be very intentional about communicating who we are, what we're all about, what our standards are, and as coaches, upholding those, holding holding our players to a very high level of accountability, high standards. Those are the things that we can control: the attitudes, the effort, the competitiveness, the toughness that we bring on a daily basis, how connected we are, things like that. This year's team, you know, we do return three starters. That that's a great place to start from. We're the only school in our conference that does return our top two leading scorers, and you know, I think a lot of the narrative has been around that right there. The part that isn't probably talked about enough is we have nine newcomers, and on a 15-man roster, that's 60% of your rosters are new. So they have never, as of a couple months ago, never gone through a practice that don't know and understand our core values, our basketball values, our program goals, as we've talked about, things like that, our standards, and you got to be very, very, very intentional about not just communicating, but you know, ensuring that your team on a daily basis is acting those out, is living those out, and it's not just you know coach speak. So we we we talk a lot about you know putting our money where our mouth is. The substance that's required part of any great company, program, basketball team, organization. There's substance behind. There's always substance behind what they set out to do. Who they set out to be, and we've got to be about all the right things and do those on a daily basis. And this year's team, I've been very pleased with them. I think we have a long way to go, but as we start this season, our ceiling is so far out there. I don't think we can see that yet. But I've really enjoyed being around them on a daily basis, and I've really enjoyed how they've competed. 

 

John: For those returners, how valuable was the NIT experience last year? You mentioned trying to accomplish things for Redbird basket that have never been accomplished before. 

 

Ryan: Well, making it to the NIT semifinal never had been done before, and and there you were against Auburn and the historic Hinkle Field house where you coached with Butler, but tell me what that experience did for those returners and what they can take away from that going into this year. Yeah, I think I think anytime you you play postseason basketball, that brings a level of confidence to your group and especially your returners. You know, we talk a lot about shared experiences, right? And those gentlemen that were playing in the game, that were suiting up for 

 

us, even the kids that were red shirting, Isaac Erickson and Nick Allen last year didn't play, but they were a part of that. That's invaluable. I think we're all a product of our experiences, right? And I hope that Chase Walker and Johnny Kinsinger and Mason Clabo are better players. It brings them more confidence. It gives them a higher level of understanding of what it takes to get there. Those experiences can be very, very valuable. They don't promise you anything. They don't guarantee you anything. But I think if you channel those in the right way, like most of what we encounter in our game, I think you you can really draw some real confidence from that, knowing that you've you've had some impressive wins in the postseason, that the Missouri Valley prepared us for those battles, and for two years in a row, have done really well in our postseason tournaments. Absolutely, Illinois State this year is one of two schools in the NCAA to return two players who've scored 1000 or more points at their institution, and also they're one of just 12 schools in the country to return their top two scores. As you mentioned, the only team in the Missouri Valley Conference to do that. Those two players, of course, being Chase Walker and Johnny Kinzinger, they've been here for four years. Not many programs in the country would be able to keep players of that caliber for four years. 

 

John: How did Illinois State do it? 

 

Ryan: Well, I think you know I've been asked that question a lot, and first thing I always start with is is you're dealing with very special young men, and if we're talking Johnny and Chase, both guys that have been here for four years, Ty Blake, I would throw in there as well. Ty is a local product, and he's he's returning for his fourth year. Very special people, first of all. Secondly, I think they they've really attached themselves to this community, not just the program, not just our fan base, but the community as well. And it's one of the things that I felt coming into this job was I thought that if we're going to ever become the best that we can be consistently, our community was going to be a major part of that. The relationships they formed, the opportunities now in this NIL era that have opened doors for all of those guys, and I think that they believe strongly in what's going on here. You know, I think when when in life for all of us, when when you feel like you're a part of something that's very healthy, and you're part of a let's just say you're part of a company that you come to work every day and you enjoy coming to work, you know you're getting better. You know people are around you are pouring into you and your growth and your development. You know we're we're all human beings, and we want to be a part of those types of opportunities, whether it be a college basketball program or a company, an organization. And I think they've owned their growth; they deserve all the credit for their growth. But I think that it's not probably one or two things that they've reasons as reasons they've stayed. I think it's a conglomeration of all of these things: the fan base, the success we've had, the community, the environment, the ecosystem that they're living in and working in daily, and then beyond all else, how they feel about their experience. Yeah, one of the things that we teach our players: people in life may forget what you say, they may forget what you do, they'll never forget how you make them feel, and I think the feeling that Chase and Johnny and Ty Blake have towards our program is special, and I think. I think they're just touching the the tip of the iceberg of what they can become, and I feel that same way about our program. We're sure glad to have them back for their senior seasons. It's going to be an exciting year, 

