WHERE ARE THEY NOW? | TRACY ROLLER

Her job is more time-consuming than she ever imagined, yet Tracy Roller confessed she loves coaching basketball so much, she'd almost consider doing it without a paycheck.

The Ball State University women's head coach, a 1988 Crown Point High School graduate, said she'll be sitting on the bench watching her team play at times and think to herself: "I'm getting paid to watch and coach basketball -- it's awesome."

"It's just really cool getting paid to do what you love," Roller said. "It's great."

Despite the demands on her time, particularly with recruiting, Roller can't see herself really doing anything else.

"I coach for the kids and I have great kids," said Roller, who's gone 115-66 in six seasons at BSU and won at least 20 games three times.

Considering some of the coaches she's learned from, it's no wonder Roller has become such a successful head coach.

Roller's father, Ron, coached basketball at Hanover Central. She learned her work ethic and love of the game from her dad, as well as her mother, Sue.

Spending four years under legendary coach Tom May at Crown Point, Roller not only learned how to play the game, but she picked up some pointers on handling players along the way.

Roller credits May for helping her obtain a scholarship to play at Eastern Illinois University, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in zoology in 1992.

"I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have gotten a college scholarship without Coach May," she said. "He's an awesome guy. Through the years, a lot of people have asked me how I could have played for Tom May, but I can't imagine not playing for him."

Other coaches who've been influential in Roller's success include Valparaiso University coach Keith Freeman. whom Roller served under as an assistant coach with the Crusaders for three years, before leaving in 1999 to become an assistant coach at Ball State.

"I think being an assistant coach for Keith, you learn everything you need to become a head coach," Roller said. "I think it should be mandatory for every assistant coach to spend at least a year under him."

At Ball State, Roller spent her first two years as an assistant under Brenda Oldfield Frese, before Frese left to become head coach at Minnesota. Frese later moved to Maryland, where she led the team to the 2006 national title.

"Brenda taught me how to make the big-time where you're at," Roller said. "She always had big-time thoughts. You always knew she was going to win a national title some day."

Roller said Frese taught her the importance of learning how to communicate with players. She said with Frese, BSU's teams always worked hard, but had fun, too.

"My dad, coach May, Keith, and Brenda, all kind of gave me something that in whole makes me a better coach," Roller said.