But before being hired Thursday by Kansas University, Henrickson wasn’t a household name in Kansas — not even among women’s basketball players.

“When we first found out she was going to be our coach, I don’t think most of us knew about her or knew her background,” junior Blair Waltz said Monday after Henrickson formally was introduced at a news conference at Hadl Auditorium. “But just meeting with her, we all figured out the attitude she had about winning and the excitement she has about being at the university.”

Associate athletic director Jim Marchiony tracked down the Jayhawks — who were on spring break — and told them the news Friday. That sent many of them scrambling to the nearest computer.

“I looked up Virginia Tech’s Web site and read their media guide,” sophomore guard Erica Hallman said. “I still wanted to meet her and get that face-to-face vibe with her.”

The Jayhawks met with Henrickson and her assistants for 45 minutes Monday before the new coaching staff met the media. The players could use some reassuring after a season in which coach Marian Washington stepped down because of an undisclosed medical condition.

“That was real hard on me,” said Waltz, a guard/forward from Blue Valley North. “I love her so much. … That was really hard on us.”

Waltz had endured three losing seasons in a KU uniform — including an 0-16 Big 12 Conference campaign as a freshman.

Assistant Lynette Woodard took over on an interim basis this year, but the Jayhawks have been in limbo since their season ended March 9 with a first-round loss in the conference tournament.

“It was a sense of no direction,” Waltz said. “We usually have scheduled workouts. We have scheduled days, down to the hour and minute — study hall, workouts, pickup. Now we didn’t have anything to do.”

That undoubtedly will change with a coach accustomed to winning.

“I want to win,” Hallman said. “We’ve had two losing seasons in a row.”

While Hallman has been here for two losing seasons, 2004 actually marked KU’s fourth straight losing campaign. Unless players transfer, Henrickson will have a hard time revamping a team that loses only one senior.

“She knows what she has to get done,” Waltz said. “She’s going to be in the best conference in the country. Just from talking to her, you can tell she’s ready to take on the challenge.”

The Jayhawks will be challenged by a new staff and higher expectations.

“We have no choice but to welcome change right now,” Waltz said. “We haven’t gotten what we wanted to get done. Every girl on this team wants to win. We have to change to win.”