 

and and it's been a five years since you've been since you started here. Those five years have been a sort of a disruptive period in college basketball, to say the least, right? Sure. Rule changes and NIL and so forth, and and this year both at the conference level and at the national level, some changes to the postseason competition. So I want to talk about those real quick. At the conference level, the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament is combining the men's and women's championships under one roof at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. That'll be march 3 through the seventh, 10 teams of 11 qualify. So if you're in 11th place, you don't make the conference tournament. That's the first time for that. And then the number one and number two seeds receive an automatic bye straight to the semifinals. So just give me your thoughts on on that change. And and you know obviously that's a huge change to the postseason, but it kind of impacts the regular season as well. And and then really incentivizes at least finishing above 11 and finishing there in the top two, right? Yeah, absolutely. First of all, touching on both the men's and the women's tournament being in St. Louis, I think this is long overdue. I think it's a great idea, not a good idea. I think it will turn out to be great, in my opinion. Anytime you have change, you're going to, especially with social media as it is today, you're going to get all kinds of opinions, right? And both sides could be the greatest change in the world, and you're going to get negative opinions towards it, right? So I think let's let it play out and and see how it goes. But I do know this. I've been here four years, going into year five. I've what I knew of the the Valley Tournament and Arch Madness from afar has only you know increased. Like the thoughts I had have only increased since I've been here and been a part of it. It is a special weekend. It is a lot of fun. It's one of the most storied conference tournaments in the country, and we have a unique stage and platform because we're playing our championship game on at a day and time when the whole nation's watching. Right. It's very unique. So having the women a part of that, I think, will only add to the experience. You know, the changes that have been made. I think there's there's been a lot of opinions about those, and I think the the worst thing that we could do is stay the same and stay in neutral, because you know, with all of the changes that have occurred, you alluded to those. So many of those changes in college basketball have affected the way that the tournament is seated and the way that it bids are awarded. And it's a lot harder when you're in a mid-major conference or a perceived mid-major conference to get automatic or I'm sorry at large bids. It's a lot harder than it was 10 years ago because of the super conferences and because of the way the metrics have been skewed. It's hard to get preseason games against really good teams, if you're a good team from the Missouri Valley Conference, it's damn near impossible. Yeah. So it does, you know, the changes in the tournament. I think do present opportunity for us to protect our top teams, and whether people like the changes or not, it does put our top teams, or those most likely to potentially get an at-large selection, puts them in a more advantageous position. Sure, and it does put more onus on the regular season. You know, it's a 20-game gauntlet, John, as you know, and this is a this is a great conference, a well-coached conference. Those 20 games should really mean something. I believe that it's also going to put a lot on institutions. Like if you want to be have a chance to be one of the two teams that gets a buy in in St. Louis every year, the level of commitment has got to match those expectations or those hopes, those desires, right? And I'm sure when you look up and down the valley, there's a probably a fairly wide variety of commitment level. Well, now schools can position themselves through recruiting, through the resources that they're pouring into their revenue sharing, to really position themselves to be in a very not a sort of a very advantageous position by being one of the top two seeds that gets a double buy all the way to Saturday, right? And then some of those late season games, if if there's a close race in the stand. Those are almost going to feel like playoff games, right? The added importance because you know each of the years I've been here, there's always been some tiebreakers, right? There's always been a we we were we benefited last year because of some of our wins throughout the regular season, and we were the three seed in the tournament. But the difference between the three seed and the the six seed was one game right, and you know Northern Illinois proved, or I'm sorry, Northern Iowa proved how how good they really were when they got to St. Louis and had just a tremendous run. So it's different. I get it for the traditionalists and those that have been going to the tournament for years and years. It'll be slightly different, but I think if we all just take a deep breath, give this a chance, give it an opportunity, and let's let's see how this plays out. It's all done with good intentions for our league. It's all done very strategically as well. And Jeff Jackson knows what he's doing. Some of the scheduling changes we've made here in the last few years and requirements have helped to elevate our metrics as a conference, and I'm anxious to see how this plays out. 

 

John: Another change on the national scale is the expansion of the national tournament from 68 to 76 teams. So there's going to be a 12-team opening round instead of the first four as held in Dayton every year, how does that impact a school like Illinois State? Does that help mid majors, or are they just going to pack more high majors into into that 12 additional teams? 

