Tanisha Wright's plan to rebuild Penn State women's basketball as HC

STATE COLLEGE — It was a brief moment, but Tanisha Wright's new reality set in a few days before her introductory press conference as the new Penn State women's basketball coach. Wright, who's one of the best to ever put on a Lady Lion uniform, was working out in the practice gym, doing a walk she's done thousands of times as a student, when the feeling struck. "'Holy (expletive), you are the head coach,' you know what I mean?

'You're the head coach of Penn State,'" Wright told a small group of reporters after the introductory press conference was complete. "It didn't linger, but in that moment, it hit me. And it was great.

" Penn State wrestling: Which undefeated Penn State wrestling star won the Hodge Trophy? Penn State volleyball: Why is Penn State women's volleyball playing at Wrigley Field? Now as the head coach of her alma mater, Wright is tasked with rebuilding a program that's only had one winning season in the last seven years.

Wright hopes she can lead Penn State to a level of success the Lady Lions haven't seen since the 3-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was in uniform. Wright's acknowledged that, although she's returning home, she's still getting her bearings as a collegiate head coach, learning the differences between that and the WNBA where the former has grown to a point of most teams needing a general manager to help run basketball operations and roster management. "I'm really the new kid in a new neighborhood, trying to learn everybody, see what's what," Wright said.