Quentin Hillsman has arrived in Spain. For those who do not know, this coach has led Syracuse University for 15 years. At 50 years old ‘Coach Q’, as he is known in the United States, is ready to accept a new challenge in his career.
The coach, known as a great motivator who also had experiences in the technical teams of various European teams, considers that «coming to train in Spain, to a competition like the Endesa League and in a modest but ambitious team like Leganés is a new challenge in my career. I always dreamed of coming to train at a club in Europe, where they play a very smart game. So I’m looking forward to starting this challenge »
For his part, the president of CB Leganés Jose Jacinto Ramos has stated that “having the ‘Coach Q’ is a privilege for the club. We hope to begin this new stage in the Endesa League with a first-rate international coach who will help us continue taking steps to compete with the best »
However, his arrival has left us a topic that was closely related to this coach. All for an article that The Athletic made and whose investigation is still in process. Is about a list of 12 Syracuse members who applied for the trade at the end of the 2020-2021 season, just after losing to UConn in March Madness. An exorbitant number that suggested that some internal event, unknown to the public, had taken place. And all eyes were on Quentin Hillsman, the coach.
Almost three months had to pass to have news. All the reports alluded to an investigation into alleged inappropriate behavior at Syracuse. It was all a post in The Athletic, in an investigation by Chantel Jennings and Dana O’Neil, he spoke with 9 of the transferred players and 19 others (including people from the staff and the university), finding a common point in each and every one of the testimonies. All 28 people pointed to Quentin Hillsman and they exposed a multitude of causes.
In spite of everything, a month after the publication of the article in The Athletic and in the middle of the investigation, Quentin Hillsman decided to leave the position of coach, remaining without a team until now. The American, with more than 20 years of experience on the benches, lands in the Endesa Women’s League at the hands of CB Leganés, a group that hours before ended his relationship with coach Antonio Pernas less than a month before the start of the league.
The new Leganés coach has spoken with Gigantes after this publication. Quentin Hillsman has been the bomb of the Endesa League market after signing for Leganés. But some information about his departure from Syracuse has surprised the Spanish fans, so ‘Coach Q’ clarifies the situation exclusively for Gigantes.
Have you heard about the commotion caused after your signing for Leganés?
Yes. I am very happy to have this opportunity and very grateful to Leganés for their trust. My time in Syracuse was amazing. I was fortunate to be surrounded by an incredible technical team and players of the highest quality. They deserve all the credit for making us one of America’s top women’s basketball programs. We had a great relationship. I love you all and I will be eternally grateful.
I have trained for 25 years. I am not in this to belittle or demean my players or my collaborators. We have always pursued the goal of winning. I am very competitive and I will always give basketball everything I have. My level of demand and expectations were the same for everyone in our program.
But he does not deny that he was investigated …
I even appreciated the review of our basketball program and fully cooperated. I respect and have full confidence in the process.
So can Leganés fans be calm with their new coach?
Leganés fans will see an aggressive team, with a fast pace on both sides of the court.
We have a talented squad that has the ability to play at a high level and achieve our goal of remaining in the Endesa League.
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