 

Ryan: You know, I think I think the the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. I don't think that you know the mid majors will occupy six of the eight extra bids. I don't think that. But my hope is that conferences like Missouri Valley Conference, we're in a position, and we're going to be positioned to have an opportunity. Won't guarantee us anything, but our league will have an opportunity to be one of those conferences that really does benefit from it. I don't, I don't think it impacts conferences, you know, across the nation. Sure, like you know, maybe we would we would hope, but it it does. We are in a conference where it does matter, and the the goal in our league should most definitely be to get multiple bids every year, not some years, every year. And there's a lot that goes into that. Obviously, having a great non-conference is part of that, but the resources, you know, that that that conferences and schools are pouring in. And man, it has really changed. The landscape here has changed in in across college basketball, and and I think there's a there's a real opportunity for schools like Illinois State to be in position over time and have a shot to be a part of a multiple bid Missouri Valley Conference. 

 

John: Last question, refocusing on your team, Coach Pedon. What's it going to take? You've got Chase Walker, Johnny Kinzinger, Mason Mason Claybo back. Johnny and Chase are seniors. You know the thing that you haven't achieved yet is making it to the big dance, and and and so that's like a box that's left unchecked. How do you check that off this year with this team? 

 

John: Yeah, so I think you know we have the next five plus months here to to you know determine our fate to tell our story, you know, and and in most cases, you know, let's hope we can we can be in position and to to be an at large type of team. But in most cases, most years, you know, it's going to come down to two, three, or four days in in St. Louis, and you know, for us this year, I think the thing that I I really do like is I think that our our painting is just starting. We people know Chase Walker, and they may know Johnny Kinsinger, and they've started to learn about Mason Claybo. But I think he's going to make a real jump this year. But the rest haven't been a part of this ride yet, and so we've got this blank canvas ahead of us. I think Chase Walker he's got to grow and develop and evolve can't be the same exact Chase Walker of years past. He's been damn good, but can can he elevate and and evolve as a player that can go to even higher levels? Johnny Kinzinger the same way, right? And that's something I'm always pushing with our team is we're we're not going to ever get stuck here in this neutral position. We've got to put this thing into overdrive, and to do that, we have to challenge our team, but we have to challenge our individuals as well to grow, and develop, and evolve to do things that they have never done before. And those guys will will most definitely be leading the way, but. The rest of our newcomers and freshman group that we have, and the two young men that came off of red shirts, I'm just really anxious to see what we can become, and my hope is that we do face adversity early, and that we are prepared for battle because our story will ultimately be told in the months of January, February, March, and if you're a coach in the valley, you live for those months. And I'm so excited! I'm so excited to be a part of this program. It means a lot to me. I say this often, but being the head coach at Illinois State means a lot to me as a person, and being the head coach here stands for something. And I hope that we represent our program with first class, with dignity. But I hope when people come to watch us play, they see a group of guys that play for each other, that play for the name on the front of their jersey, and love doing it together. Think there's so many ways to inspire people in life. We have a we have a theater out there, right? That we we step on that 94 by 50 foot court. We have an opportunity to inspire people that come watch us play, and I think this is a team that has great potential to do so this year, so I'm really excited and thankful to be here at Illinois State with my family. Being able to raise my family here has been it's been awesome. 

 

John: You said coaches live for January, February, March. So do basketball fans, and we're so excited that basketball season is upon us. Thanks, coach, and best of luck this season. 

 

Ryan: Thanks a lot. I appreciate it. Thanks for having me. 

 

John: That's Illinois State men's basketball head coach Ryan Pedon. The Redbird men's basketball team tips off the season Monday, november 2 at St. Mary's for a 9 p.m. Central Time game that you can watch on ESPN Plus or listen to on WJBC 12:30 a.m. and on the Varsity app. Your first chance to see the birds in action at home is Thursday, november 5 at 7o'clock against Central State. We hope to see you there. Thanks again to Coach Pedon for joining us, and keep on listening as Women's Basketball Head Coach Kristen Gillespie joins us next right here on Redbird Buzz. 

