She was on a bus headed for a game at Clemson University (S.C.).

Former University of Maine women’s basketball coach Joanne P. McCallie didn’t mind the bus trip with her Duke University Blue Devils because they are a far cry from her trips in the Big Ten when she was coaching Michigan State.

“The travel is a lot easier in the ACC,” said the 42-year-old McCallie, a Brunswick native who put the Black Bear program on the national map thanks to the heroics of current Maine coach Cindy Blodgett.

“This is a great place. You’ve got the triangle [Duke and nearby rivals North Carolina and North Carolina State] and a great basketball tradition here. It’s very fitting that I’m here now after a great run in the Big Ten. I played in the Big Ten for four years [at Northwestern] and coached in it for seven. I love the Big Ten, but the travel wore me out,” added McCallie.

In her first season at Duke, she has guided the Blue Devils to an 18-6 record. They are ranked 12th in the nation.

She has a career record of 334-154 between Maine, Michigan State and Duke.

McCallie said she considers herself a pioneer this season after replacing the legendary Gail Goestenkors, who guided the Blue Devils to seven straight 30-win seasons before leaving for the University of Texas. She said it is extremely rare for a highly successful coach to leave a top program.

“The transition is always challenging. You don’t know where the dry cleaners are, you don’t know where to get a haircut. But the people at Duke have made it a lot easier for us. It’s an exciting final step in my career,” said McCallie. “I want to try to do some great things at Duke, and I probably won’t coach any more [when she’s through at Duke].”

McCallie, who has a five-year contract at $500,000 per year plus the possibility of $143,000 more in incentives, said another factor in her decision to move was neither of her children have begun high school yet. Daughter Maddie is 13 and son Jack is 7.

“It was a wonderful opportunity that came at a great time,” said McCallie.

Her Blue Devils graduated two All-Americans and she has a young team with just two seniors on the roster, one a starter.

“There are no limitations if we get everyone working in the same direction. But we don’t have the luxury of not rebounding and winning or not sharing the ball and winning,” she said.

A tough 67-64 loss to current No. 1 Tennessee and a 49-44 win over No. 4 Rutgers give credence to Duke’s potential.

“We have a great group of hard-working, motivated women. All I can say is we’re getting better,” said McCallie. “We’re playing great defense and we’re rebounding. We’re getting after it and growing offensively.”

The Maine high school basketball tournaments are starting this week and McCallie has fond memories of her days at Brunswick High School.

“I remember so many different things. The most memorable was playing in the Western Maine [Class A] final against Westbrook in the Cumberland County Civic Center. We lost, but it was a fabulous game,” said McCallie. “I remember recruiting all the great kids [at Maine] like Sandi Carver out of Class D [Jonesport-Beals] and [Cony’s] Amy Vachon.

“I remember the crowds, especially during Cindy’s [Blodgett] years. The crowds were incredible,” said McCallie.

She is pleased to see Blodgett at Maine and text messages her frequently.

“She was a very smart hire. She is going to do a great job. She is the roots of that program,” said McCallie.

lmahoney@bangordailynews.net

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