Women’s basketball head coach DoBee Plaisance has been faced with many difficulties in her first year but has also had many rewarding times with her new team.Plaisance transferred to Nicholls in 2008 from Loyola University. She said leaving a place you love and are used to can be difficult, and for her it was an extremely tough decision.

“Not only did I love Loyola, I was born and raised in the city of New Orleans. My family and I were pretty much in our comfort zone,” Plaisance said.

Shortly after moving here, Plaisance faced the devastation of hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Living in New Orleans, Plaisance was no stranger to hurricanes. After hurricane Katrina, Plaisance lost her home, had questions about her future and wondered what exactly was going to happen with that season.

“Hurricanes don’t bother me. It is what it is. In life, it’s what you make of circumstances,” Plaisance said. “We pulled it off. It’s not whether or not you get hit by a hurricane, but it’s whether or not you learn to dance in the rain.”

Not only was Plaisance faced with adjusting to a new area and team, her players were also faced with adjusting to a new coach and a new type of expectations.

“My compliments to my players,” she said. “They show up to practice every day and are certainly working hard. They have done everything I ask. When it comes down to actually playing games, I think it’s a situation where we are getting better. How much you improve is how you should be judged.”

There were many factors that led to Plaisance’s decision to move to Nicholls, one of them being her first interview with the University.

“It was the professionalism of the administration and the staff here as well as the genuineness that they displayed as far as their commitment to athletics and wanting to see women’s basketball succeed,” she said.

Plaisance said she had no doubts whether or not she would like Thibodaux. After playing and coaching here several times for Southeastern, the changes and upgrades that have occurred since then have really amazed her.

“I loved the charm of Thibodaux,” Plaisance said. “The community and the culture here are great. It was a no-brainer as far as liking the place. I knew everyone was going to be so nice.”

Plaisance said she wants to be the best wherever she goes. In order to make the move to Nicholls, she looked for guidance from within herself and her family, as well as her God.

“I prayed about it and I wanted to go someplace where I can make a difference,” she said. “I don’t know if I am doing that yet, but I’m trying.”

Plaisance loved her time at Loyola, but knew that she had another destiny to fulfill at Nicholls.

“I was comfortable at Loyola and there was nothing there or in New Orleans that would want me to leave except that there was a special place here at Nicholls State,” Plaisance said. “I wanted to come here and do the best that I can to not only make a difference in basketball but also in some ladies’ lives.”

One of the main differences between Loyola and Nicholls are the divisions in which they play. Loyola participates in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics while Nicholls is in division one play.

“There lies a number of differences between structure of program and rules and regulations,” Plaisance said. “That was something I knew and it was not unexpected.”

While the level of play is different, and Plaisance has a whole new team with different abilities, one thing has not changed: their heart for the game.

“I loved my players at Loyola and they did a great job,” Plaisance said. “The players here in a different way, they are still giving me everything they have.”

At Loyola, Plaisance strived to help her players in the classroom as well as on the court. Her women’s basketball team was named top 15 in the country for academics for the last four years. Those are some of the qualities she is trying to bring to Nicholls.

Plaisance has also added a new coaching staff: assistant coaches Bridget Goodnight, Jessica Barber, and Catherine Blanchard.

“Catherine was a great player and stand-out player here at E.D. White. I was excited when she accepted my invitation to come on,” she said.

Barber came with Plaisance from Loyola and Goodnight was acquired from Pensacola Junior College.

With Plaisance taking over as head coach, some people have called her time here the new era.

“Where I am in the day and the moment is where I want to be the best I can be. Whether I am a new era or an old era I am just going to come in here and give Nicholls what they expect,” Plaisance said. “Hopefully I deliver and if I fall short I know I will not have fallen short on my effort.”

Plaisance has had a winless record so far, but has instilled in her players a heart for the game and an unbeatable spirit. Her players show this each time they step on the court, for practice or a game.

“Hopefully that win will come sooner and not later,” Plaisance said.