 

John: Welcome back to Redbird Buzz. I'm John Twork. Our 2026-2027 Illinois State basketball preview continues with Redbird Women's Basketball Head Coach Kristen Gillespie, who's in her 10th season at Illinois State. And during that time, Coach Gillespie has led the Redbirds to postseason bids in six consecutive seasons, including advancing to the WNIT championship game last season, and they posted 20 plus wins in four straight seasons. Coach Gillespie joined Illinois State in 2017 after head coaching stints at Lewis University and Benedictine University. Before that, she was an assistant at UIC, a grad assistant at her alma mater, North Carolina State, and an assistant at UC Santa Barbara and UCF. As a player at NC State, Coach Gillespie was a four-year letter winner and a three-year captain for the Wolfpack, coached by Nay Smith Hall of Famer Kay Yao from 1996 to 1999, advancing to the Final Four in 1998. So it's my pleasure to welcome Redbird women's basketball head coach Kristen Gillespie to Redbird Buzz. What's the word, Redbird? Coach Gillespie, you start the season on Monday, 6:30 p.m. here at SFQ Arena against Chicago State. Just what are you up to these days? You have the final countdown is on for for that season tip off. So, as a head coach, what are you doing, making final preparations for the season? 

 

Kristen:Yeah, I always say our players cannot wait till Monday. I wish we could have a few more few more weeks, but I think that's just the life of a coach. You know, we have four practices before our first game because we're off on Friday, so it's just like final tune, you know, just tune-ups, just making sure like we're going through all like different situations that could arise. You know, you spend the the bulk of the summer and the fall just building your identity and and getting your fundamentals down and your defensive principles. Now it's just those things that what could happen in a game at the end of the game that maybe we're not prepared for sure. So anticipating something that might happen in February, and you're ready for it now. Yes, you know you're always trying to see into that crystal ball. Sometimes I'm I'm good at it. Sometimes I miss something. So I'm trying to to not miss anything. Well, coming off of last last year's postseason trip, all the way to the WNIT championship game, you know the Redbirds are picked to finish second in the valley this season. We'll talk about the team. There's a lot of hype around this team. 

 

John: Well deserved. We'll talk about that in a minute. But first, I want to talk about you a little bit, Coach Art. This is your first time on Redbird Buzz, and we're glad to have you. But but tell us a little bit about your background. I know you were born in Illinois, but grew up in Florida, and basketball has always been a part of your life, so take it from there. 

 

Kristen: Yeah, I did. I grew up in Joliet, lived there for most of my childhood. Okay, I come from a a coaching family. I'll start with my grandfather Gordy Gillespie. He coached for oh my goodness, 55 years or 54 years, just about every sport, you know. He even got a one year at the College of St. Francis women's basketball. He used to always like to tell me about those days. But most known for he was won back to back to back national championships at Lewis for baseball. He's a legendary coach at Joliet Catholic football. You talk to any local high school coaches that usually know my grandfather. Sure, my father was a basketball coach. Started at the high school level, worked his way up to be a Division One coach. My uncle Bob Gillespie, longtime collegiate basketball coach. His son Scott is actually on my staff. My brother used to be a collegiate coach. So I tell you what, my poor mom. She is the real saint in this family of putting up with us. But it was just something that it was always around, and I always I fell in love with the game from an early age. It was nothing that was ever forced on me. It was just you know I grew up around my dad's guys, and I grew up you know not necessarily knowing I wanted to coach, I think that really came to me at my time at NC State. Coach Yao was my first female coaching role model, and I was blessed with having my father and my grandfather. But I don't know, there was something that during my time at NC State that was really, man, this is what I want to do, but yeah, I was just I had a great childhood. Just grew up in the gym. I always say, if you ever seen the the movie Remember the Titans, I was not Denzel's daughter. I was the other. I was a little girl yelling about defense and and whatnot. But it was just that's all I knew. Yeah, and you know, I just I'm so blessed to still you know be around the game that that I've loved since a little girl. Yeah, absolutely. Your dad made it to the NCAA tournament as a coach, right? I mean, twice. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, like, not only coaches, but incredibly successful coaches. And you know, what what are some things that you, as maybe a player, and then also as a coach, have taken away from your family experience? Yeah, I just think from a young age you don't understand, but like just the impact that my dad and my grandfather had on the on the guys that they coached. I mean, I can't tell you how many weddings or birthdays or baby showers that I got dragged to, and I didn't understand what was going on. But you know, the older I got, and then going back to different like reunions, or if you know one of them were inducted into a Hall of Fame, and just hearing people talk about them and the impact that they had on their lives, and you know, I just thought it was so cool that they just coached basketball, and I looked at it from that point of view. But just you know, I'll never forget, like at my grandfather's funeral, the line at the wake. I mean, it was all day, and just to hear people come up and say, "Hey, Gordy never coached me, but I was in a PE class for one semester," and it's just like mind blowing the impact that that you can have on people's lives, and and that's what I strive to do. I hope I can have be the half the coach that both of those men have coached y'all were, but I think if your why is is centered of of impacting lives and trying to make a difference, you know, that's when the the magic really happens. Let's talk about Coach Yao. You you got to play for her at North Carolina State. What was that experience like, and and what did you take away from playing for Coach Yao? Oh, it was awesome. You know, it's contrasting style. between my grandfather and my father. You know, I don't think I ever heard Coach Al swear, and I can definitely not say that about my grandfather or my dad. So it was really neat to see a different coaching style. You know, my dad and grandpa they were very fiery, and and but Coach Yao was extremely competitive, but just in a different way. And it was the first time I was like, oh wow, you can. There's a different side to the coin, you know. And it was just the the neat thing about Coach Yao, and and as she was in her final final you know years battling, she battled battle with breast cancer for 20 years. There was a lot of you know publicity, and she made her her you know her struggle, her message, and trying to help people. Every collegiate coach that talked about her would say the same thing: like she never had an enemy, and to be in this this profession for 34 years, and and not have someone disagree, or you know that's that's something that's saying something. You know, I don't. I just the way she led, she was a strong Christian woman. The way she treated everyone, you know, she had that gift that when she talked to you, it was like you were the only person in the room, and you just wanted to play so hard for her. And I mean, she's Olympic gold medal coach. She's in the women's basketball hall. The Naismith Hall of Fame. So you just knew you're around someone really special, and you know I just tried to learn as much as I could from her. Yeah, Coach Yao, like legendary former ISU women's basketball coach Jill Hutchison, played such a crucial role in developing women's basketball into the sport we know and love today, and I think more people probably love it today than have ever loved it before. 

