KJ Live - Jerica Williams

On the latest episode of KJ Live, Windward School Girls Basketball Head Coach Jerica Williams joins the show to discuss her basketball journey which has earned her opportunities to coach Division 1 and on elite levels of high-school basketball. The 2021 Detroit Free Press Coach of the Year and 2021 Associated Press Coach of the Year (2nd Team), Jerica shares some of the secrets to her success, her personal and professional inspirations, and her coaching/teaching philosophy. #allball

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is kJ Live with Chris Johnson, and Chris is
having conversations with influencers in the sports world and entertainment
and astray. Now here's Chris Johnson. You're now tuned in
to kJ Live. Today's guest on the show is a

(00:25):
former ball player, current day coach, and was named Associated
Press and Detroit Free Press Coach of the Year in
their very first season at Detroit Country Day High School.
She was recently brought back home to be head coach
at Wynward High School. Let's welcome in Jericho Williams to

(00:45):
the show. Jericho. Hello, Hi, thanks for having me. Thanks
for having us in your world, in your zone. I
appreciate it. I know you're a busy lady to make
time for something like this, I truly appreciate it. Um.
We're excited to kind of find out your about your
journey and can obviously talk about your your president, coaching

(01:08):
job and when we're but I want to get started
before we get into all that. I want. I want
to introduce you to my audience. This is something we
do here at kJ live. We go back. Um. I
think people get um some value out of understanding where
a person has come from to understand who they are now. Um,
if you don't mind, where were you born in the city,

(01:29):
like the area, the neighborhood. Yeah, a lot of people
don't know this, But I was actually born in Albany, Oregon,
which is a small town. Uh, right outside of Salem,
so about the hour south of Portland's but like right
in the middle of Oregon and Oregon State. Um Civil
War countries. Yeah, um, super super super small town. Um.

(01:57):
We lived there for until I was seven or eight,
and then we moved to San Diego because my mom
got accepted into a master's program and my dad it
was like okay, like here we go. So he went
ahead and got in a car and went and lived
in a hotel for three months and then found us

(02:17):
a house and we moved and they're still living in
the same neighborhood that we moved to San Diego that
we originally moved to San Diego back in however or
whatever it was. So, but I so I grew up
in San Diego. How WoT I tell peop? What? So
I'm from um Spring Valley, which is like southeast San Diego. Um,

(02:39):
what I'd like to say, Like I grew up on
like the hill above the hood. So like like I
went to all inner city schools, but like my little
neighborhood was like kind of the hill above, you know,
where all the stuff happened. Um, but yeah, that's where
I'm from. Okay, sounds similar to um, kind of Viewpark

(03:03):
where I grew up. And then you have South Central
and Crunch show, like we're right up on the hill,
but we're like three minutes away from the action. When
you said Southeast, it reminded me of my boy Jelanie
McCoy because he used to write that on his shoes.
He's from San Diego. I think he might be from
the Southeast area. Is that where like Hoover is And yeah,
it's the hood San Diego, Like that's where the hood

(03:26):
is A yeah, exactly, exactly. So yeah. So so okay,
so Southeast. Now what did your parents do? You said
your mom got accepted to masters, so she was, uh
in academics or what was going on her? And what
was your dad involved in? So they actually good question.
I actually both got their masters in psychology. Um. So

(03:46):
my dad was in uh juvenile delinquency. He got masters
from San Diego State, and then my mom got her
masters and then went for her PhD UM in Marriage
and Family THERAPI. So always tell people, you know, part
of like my coaching expertise and why I'm so good
with people, or so I've heard, is because I was
raised by psychologists. So I mean it was connect with

(04:08):
people on a different level. But um So, now, my
mom when she was in her PhD program, she actually
got into insurance to help. She was a young mom.
She had me a nineteen UM and so she needed
to you know, survive and UM, so she took off
in the insurance world. So now she's the VP of
Alliance Insurance Group. UM. And my dad he's retired now,

(04:32):
but he was like in UM like Polinski Center, like
Foster Homes, like he was the director of all that stuff.
So he worked with at risk youth UM and helped
and he really was able to connect with them and
and you know, he became like a second father and
to a lot of those people who were in the system. UM.

(04:52):
But he's retired now, so they like to my mom
still working, but she's a boss boss. So they go
out and they got their motorcycle license and they just
ride up and down the coast of California. So they're
in their third chapter now, the thought the hook, that's
what That's where I want to be someday, Chill retired.
Let me let me ask you this about your dad
and what he was doing with at risk kids. Were
you ever like around did he take you to like,

(05:15):
you know, camps or hang out with the kids, and
if when you did go to those situations, what did
what did you learn or how did it affect you? Yeah?
Good question. Uh. He took me to UM the court like.
He took me to the juvenile center, so I got
to walk through that. He took me to the court
when he had to sit UM with his it's UM.

(05:39):
He took me to UM like where they housed the
foster kids. And I remember walking through the juvenile center
and I was like scared, and I remember him telling
me like, don't be like, don't be afraid. These are
just people, you know UM. And so I think, and
my dad is from the hood, you know, like he
grew up you know, game and all of that and

(06:01):
found his way. But he really want I feel like
he really wanted to show me like the two separate
ways that I could go UM. And so I was
really able to internalize that, but also see how he
impacts people and how like let's humanize everybody, you know
what I mean, Like just because they're in juvenile hall
or made these decisions doesn't make them less of people.

