The University News

Issue date: 11/9/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: courtesy UMKC Athletics Jay Couisnard.

Jay Couisnard has struggled with many difficulties in his basketball career, including a (NCAA) transfer regulation. But he is currently focused on the season.

Couisnard was forced to sit out the 2008-2009 basketball season because he transferred from the University of Evansville Ind. to UMKC.

The NCAA transfer regulation did not discourage him from wanting to play. It inspired him to perform better.

"It was tough knowing I could help the team because they were struggling," Couisnard said. "But it let me see things from the outside and let me see how effort, hard work and concentration affect the game."

Hard work, effort and concentration are not the only things that affect the game for Couisnard. His spirituality does too.

"Because of my parents being non-denominational ministers, I have always been more spiritual," Couisnard said. "I know how to bond better with others because of them."

Couisnard's decision to move from the University of Evansville to UMKC was not an easy process.

He was torn between the school he was recruited to play for and the coach who recruited him.

"One of the freshmen coaches who recruited me left Evansville after my first year there," Couisnard said. "After that the experience there went down the drain. I decided to follow him to UMKC. He left UMKC recently, but we talked and I decided UMKC is the place for me."

Couisnard is optimistic for the season, but realizes the team has a lot of work cut out for them.

"I think we're going to be a surprise team," Couisnard said. "We're going to open some eyes mid-season and people are going to see the same players but a different team."

He also deals with the leadership role as a captain.

He was chosen as one of the three captains for the 2009-2010 season.

"Being a captain is nothing new to me, I've been a captain on most of the teams I've played for," Couisnard said. "But I know I can try to get people to improve more consistently and help communications between coaches and players."

Couisnard's aspirations do not end there. His dream is to play in the NBA one day, much like any other college men's basketball player.

However, he realizes that dream is not easily attainable and is majoring in Communication Studies with the hope of falling back on a career in sports public relations.

However, out of all these struggles, one deeply affects Couisnard.

The struggle is not related to NCAA regulations, the stress of being a captain or his spirituality.

The struggle is of personal loss.

"My cousin recently passed away," Couisnard said. "His mother's boyfriend shot and killed him. It was a stupid, terrible thing. But at the same time this season took on new meaning for me. I'm playing it for him."

jpfortmiller@unews.com

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