Two Feet In with Coach Heather Macy

Karen Barefoot, a nationally-known women’s basketball coach who has built successful programs at four different institutions, finished her fourth season as the 11th head coach in UNCW women’s basketball history during the 2020-21 campaign. Barefoot, 48, has brought winning back to UNCW over the last four years, with the Seahawks posting 47 victories, including an 18-12 record in 2018-19 that secured the team’s first winning season in seven years. The Seahawks also authored a 13-1 mark inside Trask Coliseum, matching the program record for home wins in a single season. UNCW posted seven victories during the 2020-21 season, which included a victory over the College of Charleston in the opening round of the CAA Women's Basketball Championship. A pair of student-athletes were recognized by the CAA's head coaches as Carol-Anne Obusek received Second-Team All-CAA notice, while Za'Nautica Downs earned the league's Sixth Player of the Year award in addition to a place on the All-CAA Third Team. Under Barefoot's tutelage, the Seahawks registered 10 wins during the 2019-20 campaign, including six victories in Colonial Athletic Association regular season play. UNCW fashioned a 69-55 victory over Charleston in the opening game of the CAA Women's Basketball Championship before the tournament was cut short due to COVID-19. Barefoot's squad had three student-athletes recognized with CAA postseason awards, including senior guard Lacey Suggs, who was named CAA Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Redshirt senior guard GiGi Smith, the Seahawks' leading scorer, was a Third-Team All-CAA performer, while senior guard Ahyiona Vason earned a spot on the league's All-Defensive Team. UNCW earned a share of third place in the CAA regular season standings in 2018-19 after finishing with an 11-7 conference record. The Seahawks were the only team to defeat CAA regular season champion James Madison during league play, posting a 66-63 victory at Trask Coliseum on Jan. 18. As a result of the Seahawks’ improvement, a trio of student-athletes earned All-CAA distinction by the league’s head coaches, marking the first time in program history three UNCW players have received a spot on the all-conference team in the same season. Smith and redshirt senior guard Shrita Parker were tabbed Second-Team All-CAA while Suggs was a Third-Team selection. In her first year with the Seahawks, Barefoot guided the squad to its best start in 10 years after UNCW authored a 7-4 non-conference record, including a 6-0 start at Trask Coliseum. The Seahawks closed out the season with three wins in their final five games, including a 58-47 victory over Towson in the first round of the CAA Tournament. Barefoot has also made an impact in the Wilmington community during her three years at UNCW. She was featured in the April 2019 edition of WILMA Magazine and was a nominee for the Cape Fear YWCA Woman of the Year Award in May 2019. Barefoot took over the UNCW program after six successful seasons at Old Dominion, where she guided the Lady Monarchs to a 103-93 record, including five winning seasons and three postseason appearances.

Danielle O’Banion was named the 12th head women’s basketball coach at Loyola University Maryland in April, 2021. O’Banion brings 20 years of Division I coaching experience to the Greyhounds, most-recently serving her second stint as an assistant at the University of Minnesota over the past three seasons. Her teams have combined for 10 postseason appearances, including five NCAA tournaments and one run to the Final Four. “I am so excited to welcome Danielle O’Banion to the Loyola Athletics family as our next head women’s basketball coach,” said Donna M. Woodruff, Loyola's Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics. “It was very clear through our process that Coach O’Banion was the right person to lead our program moving forward. She brings an impressive combination of coaching expertise, successful playing experience and a demonstrated commitment to developing the women in our program as exceptional leaders, student-athletes and citizens while on-campus and well after graduation. The future is very bright with Danielle as the leader of Loyola women’s basketball.” Originally from Arlington, Virginia, O’Banion returns to the Mid-Atlantic after coaching stints at Minnesota, Memphis, Kent State and Harvard. A standout recruiter who has brought in four Top-50 classes during her career, she has also held multiple leadership positions within both the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and Advocates for Athletic Equity (formerly Black Coaches and Administrators). “I believe in Loyola University Maryland, and I am honored that Loyola believes in me,” O’Banion said. “I am especially grateful to Vice President Dr. Robert Kelly and Director of Athletics Donna Woodruff for entrusting me with the future of our Loyola women’s basketball program. Loyola, its ideals and the city of Baltimore are a championship combination, and I am eager to begin the work of building a Greyhounds women’s basketball championship tradition.” O’Banion rejoined Minnesota in 2018 following a two-year stint as associate head coach at Memphis. During the past three seasons with the Golden Gophers, she worked primarily with the post players while also playing a key role in recruiting. Recent additions to the program include Alexia Smith, the first five-star recruit in program history, and 2020 Big Ten All-Freshman honoree Jasmine Powell. Originally an assistant at Minnesota from 2002-07, O’Banion’s first assistant stint coincided with the best five-year run in team history. The Golden Gophers made four-consecutive NCAA tournaments, advancing to one Final Four (2004) and two Sweet Sixteens (2003, 2005); they also added a WNIT appearance in 2007. O’Banion worked primarily with the backcourt, coaching four All-Big Ten selections and one Kodak All-American (current Minnesota head coach Lindsay Whalen). O’Banion then spent four years at Memphis from 2008-12, earning a promotion to associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for the final three seasons. She helped bring in the No. 1-ranked recruiting classes in Conference USA (Top 50 nationally) in each of her first two years on-campus, and her 2011 recruiting class was the highest-ranked in program history. Those recruits succeeded on the court with Memphis winning 78 games during her four seasons while making three postseason appearances.