(06:23):
And I think that that's what I was able to
take away, um the most, going with him in those situations. Yeah,
I had the opportunity to work at a foster home
in college that was years old somewhere around there. But
I have to go every weekend, you know, two days.
I think I worked like four hours a day, UM,

(06:45):
And it was an amazing experience because once you step
foot in there, you realize that these kids who look
like you, your age or you know, and do the
same things and like the same things you like, or
a lot less fortunate than you, and you you realize like, dang,
I got a lot, or I'm blessed or you know
these things that I consider issues or stuff I'm tripping about.

(07:08):
Basically I kind of started to change my perspective a
little bit, and it was it was I would say
it was a life changing the experience for me. UM.
That's that's I can see why, Um it shaped you
and it's affected you, and to come from that stock
of dealing of dealing with those type of personalities and

(07:28):
those beings, if you will, that's just that's like special people.
It's not it's not something that's easy to do. What
basketball at this time on your radar at all. So
in a good segue from my dad, So I got
introduced to basketball. I was always like an athlete. I
love baseball. Baseball is my first four I was a
picture on all boys team like so, I was always athletic.

(07:52):
Um one of my friends when I was in fifth grade,
she came to me and she was like, hey, I
don't want to be the only girl in this free
throw shooting contest? Will you come with me? I was
horrible at bosby, no interest in basketball at all. I
was in fifth grade and I made like two out
of five, which was enough to advance. And so we
go to like the regional thing and I made like
one out of twelve and I didn't like to lose.

(08:14):
And my dad took me out back and he goes, hey,
do you want to win this thing? And I was
like yeah, Like so he lined me up. He was like, look,
put your foot right here, put your elbow right here,
and just hold your hand like that when you shoot
the ball. And I went back in and I made
eleven out of twelve, and then I went back to school.
I'm like, hey, I want to play this, like play
with the boys at recess. I'm gonna figure it out.

(08:35):
And then somebody came to the elementary school and was
handing out flyers to play for the local rec league.
And I took it home to my parents and they
tell me. Now, They're like, look, this league costs like
fifty dollars and for us back then, that was a
lot of money. But this is what you wanted to do.
And uh so I went and I signed. They signed
me up, and I got a really good coach and
I won like it was like basically all boys, like

(08:58):
I was one of the only girls, and uh I
got a really good coach and he really saw something
in me and was very fundamental, and I won the
Most Improved Player my first year, and then my second
year I won m v P over all the boys.
So they still give me a hard time with that
now because some of them are in the NFL and

(09:18):
like these high level athletes. Um So I was like, man,
but you won m VP that year, you know. So
that was that was where it all started. But so
my dad, Um, I think I had a spark in
me somewhere, but I think my dad taking me outside,
like hey, do you want to win? That's that's where
it all started. So it was over the free throw contest.
And so let me ask you this, if you wouldn't

(09:40):
have made eleven out of twelve, would would we even
know you today? Or would you have took it like
a completely different career pass softball, I don't know, you know,
some other track or or something like that. That's a
good question maybe, But my my gut reaction to you
was like I wouldn't have not made a leven out
of twelve just because of the way my dad hadn't

(10:01):
stilled that mentality in me, you know, like there was
no way I was gonna miss. Like we're very my
family's very vision like visionaries, um, and if we want something,
we're gonna go get it. And so whether it would
have been basketball or something else, but there was always
something about basketball, it felt natural to me, and I
think that that was just the spark. Do you have

(10:23):
any favorite players at this time that you looked up
to or were you just locked in on learning this game.
Loving this game kind of being local at your spots,
you're not really tripping on all that. Yeah, I didn't
even know what basketball like. I saw people play it,
but I had no knowledge of it at all, so
I didn't know who was good who wasn't. I think

(10:43):
I had heard of Michael Jordan at a point um.
And then when I really got put on was when
I think I was like eleven maybe, and my brother
took me to see Loving Basketball whenever that came out,
and I was like, oh, Magic Johnson. Like, so then
I started to like, Pistol Pete is somebody that I

(11:04):
did research on, like, so I started to seek stuff out.
But at the very very beginning, it was literally like,
should to practice because it's exciting to be here, and
I want to be a contributor to the team, and
I want to learn the sport. And then I think
as I started to fall in love with the game,
then I started to pay attention and do some intentional
research on the types of players that were out there.

(11:25):
But that didn't come until later. I would say, like
middle like in the middle school, high school is when
I really started to find people that inspired me in
the basketball world. Yeah, and so when you got to
middle school, you knew and you had goals kind of
set on, Hey, I want to be a Division one
college basketball player. Or did you have goals outside of

(11:45):
basketball that you were you were focused on. That's such
a good question. Uh, I didn't have a desire to.
I was so focused on the process, which is interesting
because that's how I coach now. So it's really this
is really a good conversation that we're having in this
particular moment um. I was so focused on the process.
And then when I got to high school, my parents

(12:08):
would tell me this, that's that's when college became an option.
So it wasn't like it is now where like the
w b A was on TV all the time, like
that's you know, social media, Like we didn't have any
of that. I have what was in my neighborhood. So
I would go to the park to the y m
c A, and I would just play, And that was
the most exposure that I really had to the game.
So once I figured out, like, oh, if you're good

(12:31):
enough you can play basketball, you can continue to play basketball,
right Like, I didn't learn about getting scholarships and all
of that until later. Once I figured it out. I
started to watch college basketball, and I loved Duke like
I loved Elaine and Beard at Duke like she could
do it all. And then, um, I got really good,

(12:52):
like like it started high school. I got really good
and I worked really hard, and I started to get
like letters from con and Vanderbilt and Duke, and I
was like, oh, okay, this is this is getting interesting.
And then I remember I went and visited Duke my
junior year and I didn't like it. Like I was like,
oh this is you know, I don't want to do

