In our first edition of the HHH: Coaches Corner we had a chance to sit down with She’s Empowered Sports(SES) director and Head Coach of the Francis Parker Lancers Courtney Clements. Courtney brings a strong pedigree to the girls game. Courtney has lots of knowledge, great communication and relationship building skills that she has developed over the years and that makes her one of the best young and upcoming coaches in our game. Here’s what she had to say:
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What High School & College did you attend?
Millikan High School Long Beach, CA
1 year U of Arizona
4 years SDSU
What Club team did you play for growing up?
Cal Sparks & FBC
What WNBA team did you play for?
Atlanta Dream
Chicago Sky
LA Sparks
Minnesota Lynx
How would you describe yourself when you were a PLAYER and how do you think that impacts or influences your coaching style?
Offensive minded player. Scorer. And now as a coach I’m the same way because I feel that it’s more fun for people to watch and at the end of the day “defense” doesn’t win championships a balance of both wins championships.
Being one of the only females trying to direct and coach. I respect a lot of the men in this business but when you don’t see other females in the game it can be discouraging.
Who are some of the people that have had the biggest influence on you as a coach/leader/mentor?
I’ve been fortunate to have so many good coaches and mentors at every single level. One of the people that has influenced me the most is Beth Burns.
Being a high school coach and club coach, what are some of the differences between the two you see?
High School is a huge commitment for players and parents. Practice everyday, games, team bonding, and other miscellaneous events. Although I think club can be a commitment too it’s not the same level as HS. The stakes are definitely higher once you hit the HS level. Nobody remember your club championships. Everyone remembers CIF/State championships.
How did you come up with your club team name & what’s the meaning behind it?
The name was inspired by my overall vision for young women in sports. Athletics should be used as a platform to uplift young girls and develop their leadership, character, and other life skills.
How do you see the girls game growing in the future?
The future is very bright for women’s sports. Not only are more people seeing the value in it, they are truly entertained by the women’s game. As long as these young players continue to master their craft people will continue to see value and invest in the women’s game.
