Father-coach, SPORTS >> son-player times 2 By Kip Carlson Assistant coach Stephen Thompson, his son, freshman By Kip Carlson Stephen Thompson Jr., freshman Tres Tinkle and his fa- Tres Tinkle figured it took about five minutes into the first practice. ther, Head Coach Wayne Tinkle, are adjusting to living, coaching and playing in the father-son/coach-play- “Yeah? Well, I’m surprised it took that long,” Wayne Tinkle said with a er relationship for the first time. (Photos by Hannah laugh. O’Leary) Tres, a freshman forward on the Oregon State men’s basketball team, passed up an open shot. Wayne, his father and OSU’s head coach, lit into him pretty good. “I had to send him a message that he’s a shooter,” Wayne Tinkle said. “And when you’re open, you need to shoot it or it’s hurting the team ... when he didn’t adjust quite as quickly as I wanted him to, I had to get after him pretty good to make the point.” The next day Tres texted his father: “Dad, you scared me a little bit.” “But he said, ‘I’ll get used to it,’” Wayne Tinkle said of his son’s reaction. 48 << OREGON STATER There will be a lot of getting used to those situations for four Wayne Tinkle remembers what he wanted to see when his Beavers this year. Not only are the Tinkles adapting to being older daughters were recruited for Division I athletics. He tries coach and player along with father and son, but so are assistant to coach that way, and to make sure his entire program has the coach Stephen Thompson and freshman Stephen Thompson Jr. right attitude. Tres Tinkle and Stephen Thompson Jr. are part of a highly re- “We talked about character and integrity and selflessness and garded recruiting class that, along with OSU’s surprising success discipline and doing things the right way,” Tinkle said. “And I last season, has Beaver fans eager to see what unfolds in 2015- think in my son’s eyes it’s neat for him to see, now that he’s on 16 and beyond. our team, that our actions match and meet the words we’ve “It’s going to be neat,” Wayne Tinkle said. “There’s a lot of used in the coaching profession over the years. hype around this class, and as coaches and parents and fans, we “It really helps the credibility as a parent, too, that all the have to remember these are freshmen and we have to give them lessons we’ve been teaching him over the years, that it’s all true, time to grow.” even with the players behind the scenes.” In the case of the Tinkles and Thompsons, there’s an added It’s also a big help that each father-son duo has the other pair challenge of adjusting to the father-coaching-son role. Both to share the experience. dads have offered guidance and basketball tips to their sons for “We talked about that a little bit,” Stephen Thompson Jr. said years but neither has coached his son as part of a team. of Tres Tinkle and himself. “We realized it’s better for both of us All parties must adjust. to go through it at the same time; we can both experience the “It’s been really good,” Stephen Thompson Jr. said. “On the court same things, rather than just one of us.” he doesn’t really act like my dad or anything. I call him coach on Tres Tinkle said he’s seeing his dad in a new light. the court and stuff like that. It’s working out well so far.” “It’s a unique experience, but it definitely takes time to get Added his father: “I think when you’re coaching your son, used to it,” Tres Tinkle said. “But it’s been good. It’s for the best probably the things you think about are, ‘How’s it going to be off for us, it’s in my best interest, so I’m just trying to get used to it the court?’ But when you’re in a practice environment, he’s just every single day.” like any other player.” Tinkle and Thompson hadn’t worked with other coaches who’d Stephen Thompson said the anticipation of the experience had sons on their team, but Tinkle did speak with Creighton Head might have been more difficult than the reality Coach Greg McDermott, whose son Doug played for him before “You know — will you be harder on your son?” the elder going on to the National Basketball Association. Thompson said. “Will you be easier on your son? Will you get “He said there were tough times, but that he would never into him how you get into other players? Those are some of the change it, that it was the greatest experience ever,” Wayne thoughts you’re thinking: how will those dynamics work?” Tinkle said. “And the memories they’ll have, obviously, are going Arriving at the experience with a solid father-son relationship to last a lifetime. in place makes it easier, they said; the family bonds are strong “I’ve thought about that, and I just have to remind myself and enough to weather contentious on-court moments. And in an make sure I’m being fair, but I can’t allow it to keep me from athletic department that prides itself on a family atmosphere, being coach when it’s time to coach. But what great memories the duos provide an example. we’re going to carve.” q WINTER 2016 >> 49 Italy trip builds team bonds and memories By Kip Carlson Before they got back to Gill Coliseum The team’s visit to the ruins of the Roman Fo- this winter to work on defending their rum and the nearby Colosseum was a highlight conference title, members of the Beaver of the trip. (Photo by Trevor Cramer) women’s basketball team visited that other Colosseum, the one in Rome. Rome was her favorite stop. Touring the ancient arena was just one “It was such a great city,” Hunter said. highlight of the nine-day trip to Italy in “It was moving and the people were all late August and early September. In ad- really nice.” dition to seeing the sights of the country, And it had the Colosseum, which both OSU also won all four of its games against Hunter and freshman forward Katie varying levels of competition. McWilliams tabbed as one of the most But basketball was far from the sole impressive sights of the trip. focus of the excursion. After taking an “We saw the whole outside, which was art history class, senior forward Deven amazing itself,” McWilliams said. “Then we Hunter had been looking forward to seeing got to go inside and see where the fights churches and other historic sites. occurred. It was amazing how big it was, 50 << OREGON STATER Italy trip builds team bonds and memories and we actually got to go in there — we showed up to play and played well.” Katie McWilliams and Deven Hunter share sto- went right where people would sit and On the court, the Beavers defeated ries of the trip. (Photo by Hannah O’Leary) watch the gladiators.” Civitinova Marche Basket 93-49, AD Not far behind was Venice and its maze Basket Femminile Le Mura 60-35, Umana had tips for anyone planning their own trip of canals. Reyer Venezia 67-51 and Edelwiess Fassi to Italy. “I loved how the city was on water,” Albino 90-40. In Italy’s top professional “Definitely see as much as you can,” Hunter said. “That was fascinating: that a league last season, Umana Reyer Venezia Hunter said. “Map out what you want city could be built like this and you had to reached the semifinals and AD Basket to do and see everything you can. Go on take a boat everywhere.” Femminile Le Mura made the quarterfinals. some walking tours — make sure you can Even while taking in the architecture, “The scores showed differently, but get in to see all the stuff. And eat gelato.” history and culture of Italy, the Beavers most of the teams were really good,” Added McWilliams: “Experience all the managed to pay attention to something Hunter said. “They had a lot of different four biggest cities we went to: Venice, else. styles than what we’ve seen.” Rome, Como and Florence. And get a tour “I think we knew we were there for a The Beavers look ahead to defending guide to tell you all about the great history reason — to get those four games in and their 2015 Pacific-12 championship and there. develop that team atmosphere early in living up to high preseason rankings, but “And enjoy it — you don’t see anything the season,” McWilliams said. “We were can also look back on nine days they’ll better than that.” all pumped to play for every game; we never forget. Both Hunter and McWilliams q WINTER 2016 >> 51 From the Air Force to the soccer pitch By Brooks Hatch | Photo by Hannah O’Leary Her muscles were sore. An ice pack was OSU Coach Linus Rhode was impressed taped to her right calf. The skills that with Redberg at an OSU prospect camp. made her an All-State soccer player sev- “She had a great day, and she’s super en years ago hadn’t totally returned. athletic,” Rhode said. “We talked to her, But after serving on America’s team she told us her story that she’s from the past four years, McKenzie Redberg is Corvallis, had been in the Air Force and thrilled to be playing for Beaver Nation.