News Releases

Graduating athlete focuses on future in the business world

Monday, June 1, 2009

BY LAURA WOLFE

When choosing a university, School of Business senior from Serbia and women's basketball point guard Ivana Catic didn't have to look much further than Late Night in the Phog. Though she looked at other schools and was visited by many coaches during the year she was in the U.S. before choosing a college, Late Night was the deciding factor in her decision.

"I was absolutely taken by Late Night, by the atmosphere," Catic said. "Lawrence is definitely a basketball town." Catic could see that the University of Kansas was a school that supported athletics but would also allow her to excel academically. "There's so much school spirit, not just for athletics but for everything."

Catic works hard to balance her time in order to keep up with her Management and Leadership major and her role on the basketball team. Catic takes classes in the mornings and has practice in the afternoons during the season. "It makes you efficient," she says. "When you only have a two to three hour window to do your homework, you have to just get it done."

During the season, Catic says she gets the more rest when the team travels. "I sleep most when I'm on the road because of travelling. There are times when we get back at 2 or 3 in the morning and we have to go to our classes at 8," Catic said. "That's something all student-athletes go through."

Catic is still busy even in the off-season. "I feel like I have less time now," she says, because now that she has more time she says she procrastinates a little more, and because she still practices shooting and dribbling even in the spring, summer and fall.

"We can't say enough good things about Ivana and her work ethic throughout her career here at Kansas. She always had a smile on her face, but a determination to always finish what she started and a very strong desire to push through even the most difficult challenges that she faced," said Karen Lange, assistant coach for the women's basketball team. "I think her work ethic was instilled in her at a very young age through her family and she obviously has carried it over into her life and has made it a very strong characteristic of her today. It has allowed her to accomplish her goals that she set for herself."

The highlight of Catic's University of Kansas basketball career is unquestionably the 2009 Women's National Invitation Tournament final game.

"It was so close!" Catic said of the 75-71 loss to the University of South Florida. "To play in front of 16,000 fans who are there for you is amazing."

After graduating, Catic plans to go to graduate school to get her master's degree. "My whole life before I came to KU was basketball," Catic said. "I want to put myself in a position to learn more."

Catic is the daughter of Vesna and Dragan Catic and graduated from Mount deChantal Academy in Wheeling, West Virginia.