(13:13):
this anymore. But I didn't want I didn't want to
go to this school. But and this is important, in
fifth grade, I gave a speech in my fifth grade graduation.
This is right when I started to like basketball, and
I had said I'm gonna go to U c l
A and play basketball. Um, but I forgot that I
said that. So then what I like, what's going through

(13:36):
my recruiting process and U c l A ultimately ended
up being where I landed. My dad reminded me like, hey,
you you sproke this into fruition back when you first
started playing the game. Um, so to answer your question
now that that really didn't I was so focused on
the process, man, that that all that stuff came as like, oh,
like okay, this is this is what we're doing next,

(13:58):
and so that's kind of how it transpired. That's that's
that's a very cool breakdown of how because I wondered
because a lot of times when you aren't even in
tune with the noise surrounding like rankings and basically your competition,
you don't know who it is, you're not You're just
locked in on your process and you pushing yourself. I

(14:19):
used to kind of live that existence a little bit
with my dad growing up. We were kind of off
in bell Air, so he kind of had you know,
he was trying to make an NBA comeback, but he
so he had workout stuff and we're you know, far away.
We lived on a private road, so it was hard,
you know, twenty an hour to get there. So it's
like I was just on the workout. I was running hills,

(14:40):
swimming in the pool, riding the bike and not really so.
But but when I got out and kind of thrown
to the wolves and kind of got around other people competition,
it wasn't that fear factor that's associated. It wasn't that
did you experience the same thing I did. I'll never
forget I was in and uh. Two examples. One, I

(15:02):
was in eighth grade and they put me in the
what it was called the Super sixty. It was in
San Diego, and I was like all these top players
and my coach at the time was like, we're just
gonna put you in it. I was like, okay, cool.
And it was like Kendice Wiggins was in it, Charlie
Houston was in it, like right, and I'm in eighth grade.
But to your point, because I had that mentality of like, oh,
I'm just hooping, I think there was kind of that

(15:25):
moment like right when I walked in and I knew
who they were, but I didn't compare myself to them necessarily,
like I wasn't working to be better than them. I
just wanted to be the best version of myself. Man.
I went out there and killed and I'll never get
like an hour and got buckets like it was. It

(15:45):
was a fun time. And then the I can't remember
the other example, I was gonna get but no, so
I never really felt oh. And then the other one
was I was playing AU it was like I was
I was a freshman going into my sophomore year, and
I was playing up. I was playing with a lot
of juniors and seniors, and like Yukon was watching, like
you know, was in the building, Pat, someone was in

(16:06):
the building. We're playing against this high level team, and
something happened. I win, I got fout, they got a technical.
So I got to shoot six free throws in a
row and I made it all. But it was like
there was no one on the line. The gym was
quiet at all of six free throws. That's when I
that's when I got put on everybody's list. Was that

(16:29):
that moment. So to answer your question, no, never, I'm
grateful that I didn't grow up in this generation where
the competition is like placed in front of you all
the time. You know what I mean. It's hard to
just compete against you. It's harder to just compete against yourself. UM,
So I'm grateful that back then, that's that's really what

(16:49):
I feel like I was I was doing. Yeah, I
was locked in. I was a lot like you when
you're just locked in with the competition against yourself, or
that competition, not even the competition, but that that one
inside of used to like show your dad, or show
your mom, or prove to your to your your parents. Me,
it was it was my dad. I wanted to show

(17:09):
him that, you know, I was ready. I was out
here doing it because he talked everything up. You know,
he get me all hype. You know, you got so
and so tonight. Man, Hey, man, I don't know. Man,
he's really good. You know, he's just always, you know,
making it like everybody was better than me. So whenever
i'd go because he's like, man, they don't know you, man,
you haven't been on the scene. What you gonna do.
So he would really psych me up. And I get
out there and I just try to be an animal.

(17:29):
I try to get thirty rebounds, twenty five points and
just and just be absolutely nuts to two more points.
And then I wanted to segue off into your U
c L. A experience that albeit the brief one um
Elena Beard has been on this show. She currently is
involved with the group that is trying to bring a

(17:51):
w NBA for franchise to the city of Oakland. And
so I had her on thirty minutes, and uh, we
talked about it. So she is a friend of the show.
It was it was, yeah, I'll send you the link
to the episode when she was dope, she broke it down.
It was a quick, quick interview, but she was gracious
enough to appear on the show. Fox Sports Radio has

(18:12):
the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all
of our shows at Fox sports Radio dot com and
within the I Heart Radio app search f s R
to listen live. The other thing I forgot, but I
want to talk about u c l A. You wrote
as a five as in the fifth grade that your
dream school was u c l A. So when and
who was recruiting you at the time. Who recruited you
to go to u c l that First of all,

(18:33):
Kathy Olivier coach Olivier. So Cathy Olivier, um when she
you first heard for her from her or when she
first offered you just described that moment? Was it a
phone call? Was it in person? When she at your game?
Described the moment when you first got offered to go
to u c l A. Yeah, Well, interestingly enough, so

(18:55):
they didn't come into the picture until late Okay. And
like I said, I had said I play into the sea,
that I wanted to go to u c l A.
And then I forgot, So by the time I was
being actively recruited by all these people. U c l
A was not my dream school at that time. So
like it took my parents bringing it back to my attention. Um,
it's crazy how powerful seeds are. And you know. Anyways,

(19:18):
so my coach at the time was like, Jericho, U
c l A is looking for a point guard. So
when you go out here, I don't want you to
look to score. I want you to look to pass.
I was not a point guard. I was a shooting guard. Like,
passing me the ball, I'm going to score. Um, But
I thought, but I listened. Um, this was the last
tournament of my junior year, going into my senior year,