 

John: I saw a story just recently. Viewership was up 33 percent year over year in 2026. The national championship game drew 9.9 million viewers last year. From your perspective, as as someone you know who played in the late 90s and who's coached for a long time now. What's it like to see the game grow to the point it is now? And then, what what are you doing to help keep it growing? 

 

Kristen: You know, I tell you what, it's amazing. You know, I just to know where we came from. You know, growing up, the only time women's basketball was on was the national championship game, so I never saw. I was a huge, I was a huge Duke fan growing up. I know I went to NC State, but I mean like Coach K and Johnny Dodge, like because that's what that was on TV, you know. And it was just what I love is that little girls now. I'm a big believer. You got to see it to believe it, you know. See it in representation. It's this is the norm, you know, and I think it is so cool. Not just for little girls. I have a an eight year old boy, Beckett. He's in second grade. He has more WNBA jerseys than he has NBA. He prefers so, and it's not. Yeah, it is on. But he, I, I just I love that little boys and girls are growing up seeing women be able to do whatever you know. It's so accessible on TV, and I just I think it's a long time coming. I think I will say I think our product is better than it's ever been. Sure, you know which helps like the athleticism. The level of play is. Thank goodness I played when I did. I would not. I would not be a Final Four point guard. I'll tell you that for free. I'd be getting someone water at the end of the bench. I definitely played when I was supposed to play, but it's just it's an exciting brand of basketball. But you know, I think back like you know, I was young, but I've read a lot about it. Like when Michael Jordan was coming through and how he totally changed the NBA. I think you're seeing similar things to Caitlin Clark, sure, like that type of impact that she's having, and then with Angel Reese and some of these really young players, I mean, all eyes are on women's sports, especially women's basketball, and it's just not in our country. It's becoming globalized, and I don't know. It's just how exciting for for the next generation. You know, I was really blessed. We had great crowds at NC State, but now to see it's the norm, and I just feel like my job in this is just to continue to to get our players out in our community. I just I want them to be the best role models for for the young people, and we do an amazing job in elementary schools. I want young families to come to our game and fall in love with our players like I have, and you know really try to build that fan base in the Bloomington normal community. Yeah, I actually got to play Caitlin Clark in the NCAA tournament, right? 

 

John: Yeah, what was it like? 

