Coaches have different teaching styles, but for the most part, toughness, competitiveness, playing hard, skill set, and attitude are all important. We all know you need to be a skilled player to be able to play college sports, so work hard on these skills!
We spoke with Coach Jenna Eckleberry, who is the head women's basketball coach for Frostburg State University, a Division II school in Maryland. Although it's her first year coaching at FSU, Eckleberry came in with a wealth of knowledge and experience–in her first season at her previous program, Eckleberry led her team to a 22-10 overall mark where she shares the MEC title with a 17-5 record in conference play. Eckelberry guided the Rams to their second NCAA II regional appearance, this is where the Rams upset 11th-ranked Indiana (Pa.) in the first round. Eckelberry also received the MEC Coach of the Year, MEC Women's Sports Coach of the Year, All-J.A.Y. Coach of the Year and BennettRank.com D2 Women's basketball Coach of the Year honors.
Here's what Coach Eckleberry says will make a basketball athlete a superstar on the court.
1. Winning Habits
“Coming into my program, I want someone who has had a winning experience and a winning mentality, which will help them bring a winning devotion to my school.”
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2. Passion
“When I look at an individual, I want to see every ounce of passion they have. I want to see them dive on the ground for loose balls. I want to see them get into their teammates face if they turn the ball over, I want to see them strap down on defense preventing their opponent from scoring.”
3. Fit
“When going to recruiting tournaments, I look at everything. I want to see how you interact with your coach, how you talk to your mom after the game, or if you are on your phone too much. These things all play a factor in how I think you will fit into my program.”
4. Confidence
“When you are on the court, I want to see the confidence you have. I want to be able to see you confidently shooting your shot or confidently locking down your opponent. Off the court, I want to see you have your shoulders back and head held high no matter the outcome of the game.”
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5. Academics
“When I finally see what I like on the court, I research to see if you can provide our school service by completing all the required courses for your degree. I want to know that you will be able to finish your college career on full excel leading into the workforce.”
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* Originally published on January 19, 2023, by Kelli Prange