(19:40):
so this is the last viewing tournament. They saw me,
she liked me. They offered me a visit. So I
came and visited, and as I was leaving, Um, we
were driving back to San Diego when she called and
she was like, hey, we want to offer you a
full scholarship. I'm gonna be honest. When I went to
the campus, I didn't love it, Like I was what

(20:02):
was it? What was it? What was it? It wasn't
the campus, it was I didn't connect with the coaches
and stuff you know, um, and and I was being
recruited by uh St John's in New York, and I
connected with those coaches, like so I had a comparison.
And I wasn't like sold on St. John's or anything,

(20:25):
but I was like like and people know who go
through the recruiting process, like when you know, you know
it's true. And so I didn't feel super connected, but
I remember my parents feeling so being so excited, like
like our daughter just got offered to u c l A.
And like that you know as U c l A,
Like that's all you gotta say. Um. So I wasn't

(20:47):
super excited. I'm gonna be honest, But I went through
the process and we got to the point where I
was trying to make a decision. And a lot of
people do not know this story, but it's important for
people who are being recruited to here, Like we got
to the point where we're gonna make a decision, and
my parents really didn't support me. I wanted to go
to St. John's and my parents didn't support that. They
wanted me to go to u c l A. And

(21:09):
I met my press conference and Chris, I'm at the
podium like with the same I'm like, I'm ready to
put the St. John's hot I'm going to St. John's.
And then I look at my mom and I see
her face and I'm like, U c l A. I'm
just like whatever, um so, but I think that speaks

(21:32):
to so when I went to U c l A.
And I might be moving along, um your question. But
when I went to U c l A. I resented
being there, you know what I mean, and so it
was harder for me to work hard like So that's
that's when it really I struggled, and that's why the
stint was so short, because I didn't go in there
with the right mentality. Yeah, so you made a decision

(21:56):
based on not disappointing your parents. That's that's amazing. It's funny.
When I had the opportunity to get recruited and choose
between U c l A. I think it was Washington State,
Arizona State, Cornell, and I could have been like a
walk on at Duke. I kind of had that thought
in my head. I knew my grandparents, you know, I

(22:19):
love my grandmother, love us my dad obviously, you know
he was the U c l A. Guy. There's a
lot of pressure that was there associated with that. And
it's u c l A. So on the girl's side
of the boys, that doesn't matter. It's u c l
A one of the just premier spots for college that
you could ever get the opportunity to go to. So
I totally get it. I totally understand. But when you're
not in your heart isn't into something Jericho, it's it's

(22:41):
not gotten. Typically it does not work out. When you
bounced from u c l A, did you consider going
to any other programs or who were the programs that
you're you're considering transferring to. Well, I mean I read
you back out to St. John's, but you know things
you know like, well, we don't need your position now
what ever the case? And me so San Diego State,

(23:02):
um so, Beth Burns was the coach at Sanego State
at the time and they were rebuilding. She was in
like her second or third year, and she had been ed.
I remember she saw me play when I was in
the eighth grade or ninth grade, and she had made
it off like known to me like she so I
remembered her. So when um we didn't have the transfer

(23:23):
portal back then, when it became known that I was transferring, um,
she reached out. She came into a home visit, and
I'll never forget like she told me the story when
she saw me play my freshman year, and like she
could tell me that she knew things about me that
Cathy Olivier didn't know. So that connection, I was like, Oh,

(23:44):
this is what I want to play for. This person
knows me, she knows I'm a shooter, she knows my
person game, knows your game. You could bring up moves
you made, remembers you know this, and that that and this.
I get it all that. So I was like, you
know what, I don't want to go. I didn't like
the recruiting process, so I wasn't about to go on
five more visits or anything like that. So I'm like, look,

(24:05):
this is close to home to like I wanted to
go to New York with I'm like, I want to
be where I feel like I can excel in basketball.
And so people ask you, Oh, if you have to
make the decision again, would you do it the same
life the profound part of Jericho. Yeah, because life wouldn't
have transpired the way life that's inspired to. But if

(24:26):
I'm if I'm and follow your heart and all of
those things. Absolutely, but I've made a basketball decision. If
I were to have made a life decision, I would
have stayed at U c l A. You know, Yeah,
that's a tough decision. I mean, the people don't understand
what well not people, the general public doesn't understand what

(24:47):
it's like when you're a student athlete and you have
a choice, when it's a school that's known for that
particular sport and it could be known for other things,
are not known for other things. You could have. Like me,
Cornell was my life decision. Let me just cut to
the chase. I was like, I need to make the
life move. Ivy League this thing and just average like
a dub a year every year, starting as a freshman.

(25:10):
You know, I'm coming in, I'm getting all the shots.
And that's kind of what I was on what I
was presented with. But ultimately like and then Washington State
was another scroll seriously considering because of one thing. Coach
Calvin Sampson. Um. Yeah, he's the head coach in Houston.
But this guy is a master recruiter. I mean, I
mean he he was on my horn every day at

(25:31):
the same time. That's back when they used to hit
you up all the time. You can have them long
conversations with coaches. I think it might have been like
that with you a little bit with some of the stitches,
but coaches could just hit you up. You be on
the phone for an hour. Like my stepmother used to
come in, Hey, Chris, I need the phone. It was like,
call you coach, let me call you back. But you
know what I'm saying, it was those those are really
good times. Um, you had to you flourished. Did you

(25:55):
let me ask you this? How would you describe? Now
you go to San Diego State? How would you describe
the Beth Burns knows you, she's familiar with your game.
You're back in the San Diego area. How would you
describe that experience of San Diego State? Man, it was hard.
It was hard because it was new. Um, and she
pushed me like at the time, at the time, I

