GENEVA, N.Y. - Nestled in the corner of the DePauw athletic department sits Gina Wills amidst stacks of paper with the door wide-open.
It's no different on the road before the NCAA Div. III semifinals.
The head coach of DePauw field hockey constantly carries her laptop and various papers while conversing with her players, and it's not all about the game.
That is what's core in Wills' philosophy as the head of the field hockey program - an emphasis on the players themselves, and making sure the game is an enjoyable experience. Her players know she's available, and talk to her frequently.
The philosophy has paid off.
DePauw won its first ever NCAA playoff games last weekend, and Wills was named the NCAC's coach of the year Thursday afternoon for her team's perfect 16-0 record in the regular season and conference title. While she is quick to attribute the success to the team, her first coach of the year recognition was meaningful.
"It is nice to be recognized by my peers in the conference," Wills said. "I think we have a lot of good coaches in the conference, so it's nice to be selected out of the group."
Wills graduated from Centre College in 2004, and then was an assistant coach for three seasons at NCAC competitor, Earlham College. She spent a year at Washington and Jefferson College, and then came to DePauw in 2007.
As a four-year starter at Centre, Wills said she was led by four different head coaches that helped her see many different coaching styles. She learned from all of those head coaches, and developed since taking the DePauw job five years ago.
"It's been nice to be at DePauw to develop the team," Wills said. "Being a head coach, I think I'm pretty relaxed and that's good for the team."
For seniors Caroline Torie and Bridgette Shamleffer, they have seen Wills grow as a coach in a few different ways, one being her low-key, but sometimes intense, attitude.
"She's more confident with herself, and that has transferred to her players," Torie said. "We all know she was a great player herself and has the credibility to tell us to run because we know she went through it herself."
Wills played primarily as a defender at Centre and her defensive mindset is evident in this year's team. The Tigers lead Div. III in goals against average, and there isn't one player on the team that doesn't drop back and help on defense.
The defensive attitude is balanced by her assistant coach, Molly McCue, who was a forward at Denison University.
"She sees things I don't see and I see things she doesn't see at first," McCue said. "I look at the forwards and she looks at the defense."
For Wills, the 15 shutouts are what she is most proud of and what she said is indicative of how hard the team works as a unit. While the offense, led by senior Margaret Ellis, stands out in overall statistics, it's a team effort that Wills said she is most proud of.
"That just shows not only did we play a good game but a great game," Wills said. "It shows we do all the other things we need to do well."
The defensive mindset is what players have bought in to, and what has been the catalyst for overall success this season. But it comes from players' willingness to accept criticism from Wills, and a desire to get better.
"She's watching us do these drills, and if she sees we're not working 110 percent she'll call you out on it," Torie said. "She communicating to you what you're doing wrong and how you can improve is really her strength."
Not only does Wills possess a detail- and fundamental-oriented field hockey mind, her personality is contagious.
"She makes jokes that are subtle so you have to catch them," Shamleffer said. "She's funny and calm, and likes to focus on the positives. We try not to yell at each other, and she encourages positives."
Wills has never coached a losing team in her tenure at DePauw. It's been a steady increase in wins the past four years: 12-8 in 2009, 13-7 in 2010, 16-3 in 2011 and now 21-1.
"She's a really good recruiter," Shamleffer said. "Our team has gotten better and better each year. That's really helped out team develop."
Added Wills, "I've always shared with them the goals of the program: to win the conference tournament and go to the national tournament. ... (The success) feels all of a sudden. I knew they had it in them, and it's nice to see this year that we've been able to accomplish this. While we do have lot of talent, a lot of the success comes from the ability to play to each other's strengths."
The Tigers will have to play as a unit again Saturday against Tufts University (17-2) in the NCAA Div. III semifinal match. However, if DePauw doesn't get off to a quick start - like last weekend when the Tigers didn't tally one shot against Middlebury College in the first half - you can count on Wills making an effective halftime adjustment.
"We are a well-coached team and we've been prepared for every game this season," Torie. "We are prepared to win these next two games."