How ex-Michigan State women's basketball player Annalise Pickrel is providing lift behind the scenes

EAST LANSING — Annalise Pickrel was in the midst of a professional basketball career overseas.

But as she was experiencing life in Australia, the former Michigan State women's basketball player's thoughts started to turn toward what she would do next.

The thing that kept resonating with Pickrel was the strength coaches who had a positive impact during her time on the court.

Pickrel believed those coaches gave her an edge in endurance and helped extend her playing career. And that inspired her to want to do the same for those behind her.

"I guess what I learned in terms of the strength of the mind and mindfulness and things like that over the course of my career from several different strength coaches is how I felt I could impact athletes the most collegiately, professional and youth as well," Pickrel said.

That desire to impact others has led Pickrel back to a MSU women's basketball program where she was part of two Big Ten championships from 2010-14. MSU coach Suzy Merchant hired Pickrel in the middle stages of the 2019-2020 season as her program's associate director of sports performance.

This winter marks the second full season in that role for Pickrel, who is making her mark in a male-dominated profession and trying to have a behind-the-scenes impact in preparing MSU players, mentally and physically, for the grind of college basketball.

Having a former player back in her program has been big for Merchant, who has longed to have a female fill a strength coach role.

"I think having a female in that role is important, and if you can get the one that you personally want, I think that's (great)," said Merchant, who is in her 15th season leading the Spartans.

"They have the most time with (the team) in the summer. They get more time with them a lot of times than we (coaches) do. That person has to be bought into you and your team and your program. There's no question that Annalise was that person. Getting not only a female, but getting someone who understands the importance of what she does and how she does it (is big)."

Freshmen DeeDee Hagemann and Matilda Ekh have credited Pickrel for helping get them prepared from a mental and physical standpoint for college basketball. Both have filled big roles and logged heavy minutes this season.

Pickrel's presence has stood out to veteran players like Alisia Smith, who is a Waverly graduate. Smith remembers watching Pickrel play when she attended MSU games in her youth. She said Pickrel was one of her favorite players.

Now, Smith is enjoying working with Pickrel.

"I would have never thought that I'd be able to actually spend time with her everyday ," Smith said. "It's amazing to have her here and just learn from her. She gives me a lot of key pointers after games and before games. She's a great person to be around and I'm excited to be able to experience that."

Pickrel enjoys being a female presence for players to look to as well as a sounding board. And she's trying to use the expertise gained from her career playing for Merchant to help push the current players in the program. The biggest focus for Pickrel is getting the Spartans back to the success they experienced during her playing career.

"Ever since I was an athlete here, I sort of pictured myself in this program," Pickrel said. "I would like to carry a legacy of what this program usually is and that's grit. I saw myself having that opportunity in the weight room and showing these athletes.

"A female is a female and you understand what the body goes through. And for someone to have played for (Merchant), I understand how she operates throughout the offseason, in season and postseason. I feel like that is an advantage that I bring to the table here is I'm able to sort of offer my advice and guidance a little bit. I know the ebbs and flows of a season in terms of how they are going to be coached. Conversations and things like that have offered me a step up in helping these athletes."

Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Women's basketball: Annalise Pickrel giving MSU boost behind scenes