(26:19):
didn't understand what it meant to be, like really pushed,
you know, like with all due respects that Cathy oliviad
like that wasn't her strength. Like she was more of
a people person. Coach. Beth Burns was a she was
a winner like she was mental toughness, like that's it,
that's what we're here to do. And I wasn't um

(26:39):
as mentally tough as I thought. But she saw something
in me that I didn't see him myself yet, and
so I responded initially, really well, I worked really hard.
I came back fifteen pounds lighter, um, earned a starting spot,
like was averaging a double double in the first five games.
And then then I got bingched And there was really

(27:02):
no other reason other than like she told me, she
was like, we just think we for the team. We
just want you to come off the bench. And I
was so. I was, however, nineteen twenty years old, and
I didn't know how to process, how to embrace that
role after working so hard and earning my spot, right,

(27:26):
so it felt like it was, well, my hard work
doesn't pay off like so that didn't. I didn't understand it, um,
and so I built up some resentment to her, I think,
and I didn't have the pieces around me at the
time to bring myself out of that, so I never
fully recovered UM. And then that's uh, so I it

(27:51):
took the love out of the game for me, you know,
And that's that's ultimately why like I made the decisions
to leave San Diego State early. Um, I I had
like three more months left in the season, and there
was just like this breaking point for me that I
felt like I was totally losing myself. Um, and I
just didn't love the game. It was hard for me
to wake up every day knowing that I had to

(28:13):
go to practice like it was hard. Um. And so
I made the decision to to not to not do
it anymore, you know. And that's but then fast forward,
that's been something I held on too, because I'm like, Damn,
I was a quitter right like, even though I feel
like I made the best decision that was right for
me at the time, I'm like, you quit still, and um,

(28:33):
I can tell you I've never quit anything again after that.
But what I did do maybe five years down the line,
I think I had my son and you know, perspective
change for me and stuff. And I reached out to
her and I was like, I asked her, what, like,
why was she so hard on me? And then I
thanked her for being hard on me because it prepared

(28:55):
me so much for life in a way that I
didn't see back then. Um. But Her response to me
was like, look, I gave it to you because I
knew that you can handle it, right, Like my delivery
may not have been the best, but I knew that
you can handle it. And I saw something in you
that you didn't see in yourself, and I wanted to
bring that out, Like I knew that you could be great,
and you didn't see it the way that I saw it.

(29:17):
So we were able to connect and find the value
in that experience. You know what I mean? That really
is gonna last me a lot longer than you know,
any other lesson honestly that I've had in my life. Yeah,
you hear you hear about. I had to call them
horror stories between coaches and former players at times, especially

(29:38):
when there's a falling out, especially when someone is perceived
too had quit, either the coach or the player. UM
be able to reconcile that. But I think the key
thing here and I wanted to ask you about this
is something you keep saying and I feel like it's
important in your current role. Um, she you said she

(29:59):
saw something that you didn't see in yourself. How important
in coaching is that to identify what which players can
take it? And which can Yeah, good question. Um, that's
where I think relationships matter, right, Like, I think that

(30:21):
that's she didn't She wasn't the best at well, I
should say, her strength was not connecting on a relational level. Right,
So she knew how to push you, she knew how
to trigger you, but there was never a conversation. Go ahead,
you want to say something. I was gonna say that
when you have a person that pushes you all time
but doesn't kind of balance it out with the build

(30:43):
up before the building, wasn't that describe it? Okay? Correct? Correct?
And so I think that that's where I found the
balance of Like Kathy Olivier was really good at that,
she was really good at the relationship. Beth Burns is
really good at the like physical mental aspect. And so
I feel like I learned how to be somewhere in
the middle, you know, like I have to communicate prior

(31:05):
to enduring with my student athlete why I'm doing this right.
And then I also helped them This is where psychologists
parents come into play. I also help them like almost
make them feel like they're seeing it for themselves. So
it's not oh, hey I see this, it's like, hey,

(31:25):
let's pull back the layers a little bit. Really, what
do you see that you just don't know that you
that you have yet but you but it's in you somewhere.
And so it's almost like this reverse psychology a little bit.
But when we can but when players know that you care,
like when I tap in with my players and about
you know one of my players right now, she's a
she paints and like no one knew that she paints,

(31:47):
and she's legit, and so she sends me her paintings
all the time now and it's a way that we
can connect. So now when we're on the court, I'm like, yo,
we're staying here until you make whatever whatever, or hey,
you're not going hard. She responds better because she knows
that I care. And so I think that finding that
and you don't always get it right as a coach,

(32:08):
but you try, you know what I'm saying. You try.
My my philosophy has has been I want to be
to these young women the woman that I didn't have
growing up. I had a mom, I had a grandma,
but I didn't have like an older sister. I didn't
have an auntie. I didn't have a female coach. Um
that could pour into me in a way that was
so relatable, And that's what I want to be to

(32:28):
these young women, like, hey, I see you, and I'm
not just gonna like just beat you down to try
to bring you back up. I'm gonna let you know
what I see, how how we're gonna and how we're
gonna do this together so that you can be the
best version of yourself now in down the line. Yeah.
Ye shoot, hey, I've been like going rest of suicide

(32:53):
right now. No. No, but the relationship part, I think
you described it perfectly. When they know you care. Um
a mentor of mine. Uh, Ed Waters my dad's best friend.
He's the love him. Yeah. Yeah, he's currently the head
coach prunch on High. But he um he had said

(33:14):
up told me something on Twitter where he mentioned something
about just how love at the core of coaching and
and and the inner person relationship when you have a mentor,
if there's love and love presents itself in different shapes,
forms and fashions. You know, if you have love at
that core in that relationship with the player, and you