 

Kristen: No, it was awesome. I mean, what a great. I mean, I would have really preferred not to have to do that, you know. But it, but it's such a cool and you know one of our players that year, Mary Crompton, one of the best shooters. Yeah, she's from Iowa City, just a dream come true for her. But it was, I mean, that team was so good. Kate Martin, I mean, they had two WNBA draft picks there, but I mean, she was as good as advertised, you know, and she's just she's like the Pied Piper of fans, like to play in that environment. I mean, it was we were the first round game, and it was standing room only. And hey, if you're gonna do it, I'd rather do it like that than go to somewhere where maybe they don't care as much, you know. But it is cool to say, you know, we have great picture of Juju Redman, who is our best player on the on the floor. That that she's she's shooting it over Caitlin in our office, and it's it's an awesome picture. Just a great memory, you know. Juju will tell you she got fouled, but I don't know. I don't think it was called. I'll take your word. Yes, coach, you worked your way up the college coaching ranks. You know, you were at, and this this was your first Division One job in 2017. You took took this position. Why did you decide that this was the right fit for you? And kind of as you reflect, you know, what why has it worked out so well for you here in the past decade? Yeah, what I'm most proud of is I think sometimes individuals that have played at a really high level they kind of stay at that level, you know, and it's just like it becomes like oh well you're just going to get these jobs and with Coach Yao I was kind of on that track I was a you know a mid major assistant then I got hired back at NC State and when Coach Al passed. Kind of shook everyone's world up a little bit, and I ended up getting a job. It was just one of those weird cycles that there weren't a lot of jobs because our staff got let go after the season. So I got an assistant job at at UIC. My dad played with Doug Bruno, who was a longtime DePaul head coach, women's coach at DePaul together. His assistant was the head coach there, so it kind of it's the way the world works. It's about who you know, and you know, it wasn't that I was moving somewhere totally random. You know, all of our extended family still lived in Chicago, Joliet. So I was like, okay, if I have to move out of North Carolina, Chicago, sure, not a bad place to live. You know, great music scene, which we talked about earlier. But I was there for two years, and then my boss at the time got let go. Yeah, she got fired. So in the the course of two two seasons, I was on two staffs that that were let go, and it just I don't know. It took a toll. And then my one of my greatest mentors passing away, so that was a tough two years. And I just I wanted to be a head coach, and I wanted to kind of test the waters. And there was a local Division Three university, Benedictine University, had a head job open, and I applied, and I got offered the job. And I'll never forget, one of my greatest coaching mentors told me that I was committing career suicide by taking that. Wow! He had told me you'll you'll never get back in Division One. Do not take this. And I just there was something speaking to my heart, and I took it. And it was probably the most challenging four years, but man, did I have a lot of fun! You're you're coaching young women that aren't getting paid, don't have a scholarship. You know they are just playing for just the the sheer love of the game. And you know I had a part time assistant, so we have one gym at Benedictine, 17 sports. Oh my! So you learn real quickly not to take yourself real serious. Like the track team's running around. There's a a curtain where lacrosse is playing. Lacrosse balls are being shot underneath. Like you know, the humility and the it's just it was really good for me, and I really learned to hone my craft of teaching the game because we we may not have had like I have a you know Gatorade Player of the Year right now on my roster. I have that at Ben 15, but it just I fell in love with just the teaching aspect and just kind of got back to why I loved the game. You know, I was kind of tainted out of the the last two years at the Digital One level and did pretty well there. Kind of turned the program around and and the Lewis job opened up. It was weird. the the The former coach got the Northern Illinois job, but it was late. It was like end of June, and I thought, man, this is my dream job. Like Lewis, like 10 minutes from where I grew up. It's where my grandfather got his college coaching start. My grandfather had just passed away three months prior, and I applied, and I was fortunate enough to get the job. And I was like, "This is it! Like I've made it! Like because I've never, I never really had any. I have to get to this level." I had two great. I was blessed with unbelievable teams, like really, really good players. And the cool thing is, like when you walk into the gym, there's a big display of my grandfather, and I was like, "You have to say hello, good morning to my grandpa every day." And then when I left, I would tell Grandpa Glory, you know, it's just the way into my in and out of my office. It was such a special place, and I felt like, man, Grandpa wants me here. Like this is all happening for a reason. And fast forward two years later, the Illinois State job opens up, and one of my mentors was like, "Hey, I think you really should to make a run at it." And I just, I was like, "There's no way I really didn't think I'd have a chance." And made a couple phone. They made a couple phone calls for me, and just said, "No, I think you should." And one conversation with Leanna Bordener led to another, led to an interview, and the rest is history. And I still, I still pinch myself. Like I just, I was reflecting. We had an exhibition game on Monday, and I was like, "Oh, I'm driving to work." It's like, man, 10 years. You know, I, I can't. There's some days it feels like it was just yesterday. Some days it feels like it was 22 years ago. But it's just, I'm really proud of that because I think in in this profession, with all the changes of the landscape, it's it's tough to sustain success at the mid major level. And in my staff has done an amazing job, and we've recruited unbelievable players and the support we have. It really makes Illinois State such a special place. And I think our job isn't. We have so much more to achieve here, so much more that we want to achieve, and that's what kind of drives us every day.

