Hiking a Mountain One Step at a Time — A Conversation with Cornell Head Coach Emily Garner

Jared here. This week is the season finale of the NTRP Podcast, and I'm joined by Emily Garner, Head Coach of Cornell Women's Basketball, for a wide-ranging conversation on what it really takes to build a program in one of the most competitive and academically demanding conferences in the country.

Coach Garner's journey has unfolded almost entirely at elite academic institutions—first as a player at Lafayette, then as a recruiting coordinator at Army, later as the Head Coach at Trinity College (CT), and now leading Cornell. This path has given her a deep perspective on what it means to balance athletics with academics at the highest level, and why that balance shapes not only the recruiting process, but the culture she strives to build every day.

Coach Garner dives deep into what it takes to both perform and lead at the high-academic level. It's a conversation that largely focuses on what it takes from an athlete - both mentally and physically - to navigate the building phase in one of the toughest conferences in the women's game. 

For recruits and their families, there's so much to take from this episode. Coach Garner shares what she values most when evaluating players, how she teaches her team AND staff to separate who they are from what they do, and why learning to manage failure—rather than fearing it—is a skill that can define her players in every room they walk into, not just the gym.

This episode offers a very rare window into the mindset of a leader building not just a team, but a lasting culture in one of the most academically and athletically competitive environments imaginable.  You won't want to miss it.

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Have a question that you'd like answered by me or a guest?  Have an idea for an episode topic? Have no suggestions but just want to say hello? Email me at RecruitingGEAR@gmail.com 

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