(33:35):
know it doesn't have to need this intense love, but
they know, like love, caring is part of love. You
know what I'm saying. So if they know you care,
then they're gonna respond even on your bad days, even
on your worst days, staying on your coaching, I wanted
to I wanted to segue and discuss some of your
accolades that you've done. I mean, obviously after San Diego State,

(33:57):
I can go through your your history Amountain, gil Preston, Wood, Harvard,
west Lake. But then I really wanted to just hone
in on Detroit Country Day. I felt like I wanted
to hear the story about how you got that opportunity
and just talk a little bit about that incredible two
year run that you had out there. Yeah, thank you.
Uh So I was coaching at CALS Northridge and COVID

(34:20):
HIT and so my son. So I was a single parent,
UM and when my son he was turning seven, his
dad is from and lives in Detroit, UM, and we
were like, you know, his time for him to go
live there, Like he just needs to be with his dad.
And uh So he went out there and I couldn't

(34:41):
get on a plane because COVID HIT and I didn't
see my son for five months. And yeah, with that,
the longest you guys had ever been a part easy
so it looks look look if that brought up So
that brought out up? Sorry yeah, so um and but four,
I was like, man, I would never move to Detroit

(35:02):
until I'm five months five months and I can't see
my baby. Then I'm you know, So I started to
look for opportunities because there's nothing in the world more
important than being near my child for me and for
him at this point, um and So I looked for opportunities,
and I knew I was ready to be a head coach.
It's funny because when I was in he Sun, I
had said talking about them speaking things into fruition. I said.

(35:25):
I was like, man, I want to be a head coach.
My next thing. I want to be a head coach
at the top private school. And I wasn't looking for it,
but I planted that seed. So then when it was
time to when it was time to look for opportunities
in Detroit, Detroit Country day was open. Um. So I
reached out. I applied. Um, I went through the process.
I got it, and you went through the you went

(35:46):
through the normal, regular, the regular process. No, I'm just curious.
I'm just curious because a lot of times for those
type of situations, it's surprising that you would as an outsider,
so to speak. I mean, you must have really impressed
the heck out of that administration. That's my point for
saying all this to come from. You know you're working.

(36:07):
Talk to me, let me yes, no, you're right. Same
thing with Windward. I went through the regular process. I
didn't have an end. I didn't know anybody there. Um
So a Country Day was that same, and people at
Country Day say that, Like people at Country Day when
I was there, they'd be like, how did you get

(36:27):
the job? And I got a point and they're like, okay, yeah,
but how did you get it? Like who do you know?
And day? Like But and I'll say this, Chris, I
don't apply like a normal person, like when I want
something like the free throw contest. When I want something,
I leave no stone unturned, like my focus is here,

(36:49):
I have no distractions. Um And and so my cover letter,
my resume, like it stands out like it's gonna stand
out if it's if it's what I want. And I
only go after things that I want at this point
in my life. So I got it. Um So, what
do you want to know about Country day specifically because
it was it was it was a good journey. The challenge, Well,

(37:11):
you followed the well I believe you. You were following
a person, Frank Orlando, that had won thirteen state championships. Okay,
they were coming. You were coming off a two win
season when you got the job. So Frank Orlando, he
was there for forty years. He was there, he's the
most winningest coach in Michigan basketball history. Um and he

(37:36):
had retired and then his assistant coach took over for
two years, and they had won a total of four
games in those two years. After that coach had left.
Um So I was acquiring the team that had won
a total of four games in two years. And there
were sophomores at this point. So no, so I had

(38:00):
one sophomore because everyone else who was on the team
didn't like basketball, like they were just like whatever. So
I acquired all freshmen, one sophomore, and one senior who
had never played. She was just really tall, really long.
She had been on the team, but she never played.

(38:20):
Um So, there was no like, let me see who
I can get in. It was like, look, it was
my first guy coaching job. I'm like, we're gonna roll
with what we got, like I'm you know, I'm a coach,
and uh, they bought I had all freshman, so they
bought an easy you know what I mean, Like they
were excited to just be part of something. And um,

(38:43):
I only had two or three people who had played
basketball before. Everybody else was like softball, soccer. Um. But
I had open tryouts and I was very diligent in
my staff. I was lucky to hire a phenomenal staff. UM,
but I was very diligent in like I'm hiring the people.

(39:06):
I'm not hiring, I'm I'm selecting the players did not
necessarily stand out because of skill, but this showed me
good character, UM and the intangibles. That was it. That
was all I was looking for. UM. I said no
to a couple of players that just had bad attitude,
but they could hoop a little bit. I said no
to them. So we rolled with nine UM one senior,

(39:29):
one sophomore, and the rest were freshmen. And we I
don't know who wasn't. I know, people were not anticipating
us to do what we did, but we beat a
lot of people we weren't supposed to be and we
went further than anybody thought we were gonna go. So
then that next year, UM, year two, they were all sophomores,

(39:50):
one junior, no seniors, UM, some returners, mostly returners obviously,
and then I think I had like one or two
new I had three new freshman UM one of them
that contributed a lot, and we actually lost like we
were fifty. We were we were at five hundred going

(40:11):
into the playoffs, and I remember saying to them, I
was like, in my mind, I'm like, if we if
we went out, we will have won fifteen total games
in the year. So I think we had seven. We're
like seven and seven. It's horrible, totally different experience, same team,
totally different experience. So that was my thing, is like, well,

(40:34):
I know it's how we end. I believe what I believe,
but it's harder to motivate a team that like has
lost like they had one and then they had then
they were losing. So I was like, all right, everybody right,
fifteen on their wrists and no one knew why. Oh
they were like, coach, what are we doing. I'm like,
just do it, just do it, just do it, just
do it. Time went on. Chris. I think it was

(40:56):
like third game man. I'm like, look, this is what
the number fifteen means. So we were at like ten
and seven at that point, and we just kept winning. Um,
it was we just we just kept winning and we
ended up with fourteen wins, which you know, so two
totally different seasons, um, but similar outcomes. So yeah, it's

(41:19):
I mean two district and regional championships, state semis at
Michigan State. Uh so you guys played in the Breslin
Center or the place for Michigan State place. That must
have been a pretty nice experience to take for the
young ladies too. They probably didn't expect that to happen
in there two year especially after the losing seasons. Fox
Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation.

