‘She’s Always Encouraging Me’: Hannah Hidalgo Reflects On Niele Ivey’s Coaching That Elevated Her Game
Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Hannah Hidalgo gave credit to her head coach, Niele Ivey, for motivating her not only on the court, but also off it.
In an interview with Sportskeeda , Hannah Hidalgo opened up about her thoughts on Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Niele Ivey, who she thanked for the motivation and encouragement she has received throughout their tie together in the team.
“It’s how she carries herself,” Hidalgo said of her coach. “What you see is what you’re going to get. She’s consistent. She’s always talking. She always has a smile on her face. She’s tough coaching me on the court. And then off the court, she’s coming to me and inviting us over and showing love.”
“That’s so important because I want to play for somebody who cares for me, and doesn’t just care what I’m providing for them on the court. It’s more than that.”
“It’s more than basketball and bigger than basketball. She’s always taught me to get to the next play. She’s always encouraging me. It’s just so helpful for me to play for a coach like that.”
Hannah Hidalgo Gives Three Reasons for Staying With Notre Dame
In the same interview, Hannah Hidalgo also talked about the three main things that motivated her to stay with the Fighting Irish. First, she cited her faith.
“Of course, it’s tough,” Hidalgo said. “We’re going through a lot of adversity right now. The big thing was about trusting God. God is going to provide for me. Just knowing that and being rooted in my faith, I know that God has my back.”
“It’s also about loyalty,” she added. “It’s also about being loyal to my coach. She has done so much for me. She has treated me so well. She has been through a lot of ups and downs with me. And she’s been consistent throughout the whole process. She’s given so much to me, and I want to be able to give back to her.”
“I want to be at a program where I’m at for four years. That’s my goal. That was my goal coming into college, and that’s still my end goal.”
During the 2024-2025 season, Hannah Hidalgo averaged 23.8 points per game, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. In terms of shooting, she had a field goal percentage of 46.3%, a three-point percentage of 40.0%, and an outstanding free throw percentage of 85.6%.