Jervorah has been involve with basketball over 20 years as a player and coach. She served as an collegiate basketball player at Belmont Abbey and later pursued professional. She was the assistant coach, with varsity girls Basketball for Ware Shoals High for two years and Mauldin High School for a year. After having that experience she later realize, that wasn’t her passion. While at BAC in the CVAC conference, she earned many awards in her career. She was MVP CVAC All-Tournament (2001-2002), Honorable Mention(2003-2004), First Team, and Most Defensive Player, made the 1000 point Club (2005) and Lead Steal her entire college career. However, in high school she was South Carolina Miss Basketball 1A in (1999) , MVP, All-Conference, All-Region, All Lakeland, Selected for North and South All-star team, Player of the Year and lead steals. Jervorah started Playing Varsity basketball in the 8th grade. In Addition of playing the game she love, Jervorah started an professional path in furthering her education and career path. She worked as an HR Recruiter for Temp Agent and currently hold a position as a Process Supporter at BMW. During Jervorah Leisure time, she love spending it with her family and friends. She is Married to Andrew Goosby, with their one son named Micah. She enjoy loving on her boys (Godson(s)/Nephews) watching them grow up and play sports. Also, she love to travel, eat, and laugh. Jervorah enjoy volunteering her spare time to Children Camps in her Community and working with kids with disabilities. Furthermore her motto is to Push other to accomplish there Goals, while being a impact to others. She believe in Helping others is her “WHY”.

Brianna Finch joined the Boston University women's basketball staff in June, 2021 as the program's assistant coach/recruiting coordinator. Owning nearly 20 years of coaching experience, Finch served as Davidson's director of player development for the past year, where she assisted with opponent scouting, film analysis, player development and recruiting efforts. Prior to her time with with the Wildcats, Finch spent a year as an assistant coach at Florida International University and spent the prior three seasons on staff at Barry University. Finch additionally led the New Mexico Highlands University program for two seasons and got her first head coaching position with the Lemvig Basketball Club in Denmark in 2013. A dynamic recruiter on the national and international level, Finch was selected as one of 30 participants for the 2019 Women's Basketball Coaches Association's NEXT UP program. Finch received her bachelor's degree in 2002 in business administration/marketing from Sonoma State and completed her master's of arts in human performance and sport from New Mexico Highlands in 2018.

Anne Hurd is a 1981 Alumna of Greensboro College. She is the Vice President for Advancement & Admissions of her alma mater. You can reach Anne at Anne.Hurd@greensboro.edu. Anne Jones Hurd, the daughter of a Greensboro College alumna and the college’s longtime former business manager, joined the staff in August 2015 as vice president and chief advancement officer. She earned a master’s in Applied Communication at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). She has served in senior fund-raising and advancement positions at three private educational institutions in Greensboro: Canterbury School, Guilford College, and Greensboro Day School. During her tenure, those institutions successfully completed capital campaigns and related fundraising programs. Hurd has served as chair of the Greensboro College Alumni Association and on the Board of Trustees, whose Institutional Advancement Committee she chaired.