(41:41):
Catch all of our shows at Fox sports Radio dot
com and within the I Heart Radio app search f
s R to listen live. How difficult was it for
you to say goodbye to that team, to those people,
that community after achieving such like just out of out
of no unexpected success, how did how hard is it

(42:04):
to say goodbye to that Well, it's definitely see you later,
not goodbye. Um, but there was a lot of tears, uh.
I didn't cry too much, not because I wasn't sad,
but it was more like numb to the situation because
it wasn't just them. It wasn't just the Troy Country.
Day was all my son that I was moving away

(42:25):
from because he stayed. He's there full time with his dad,
so I get to see him a lot, but not
I'm not down the street anymore. Um. So I was
processing a lot of that. But there were a lot
of tears. You know. It showed me, um the impact,
because I know the impact that they had on me.
But what I didn't realize was the impact I had

(42:47):
on them, because they were They wrote me letters and
a lot of things came out that they had never said.
You know, I think that they anticipated that I'd be
there at least through their career. Um. But I think
that the feedback I got from the administrators, a couple
of administrators cried um, and from the parents, man like,
just like you you changed our daughter. Uh. And it

(43:08):
was just like that's what it was about. It had
nothing to do with basketball, you know. And so for me,
my my intention when letting them know that I was
leaving was like I'm always here, Like I'm gonna be
your coach forever. So like within the last week, I've
faced times with four of them that are out there,
because I would be a hypocrite if I say I'm

(43:31):
a relational coach and I don't maintain relationships with the
players that I've coached. I have a former player coming
to interview with me this week. I gave a letter
of recommendation to one of the players I coached at
Preston Wood. Like it it's it's a lifetime thing, um,
And so my job is to continue to pour into them.

(43:51):
And so I knew there was an opportunity for them
as young women to grow right. Like, I definitely threw
them some adversity with me leaving, but I know that
they're going to be so much better because of it.
But it was it was an easy and when weard
made it an easier transition, you know what I'm saying,
Like to know where I was going, um, definitely made

(44:12):
it made the blow a little easier. But I know
that then my girl's back in Detroit and my family's
back in Detroit felt it. But I was able to
garner relationships that really, like will last a life time.
So I was just really excited that I got the
opportunity to do that. Absolutely, And what type of roster
or what state of the program is Whenward in as

(44:33):
you inherit are you are named a head coach? Yeah,
so when we're so when we went to the Division
one state championship this year, Um, their former coach is
the Phoenix Mercury head coach. That yeah, so something different
than a team with two wins. But you know, I

(44:55):
think it's one just full transparency. It was valid for
me that like, oh, you're ready for something of this stature, right,
Like you're ready for something of this stature, um, because
the same things apply, right, Like I'm following a coach.
That's amazing, I've done that before. Um. And I understand

(45:16):
how to honor the people who came before and the program,
the legacy that is Winward or the legacy that is
Detroit Country Day and still understand that it's a new era,
you know, and be able to contribute to that new era.
So um, yeah, no, it's it's it's the roster is
we lost three seniors. Um. But like I tell our

(45:36):
players now, like, man, it's a clean slate to be honest,
I haven't seen them play in person once I saw
him play on you know, on the computer, but I
haven't seen him in the gym, um, and so it's
a clean slate for me. So I'm excited to see,
um what they could do. When you go in your
one and set the foundation for your program, established the

(46:00):
culture all that is it something that is there a
manual you have that you kind of blueprint you take.
It doesn't matter what your situation is, You're gonna coach
in that situation the same or do you go by
sort of you you look at your roster you kind
of say, okay, well I can rock, I can get out,
I can get down like this with this crew, but

(46:21):
this crew may not and I might not be able
to get down with Or is it just that blueprint? Hey,
no matter what crew it is, this is what time
it is, and this is what we how we're doing it.
Good question. I think it's a little bit of both.
I think you have to know, you know, one of
the the first thing that I did when I got
on campus was conducted with everybody individually, you know, um,

(46:44):
because while they're you know, and John Wooden is obviously
someone who I aspire. While there's foundational things that never change. Um,
I think there is. You have to understand who you're
in a relationship with to know how to communicate them
and to with them, and to know how they received

(47:05):
and process information and stuff like that. Uh. So I
think that that's a key element, but it doesn't necessarily
change my approach. I think, if anything else, what I
saw with Country Day, what I've seen as a player
and being in different things. Um, I went and visited
Vanessa and I guard at Phoenix, and it's like basketball

(47:28):
is basketball, like culture is culture. Like the fundamental stuff
does not change. And so I have to be true
to to who I am in my beliefs, like I can't.
You know, I have to be the leader of of it. Um.
And they're they're going to buy in to how I lead,
but understand too like I'm learning from them just as

(47:50):
much as they're learning from me. So in that way,
we're gonna be able to build it together. Um. But
I definitely do not take my responsibility of leading the ship,
you know, I take that very seriously. So, uh, everyone
will adapt, but we'll all learn and grow together. What
do you think is the single most important thing for

(48:13):
you as a coach, as a leader of young women
for them to leave your program with as far as character, uh,
is it something on the court? Is it something I could?
I mean, what like what are your like you know,
pennants of you that Jerick Williams experienced as a coach.

