Tae’lor Purdy-Korell completed her sixth season as Assistant Coach for the Concordia University Women’s Basketball program in 2020-21. During her time with the Bulldogs, the program has gone a combined 181-29 and captured the NAIA Division II national title in 2019, among many other highlights. Tae’lor is married to Lance Korell, who spent seven seasons as Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Concordia. Tae’lor and Lance have a young daughter named Kan’yon.
Q&A with Coach Tae’lor Purdy-Korell
Which athlete(s) did you idolize growing up?
Marion Jones and Kobe Bryant.
Who are your favorite professional sports teams?
Denver Nuggets and Dallas Cowboys.
What is the most memorable sporting event you have attended as a spectator?
A playoff game in Denver between the Denver Nuggets and LA Lakers when Kobe Bryant was playing.
Which person/people were most influential in your career choice?
My mom. She was a high school basketball coach while I was growing up and I enjoyed watching her and her team while having the opportunity to always be in the gym.
What is one book you would recommend to others in your profession?
‘Sum it Up’ by Pat Summitt.
What’s the best coaching advice you’ve received?
Success is a choice. Pressure is a privilege.
What do you find most rewarding about coaching?
I enjoy the relationships that you develop with the players and coaches. I also really enjoy seeing the players grow and develop both on and off the court.
What has changed the most about the profession since you started coaching?
There has been a push for more female coaches in all sports.
Beyond athletic talent and ability, what is the No. 1 trait you’re looking for in a prospective recruit?
When I’m recruiting I look for players that are great teammates and play hard because they are qualities that are important to the success of our program.
Name something your own student-athletes have taught you in your time as a coach.
You never know what somebody else is going through. Everybody has good days and bad days and it’s important to know your players so that you can be there for them on their bad days. Developing relationships is so important and it truly takes time and effort to understand somebody deeper than surface level. Having a great intuition as a coach is important.
What athletic achievement of your own are you most proud of?
Being honored as an All-American.
How are you most likely spending your free time away from work?
Spending time with my daughter, Kan’yon and going on walks with our dog, Millie.
What would you choose to eat for your last meal?
Steak and bacon wrapped jalapeño peppers.
What’s your favorite Lincoln (or Lincoln area) restaurant?
LeadBelly or Hacienda Real.
Where did you go for vacation this summer?
We went to Stuart, Florida with my family in June for a beach vacation.
Which social medium (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.) do you use the most?
Snapchat. I am always sending cute pictures or videos of Kan’yon to my family and friends.
What genre of music do you prefer?
90’s Country Music.
What was the first car you drove?
Ford Mustang.
Name a famous person you’ve met.
Andre Miller.
If you had to choose any band or musical artist to perform at Bulldog Stadium, who would you choose?
George Strait.
What is the No. 1 thing that makes Concordia a special place?
The community is something that makes Concordia very special. There is so much support for Bulldog Athletics and women’s basketball.
What is it that keeps you excited about your job as you look ahead to the 2021-22 academic year?
I am excited for the dynamics of a new team while figuring out as a coaching staff how we can help the team be the most successful on and off the court for the upcoming season.