Please contact Jody at the following email address jody.adams@siu.edu. Jody Adams-Birch enters her third season on Cindy Stein's staff at Southern Illinois, and her first as the associate head coach. In her second season on staff, the Salukis posted their sixth-straight winning record. Southern defeated a ranked opponent (Missouri State) for the first time since 1991 and the Salukis finished with a RPI of 105, its highest since 2007. SIU’s four top-100 wins during the 2019-20 season were its most since at least 2002. The Salukis also repeated as Compass Challenge Champions and Nicole Martin and Makenzie Silvey were both selected to the All-MVC honorable mention team while Brittney Patrick earned her first career All-Defensive Team honor. A 1994 graduate of Tennessee, Adams-Birch played four seasons for the Lady Vols under legendary head coach Pat Summitt, and was the starting point guard for three Southeastern Conference Championship teams. The Lady Vols advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of her four years and captured the NCAA’s ultimate prize with a national championship in 1991. She began her coaching career as a student assistant with the Lady Vols in 1993.

Danielle O’Banion was named the 12th head women’s basketball coach at Loyola University Maryland in April, 2021. O’Banion brings 20 years of Division I coaching experience to the Greyhounds, most-recently serving her second stint as an assistant at the University of Minnesota over the past three seasons. Her teams have combined for 10 postseason appearances, including five NCAA tournaments and one run to the Final Four. Originally from Arlington, Virginia, O’Banion returns to the Mid-Atlantic after coaching stints at Minnesota, Memphis, Kent State and Harvard. A standout recruiter who has brought in four Top-50 classes during her career, she has also held multiple leadership positions within both the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and Advocates for Athletic Equity (formerly Black Coaches and Administrators). A 20-year member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association, O’Banion served on the WBCA Board of Directors from 2013-15 and was an Awards Committee member from 2011-12. She was also the second woman to be named president of Black Coaches and Administrators, serving in that role in 2011-12 following four years on the BCA Board of Directors. As an undergraduate, O’Banion was a four-year letterwinner at Boston College from 1997-2001. She helped guide the Eagles to their first two NCAA tournament appearances in program history, and she was a co-captain and Big East Academic All-Star during her senior season. She graduated from Boston College in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and Hispanic Studies minor. O’Banion grew up in Northern Virginia, and she prepped at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia where she was a Washington Post All-Met guard for the Maroon.

Lee served on the Board of Directors of NAPEO (National Association of Professional Employer Organizations) and currently serve as the Chair for the NAPEO. As Chair, she focused on diversity and deepening member relations by forming Women in NAPEO (WIN). The goal of WIN is to engage, empower, and encourage the women in the PEO industry. She also served as the Chair for NAPEO’s Carolinas Leadership Council for over 10 years.. In 2015, She was honored to be named a Fellow of the eleventh class of the Liberty Fellowship Program and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. She is an advocate for public education. She served on the executive board as Chair of Public Education Partners and is the founder and director of Read Up Greenville, a young adult and middle grades book festival in downtown Greenville, SC. When she takes a break from board meetings, client visits, and networking, she most likely reading, camping, or spending time with my family. She also enjoy volunteering at her church and staying involved in her children's schools. You can reach Lee at https://www.linkedin.com/in/leeyarborough and http://www.propelhr.com

A 1997 Greensboro College graduate and now a New York School Psychologist, Deb Girardi shares her secrets to her success as a mom, coach, and school psychologist. You can reach Deb at dmeis45@hotmail.com

Jen Brooks is a Certified Master Athletic Administrator. Currently she serves as the Athletic Director at Ursuline Academy in St. Louis, MO where she has maintained this position the last 25 years. Driven by a desire to encourage more women to get involved in the world of high school athletics, a well as to support them and create an awareness piece for male allies, Jen founded the Global Community of Women in High School Sports. Coaching, teaching, helping people to become better versions of themselves led her to her role as the Mentor Program Coordinator for the Missouri Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. To contact Jen, find her in the following ways: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-brooks-cmaa-812621152 and her website https://jenbrooks.com/

Dr. Keller is a champion for women. She is a servant leader and professor that uses her real life experiences working in high school & intercollegiate athletics for over 19 years to teach and mentor. She is a person who takes initiative, solves problems, deals well with conflict. She is able to find people's strengths and help them be successful. She is a strong communicator who is good at managing projects through using her teamwork, leadership & visionary talents. She has an unmatched work ethic with a great sense of responsibility and dependability. She is kind, conscientious, trustworthy, and loyal as well as competitive, determined, and ambitious. Connect with Dr. Keller on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/patty-raube-keller-ed-d-a4393947 and by email raubekpa@ucmail.uc.edu

Barb Nelson has coached in the college ranks and currently in the high school ranks at Myers Park in North Carolina. She has over 700 victories and talks with Heather about being present in the moment.