 

John: As you are recruiting players here, what what are some of the selling points? You've done a great job recruiting. So how how do you get the players to come to Illinois State? 

 

Kristen: Well, number one, I just think our campus is absolutely beautiful. I think it's it's interesting. I don't know if you've ever. Like it's wild. People get here and they're like, "Man, I didn't know it was gonna be this nice." Yeah, I'm like, "What do you think it was?" You know, and they're like blown away. Sure. It's just like I think sometimes, you know, especially like the the suburb kids, maybe you know, like the the families come down and they're like, "Man, our campus shows really well," and and that that's helped. Our our tradition is also something that we play a great it plays a great part in recruiting. But we sell our community a ton. You know, I think we just we have the best of both worlds. With we're a college town, but then you you have that State Farm country financial influence, and you know you you you see the support that athletics get from top to bottom. I just think it's you know we are in that sweet spot you know we're two hours from Chicago like we're in a really good spot for recruiting and you know like I said we just have great administration I have an unbelievable staff that really sells our program well and I try not to screw it up the success helps too, I imagine. Players who want to win come here. And last year's team, you know, was was right in line with with the last several years, making it all the way to the WNIT championship game. Let's talk about this year's team. So you have seven returning players, including Trista Feta and Nevaeh Thomas, and you have eight newcomers, so kind of like half and half, right? So just tell us about this this year's team and what fans can expect when they come out to cheer on the birds next week. Yeah, it's. I mean, if you would have said this three years ago, I'd have been like, oh my gosh, no way. But just the change of college athletics, this is kind of becoming the norm. You know, I love our returning players. We have a great nucleus from from last year's team. You know, we have three starting guards back because Grace Nelson started a little bit, but Trista Feta started every game. Jaden Pratt, Trista is our point guard returning. She's eighth in the country in assists last year. Set our single season record, beat Christy Cerrone's record. Not bad, especially after not starting as a freshman. She played behind Maya Wong, so she really took off. You know, in with Grace Nelson and Jaden Pratt, both were freshmen last year. Saw significant minutes, so they just feel so much more comfortable right now. You know, in in what we're doing in in their roles, the big piece to our puzzle is Nevaeh Thomas, who is who's returning. She she transferred to us two years ago, had a really nice season. I think they averaged like 12 and seven, but we were on a she was on a pretty dynamic team. We had a lot of scorers around her, but she got hurt the fourth game of the year last year. Snapped her humorous. Nasty, nasty injury, and missed all all last year. So, a lot of people have forgotten about her. So, which is fine with us. I just tell you, she's set to have a monster year. I think she's one of the best, not only the best players in our league, but maybe in major basketball, she is that gifted. So you have that, and then you have the influx of our eight newcomers, and you know we have four transfers, four freshmen. So it's a good mix, you know. But they're all kind of freshmen because all of this is new. So, and I'm not going to mention them because I'm. I always feel bad because I'm gonna leave someone out. Yeah, our new kids will play. You know, our we may have a Daniela Poricosa. She will start as a freshman. Sure. If anyone was at our exhibition game, they saw it, and she's she is as good as advertising. Gator and player of the year. She was I don't know. I think 200 points shy of 3000 in high school. I mean, she's just a gifted scorer. Hannah Chicken is one of our transfer post players. She's starting for us. She's a sophomore from Australia. We have an international player this year. We have an Austrian and Australian, so it makes it so much fun. Something new for us. But we are really deep. Traditionally, we haven't played more than seven or eight kids. This year, we are at least 10 deep, and we won't really miss a beat. So you're going to see us play with a lot more pace, a little bit more up tempo. We can do some different things defensively. I don't know. I'm just I'm excited. There's just something about this team. I know I say I love all my teams and I do, but this team, it's hard to put my finger on it. There's just something about them that they're easy to coach. They're easy to be around. There's no ego. There's no “well, what about me?” And that doesn't always happen. You know, I've done this a lot. It doesn't always happen, so I just I think our ceiling is so high, and that's what I'm excited about. Well, you see the the start of it on Monday, but you know the pinnacle is the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, which is going to look different this year. And we talked with Coach Pete about this, and he's really excited about this change bringing the. Men's and women's tournaments under the same roof at the Enterprise Center first weekend of March, and also there's a little bit more at stake during the regular season because the 11th place team doesn't make the tournament. The top two seeds get a double bye to the semifinals. So from a coach's perspective, just like what are your thoughts on on on this tournament, combining the men's and women's, and then also that you know the additional maybe pressure put on the regular season to finish above 11th, and and really aiming for those top two spots. Well, hell, let's hope we're going to be talking to someone else next year. 

