Kelley Sundberg has the Lasell University women’s basketball team pointed in the right direction.
Up next: She’s setting big goals for the Lasers, including finding success on a national stage.
Sundberg, entering her fourth season as the head coach at Lasell, has been preparing for this her entire career. She spent two seasons rebuilding the core of Lasell’s program, and watched that hard work pay off last season as she led Lasell to a 16-9 record — the second-most wins ever in school history.
"There's so much momentum happening right now with our program,” Sundberg said. “Our ultimate goal is winning a Great Northeast Athletic Conference championship and making it to the NCAA Tournament.”
When she’s recruiting, Sundberg is looking for talented, high-character individuals. She also values a competitive spirit in her recruits. It’s something the coach believes can help a good player become great.
"I think that (competitiveness) can overtake some of that skill stuff that may be a little bit more choppy compared to another player,” Sundberg said. “But if you're competitive, you’ll usually find a way to get the job done."
Sundberg has plenty of experience in college athletics. As a player, she led Gannon University from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference to three berths in the Division 2 NCAA Tournament before moving on to assistant coach roles at Seton Hill and Mansfield University.
"It's been such a journey for me as a coach,” Sundberg said.
Sundberg prides herself on being authentic and genuine when talking to recruits about the benefits that playing and studying at Lasell can bring them.
With experienced veterans on her team, Sundberg knows that she and her coaching staff can help incoming recruits acclimate in the transition from high school athletics to college.
But practice is where the hard work is done. Each day, Sundberg values routines. She believes it is where good habits are born — and where bad habits can fade away. In a long and competitive season in the GNAC, a good process can be the difference-maker in where the games are won and lost for the Lasers.
"It's practice. I think what you do in practice every single day will come to light at some point throughout the games," Sundberg said. "Sometimes that works out, but sometimes it doesn't. But I would say the majority of the time, it's what you're doing every single day in practice that will absolutely get you to that point."
Sundberg has a motto for the Lasers: "Commit and serve." She believes if her players buy in to that approach — with an on-court emphasis on pace, rebounding, and communication — it will lead to good things.
The first evidence of that payoff: A berth in the quarterfinals of the GNAC tournament this past spring.
"I think the more we focus on the day-to-day process, the better off we'll be,” Sundberg said.
It’s been a long haul to get the Lasell program into this good spot.
Through a combination of following Sundberg's motto, high team morale and the coach’s ability to challenge her players, the Lasell program is well-positioned for continued success.
"We always say, 'Just keep your head down. Work, work, work.’ And then, you'll lift your head up and be like, ‘Wow, I made it this far?’ I think we are really in tune with the team and how we're functioning,” Sundberg said. “And we definitely don't shy away from difficult conversations and being able to talk truth to each other. We're constantly supporting each other."
Not only are the Lasers coming off their best season in a generation, their best player is also coming back. Juju Nealy, the Lasers’ leading scorer and a GNAC third-teamer two years ago, will return after missing the past season with an injury.
Now Sundberg can refocus her team on its goal: Landing a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
“I think we're absolutely trending upwards and towards that goal,” she said.
This story is sponsored content, written by the Seamans Media Custom Content Studio.
