Brian Morehouse is reminded to be grateful every time he steps on the basketball court at DeVos Fieldhouse.

Hope College women's basketball coach is surrounded by greatness that extends well beyond the court where his nationally renowned team practices and plays.

"I am around incredible women every single day," Morehouse said during the latest episode of the Hope Athletics Orange and Blue Podcast. "These are real people who happen to play basketball in front of a sold-out arena at the Devos Fieldhouse. When you think about the things that these young women balance out on a daily basis - academics, their social life, their families, the athletic piece, the faith piece - they're incredible.

"The best part of my job is they make me better. It is a lot of fun."

Hope College women's basketball coach Brian Morehouse

Morehouse and his basketball team have relied on each other to get through a challenging semester because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Final exams conclude on Tuesday, November 24.

The Flying Dutch are waiting to learn if and when they will be able to play. In October, the MIAA Presidents' Council has postponed conference-sponsored athletic events until January.

Hope graduated only two seniors from last season's team that finished unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division III after the NCAA Tournament was canceled because of COVID-19.

"We're going to make it through whatever this getting through is," Morehouse said. "If given the opportunity to play a basketball game, I think that we're going to be really good."

Learning to Do Things Differently

During the podcast, Morehouse discusses his team's journey since that disappointing conclusion to the 2019-20 season.

He talks about how his coaching staff made the most out of an adjusted practice schedule. Three of his assistant coaches — Colly Carlson, Kyle Lurvey, and Julie Potts — used their previous experiences at the high school level to fine-tune one-on-one instruction.

Morehouse also shared on the Orange and Blue Podcast about his work during the pandemic as DeVos Fieldhouse director and a Women's Basketball Coaches Association board member. He also discusses what he has learned as the father of two Hope College students.

A written transcript of Morehouse interview