 

John: Oh my God, I'll just ride off in the sunset. I guess I didn't mean you specifically. 

 

Kristen: No, no, no. I'm just kidding. That was the first answer. But no, no, I'm just kidding. I think it's awesome. You know, I just I love what it's the. We have both very both our men's program and on passionate fan bases, and there's a lot of crossover, and it was often tough to to ask, you know, to go back to back weekends traveling, and that's a that's a big financial commitment, you know. And I know, you know, that's hard for families to do. So making it just in one spot, and just the excitement that's going to build, you know, I think both of our programs are set to have really good years. I'm so excited about Coach Pedon's team. I watch him practice in the morning, and I, I mean, I have a tremendous amount of respect for for the job he's done. But excited about this group. They, you know, they're a little different than in the past, and it's exciting. But you know, I just think it's gonna the level exposure and the the excitement. You know, like the fans. It's just, it'll be awesome, and I, I just love that our women are going to get to experience this. Now, with the change of the format, yeah, you know, I, our team, like it used to be when I got the job, you wanted to be top six, you didn't want to be a Thursday. That was okay. You know, there's a little pressure, but you want to be a Friday team. Well, hell, we're a Saturday team now. Yeah, you know, so it's getting your young team to buy into that. You know that January 9 game on the road at said school is just as important as oh, Murray State's coming in. It's you know, and it's we've done a decent job. I think we've we've we we we've shot ourselves in the foot a couple in the past, you know. So it's just our staff. We started talking about that in June. Really, we've started talking about our non-conference in June, like with our net and the winds above the bubble. Like that, just we've put together a really challenging non-conference. Like how, like we don't get to ease into things. Like we we have to be ready to go. So like that's our goal. We want to be a Saturday team because we want to be a Sunday team, right? Right, and and that's that is the mission of our team. That's what we've said from from day one. The tournament almost starts during the regular season. I mean, it's going to start for us December 20 when Delphi comes, you know, comes here, and and you know, december 29 after the break when Belmont, you know, it's just, but but but what we talk about it, it actually is starting this Monday, you know, in Chicago, like it's because every game we're just building to the team we want to become. 

 

John: Yeah, and then the national tournament is expanding as well. How does that impact a team like Illinois State or a mid-major team? 

 

Kristen: We'll see about that. I don't know. I mean, I hope the NCAA will do the right thing and and maybe save one of those one or two spots for very worthy mid-major teams. But you know, we'll see. Sometimes those usually go to the power fours. There's money involved, you know, and it's just there's a lot to it. But you know, I think about what was it, Miami of Ohio men last year. You know, like yeah, like that's that's why I hope like this expanded like a team like that can breathe a little, sleep a little bit better. You know, the Saturday before selection Sunday, knowing they have done the body of work, but you never know, you know. And I, because there's such great mid on both sides of the men's and women. I mean, mid major basketball is outstanding. So I really hope you're going to get to see some more teams get in. Yeah. Last question, because I know you have to go to practice. 

 

John:What what's it going to take for this year's Illinois State Red Bull women's basketball team to have success and and ultimately I know the ultimate goal is to make it back to the NCAA tournament a place you've taken this team before but what's it going to take for this team to get there again?

 

Kristen: That is the goal and it's just it's it's very process driven like yeah I think if we can every day take a small step to becoming the team we want to become. I think we are, we have potential to be talented enough. It is all the pieces are there. How bad do we want to fight for it every day? How bad do we want to approach every day like, hey, can we get a little bit better? Because I and can we stay selfless? Now you know I'm. Still the good guy because playing time hasn't really yet you know, but this team is a little different. This team just wants to win, and if we can stay in that headspace of heck, whatever it takes, I really believe when it's all said and done, we will we'll be right there. 

 

John: Coach Gillespie, thank you so much, and best of luck this season. 

 

Kristen: Thank you. 

 

John: That's Illinois State women's basketball head coach Kristen Gillespie. The Redbird women's basketball team tips off the season Monday, November 2 at 6:30pm. against Chicago State at CEFCU Arena. You can get tickets@goredbirds.com. Thanks again to Coach Gillespie and Coach Pedon for joining us on Redbird Buzz today, and be sure to tune in next time for more stories from beyond the quad.