For the past five years, Angela Wilson, 37, has been coaching Ice Storm, a 4th grade boy’s basketball team in Topeka, Kansas. It was a bumpy road at first as the young boys reactions to their head coach was, “but, you're a girl.” Wilson understood she would need to deconstruct the stereotype that woman can’t coach male teams.
Sure enough, as the team worked together and found success on the court, our Coach of the Week’s gender didn’t seem to matter any more.
Wilson has always enjoyed playing and watching all types of sports, but basketball remains her favorite. She began her coaching career with the Topeka High School girls basketball team and instantly fell in love. And once her eldest, Armon, began playing hoops, Wilson, knew she would she would be on board as a volunteer. She plans to do the same for her younger son’s, ages two and four, when their old enough to play.
Besides the joy of coaching her son, Wilson has also formed close relationships with the other players - treating each as if they were her own. That said, she still faces the day-to-day challenges of coaching such young kids, which is why she’s thankful for the tremendous help she receives from her assistant coach, Arnold Downing and all of the Ice Storm parents.
“Thanks for being a great coach, friend, and mother. You are just wonderful! Can't thank you enough for all YOUR hard work,” wrote Ice Storm team mom, Dallas Lyons, on a 110% prop given to our Coach of the Week.
Indeed, the team’s hard work is paying off. Their record is 15-6 and have taken home first place trophy's in their past two tournaments. “I look forward to the boys finishing strong this season and to the future years we’ll have together,” wrote Wilson. It just goes to show, if you have a committed coach and team unity, your opportunities for success are limitless.
Angela Wilson’s Key’s to Success:
Focus on communicating and teaching the fundamentals of the sport
Understand the strengths and weaknesses of each player, so that you will be able plan practices accordingly
Stress the importance of education and teamwork
Do something for your coach in return for everything they do for you, Nominate them for COW!