NO LIES LIVE FOREVER tells the story of a successful architect, Sal Casalino who has built the life and family he always wanted in Waite Hill, Ohio, only to have the crimes he left buried in his native Italy rise to the surface – and the daughter who pledges to find answers and redemption in the wake of her family’s upheaval. The story is based in Winston Salem and Banner Elk NC as well. Catherine Compher is a lover of travel, good books, and family. She has lived coast to coast following her husband's career and picking up stores along the way. She is originally from Cleveland but was raised in North Carolina. A graduate of North Carolina State University, she lives in Chicago. Reach Cathy on twitter @catcomph, Instagram @catcomph, and by email at catcomph@gmail.com

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in Alpharetta, Georgia, Burson earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the University of Montevallo where she was a player and coach. Burson also spent three years as an assistant coach at Shorter University prior to coming to North Georgia. You can reach Coach Burson by emailing: buffie.burson@ung.edu. Buffie Burson has posted 21 winning seasons in her time in Dahlonega, including her last seven consecutive years and has guided the program to 12 national tournament appearances, including four NCAA appearances with the furthest run coming in the 2019 NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament, culminating in the program's first ever trip to the Elite Eight after winning the Southeast Regional Championship. Burson’s teams have averaged over 20 wins a season in her career. She collected her 500th career victory on December 17, 2018, a 68-63 win over Flagler in the UNG Convocation Center.

A Presbyterian College graduate, an avid Habitat for Humanity supporter, a wife and a mom of two children; Beth Paul helps bring entertainment to Greenville South Carolina. She is the General Manager of the Bon Secours Wellness Arena where she has led since 2015. Beth and Coach Macy talk how making transitions through the pandemic and what normal is going to look like now that the entertainment business is booming again. To reach Beth send her an email at bpaul@bswarena.com

Deputy Director of Athletics| Senior Woman Administrator and over Compliance at Methodist College. A twenty year veteran women's basketball coach and a Kay Yow Endowment Supporter. In her 20 seasons as head coach, Jarman amassed a 299-233 (.562) record, making her the winningest head coach in the history of women's basketball at Methodist . Dee Dee Jarman brings experience through coaching and athletic administration that she uses to inspire and impact young female athletes. Dee Dee and her husband have a daughter, Dawson. She can be reached at djarman@methodist.edu

Ayonna Thompson-Bowen has her jersey retired at Mauldin High in Mauldin, South Carolina for Girls Basketball. She furthered her basketball career at High Point University where she states, "it was the best experience of my life." The owner and operator of A1Hoops has goals to make sure at least 25 young ladies go to college and earn a diploma while playing basketball. She is a mother of a 4-year-old son. You can reach Ayonna on all social media platforms @A1 Hoops Report. She is currently working on having individual players analyzed by Coach Pokie Chatman to improve the way young ladies are recruited and how to tell them to become even better at their craft.

Trudi Lacey talks with Two Feet In Coaching about being two percent better every day - one percent for yourself, one percent for someone else. A former standout for North Carolina State University, Lacey played for the late Hall of Fame Coach, Kay Yow, and was the first African-American woman to earn a full four year basketball scholarship in school history. She was an All-American, four-time ALL-ACC player, and was named to the ACC All-Legend team in 2007. Lacey went on to earn a Master's Degree in Sports Management as a graduate assistant at her alma mater before going on to coach Division I women’s basketball at Francis Marion University, University of South Florida, and the University of Maryland. She eventually made a move to the WNBA serving both as an assistant and head coach of the Charlotte Sting. Lacey would return to the college ranks for two seasons at Queens University of Charlotte before returning to the WNBA to become the coach and general manager of the Washington Mystics. In addition, Lacey served as the Assistant Director for USA Women's Basketball from 1997-2001, helping Team USA earn gold in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Lacey is a certified professional coach, speaker, publisher, and author. She is a resident of Charlotte.

Coach Artina Trader discusses health, listening to your body, and how to balance healthy living with a challenging career. The Annapolis, MD native is a 20 plus veteran in college athletics with the last 11 years at her alma mater North Carolina Wesleyan College. She can be reached at @coachajrader on Twitter. She led her team to be the USA South Champions this past year.