Spider women's basketball continues to grow partnership with Osher Institute

From University of Richmond Athletics

Shortly after they stepped on campus less than three years ago, University of Richmond head women’s basketball coach Aaron Roussell and director of program development John Studer came together to establish a relationship with the University of Richmond Osher Lifelong Learning Institute – a relationship that has continued to grow since then.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute combines intellectual stimulation and civic engagement with a vibrant community of like-minded students age 50 and better on the campus of the University of Richmond. The organization works to meet the needs of older learners who want to learn for the joy of learning and personal fulfillment by offering an extensive array of courses in the liberal arts that are a combination of undergraduate credit courses for audit, special interest mini-courses, free lectures, community service projects, performing arts events, and more.

Roussell originally approached Peggy Watson, Director of Osher at UR, to garner support from members of the program. What started out as giving Osher members tickets to attend games has evolved into Osher members purchasing season tickets and, for the first time ever, an Osher course centered around NCAA women's basketball with a focus on the UR women's basketball program.

“The UR Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is grateful to the women’s basketball coaches and staff who reached out to us several years ago and invited Osher members to be an integral part of their program,” said Watson. “Aaron Roussell and John Studer encouraged this partnership, not only to introduce and engage the community with this sport, but also to create a groundswell of interest and support for his team. It has worked!”

Watson adds that Osher member and women's basketball aficionado John Festa is the one who proposed the three-part class titled “Women’s Spider Basketball Has Arrived.” He also went on to be the instructor for the course.

“I lived most of my life in Connecticut, and I mention that because women's basketball is about as big there as anywhere in the country or world for that matter. Until we moved to Richmond in 2003, I was uniquely focused on UConn women’s basketball,” said Festa.

Festa had heard about Osher from retired colleagues and says he was already looking forward to joining Osher at UR when he retired in 2018. Festa signed up for a dozen classes that first semester before he began teaching courses in June 2020, starting with a series called “Children of the Civil Rights,” which he says came naturally to him as he wrote a book on Barbra Rose Johns and the struggle to integrate the Prince Edward County public schools.

Similarly, Festa says the idea of the women’s basketball course came naturally as well.

“The history of women’s basketball course was a natural next topic as I had read a bit on the topic and felt keenly that across Virginia, women's basketball was not on most folk's radar. In fact, I tell the story in my introductory remarks to the class that I am often asked by my pals in Virginia why I am interested in women’s basketball, but I have never been asked that question in Connecticut,” said Festa.

Festa’s interest in women's basketball mixed with Richmond’s coaching staff’s interest in partnering with Osher came together for what Watson describes as a “perfect storm.”

“I included the UR portion in the course when Peggy Watson told me the women’s basketball coaches were interested in partnering with Osher. That is how my original ideal of a history class on NCAA women's basketball pivoted to so strongly to include the UR component,” said Festa. “Then the coaches offered to host us at a practice, and finally Peggy added the idea of the class attending a game together. It definitely became an idea other folks got excited about and kept adding new thoughts and interesting activities.”

The course is a three-part class that began with a lesson on the history on women's basketball with a visit from Coach Roussell. “Seeing the response from the class to Coach Aaron Roussell when he came in to talk to the class was incredible,” Festa said. “The members were so appreciative that Coach Roussell took the time to come and talk to them about the team and answer their questions. In fact, we did something we try not to do, which was run over our scheduled stop time. The class went 10 minutes long because they kept asking the coach questions. The best part was hearing later how much Coach Roussell enjoyed his time with the class.”

Part two included Osher members attending practice on Nov. 1 where they took part in a question and answer session with Coach Roussell and the team before touring the Queally Athletics Center, Richmond basketball’s practice facility.

The course concluded with part three on Sunday, Nov. 21 when members of the class attended Richmond’s game against UMBC at the Robins Center and cheered the Spiders on to a 76-64 win.

“I love the feeling that the Osher community is getting in on something that is just beginning to blossom. The energy the new coaching staff is bringing to the UR women’s basketball program is tangible. It is also encouraging to see our young ladies working so hard and responding to the challenge.” Festa said. “The reason I named the course ‘Women’s Spider Basketball Has Arrived’ is because the pieces are in place for the team to do great things.”

“The relationship we have built with Osher on campus has been incredible. Peggy Watson's support has been key for our outreach to the community. We have a shared interest in continuing to grow the relationship between our team and her group, and I am really excited to see where this goes,” said Coach Roussell. “Some of our most loyal fans are a part of Osher, and they will be some of the ones I will enjoy celebrating with the most when we get that championship.”