(48:34):
I did this practice uh with them the other day.
I told we talked about liabilities and assets and you know,
most of the kids that age don't know, so it's
a good opportunity teach them about actual liabilities and assets
in terms of you know, finances. Um. But I asked him,
I'm like, how are you a liability to you to

(48:54):
your team? Right? Um? And so many of them gave
answers that were intent double communication, um, not believing in
each other, things like that. And it was such a
good question because I had to answer the question for
myself too. Um. So what I want people to leave
with is like being a high character, but being an

(49:16):
asset minded right, Like being a contributor in your life
to society, to your family, to your team. And so
I think that there's so many things that fall under
the umbrella of being an asset because it requires that
you give and that you add, you continue to add
value to whatever it is that you're doing. And because

(49:37):
that can take so many different forms, is you evolve
in life. I think that if you maintain or have
the tools to be asset minded and take that into
whatever situation or circumstance that you're in, you're going to
be successful in whatever form that may take. You know,
And so I pray that my kids are all high

(49:58):
character individuals that leave with high levels of confidence no
one that they're gonna be high level contributors to the world. Amazing. Um,
I listening to you at a real coach successful in
all levels. I I kinda have been doing some self
introspection and understand and I kind of started to figure

(50:20):
out where I went wrong as a coach. I used
to coach a lot on the E Y d N.
I've coached high school, but everything you've talked about today
has kind of opened my eyes to like, how to
deal with the relationship part of basketball is so important.
I think we when you come from a certain era,
the only thing that mattered was the result part of it.

(50:42):
And however you get to that result, Uh, it didn't
matter how many stories you told, you stepped on, or
if that person liked you or not. And and it
doesn't matter if it's not about like and it's about
I realized, like, you know, people have coached me it's
sort of rough kind of fashions, and so you know what,
you get coached a rough fashion, you in turn coach

(51:03):
others in a rough fashion, and you don't keep in
mind like this generation isn't that same generation. So I'm
sorry for that little little sidebar there, but it's just
it's just so, it's just it's just such a revelation
listening to you. Uh. I have to discuss something else
because in doing my research for this interview, I saw

(51:25):
that you were named the San Diego Businesswoman of the
Year in two thousand and seventeen, and this is something
that is extremely impressive that I looked a little deeper
and you have a consulting firm that you've had some
two thousand thirteen that specializes in biz dev marketing, branding,
and public relations. And then my first real interaction with you,
and I hope you don't mind me sharing this, Um,

(51:46):
my first real interaction with Jericho was not on the
basketball floor. I don't think it was for my father.
Marcus is Jersey retirement the Milwaukee Bucks retired as Jersey.
Jericho was the point person, the lead of everything, so
we had anything that was going down, We had the
hollywand Jericho, so we you know, we're getting flown to Milwaukee.

(52:06):
We're here, We're there at dinners, were at the Jersey time.
It was. It was one of the most amazing moments
of my life. Thank you for all your hard work
on that. I don't think I don't think you know
your job and what you do. Obviously not that you
describe it, but it's a thankless job at times, and
so you know, but thank you for that. But but
I'd love for you just to talk about Um Jace

(52:29):
consulting and you know what the impetus for it was,
and it just kind of how it's gone for you
and how you use that if you have it all
in the coaching room. Yeah, great question. I appreciate the research. Um,
it was an honor helping coordinate your dad's Jersey retirement. Sure,

(52:51):
it was a pure honor. I was amazing. UM got
really good feedback. But UM, the fact that he just
enjoyed that night, enjoyed my weekend, like and it seems smooth,
like it seems like it went well smooth. Um. No,

(53:12):
So Jayson is my nickname, it's my family nickname. Um.
Public relations is something that I didn't even know was
a thing. I found a passion back however, long ago
when my son was born. So I was a single
mom and UM like like single mom, you know, like

(53:35):
single mom, and I needed uh flexibility uh for my son.
But while that was happening, UM, I had fell into
a couple of opportunities, like to organize events and things
of that nature. And I realized that I really had
a knack for connecting people. That turned into connecting like

(53:58):
businesses and brands and stuff like that. And then because
I spoke the athlete language, it just kind of turned
into this like branding, marketing, strategic partnership or deal. Uh.
And I already had so many existing relationships that made
that situation kind of happened organically. So like when I

(54:19):
was coaching at Preston Wood that's where Julius random Win
um they had her. I was working at like Northwestern Mutual.
But I'm not a nine to five person. I'm gonna
be honest, like not a nine person. And uh, I
was like, hey, I came up with all these ideas
to help this organization do things. And I'm like, man,

(54:39):
I could do this on my I could do this
on my own. I could make a lot more money
doing this if I put my attention into this. And
so I walked into my boss's office and I quit like.
I was like, hey, Chris, because I was in there,
I was probably making I was young. I was like,
I was probably making fifteen dollars an hour. I was

(55:00):
there for eight hours a day, not counting when I
take my son to daycare, pick him up, lunch, whatever.
I'm like, for fifteen dollars an hour, I could find
that in the couch. That's how I felt. And I
wasn't doing something that I loved. And you know this,
you're not gonna you're not gonna work hard if you
don't love what you know. It's tough. It's hard. It's
hard to do that. It's hard. So I was like,

(55:21):
you know what, I could do it. So I went
in there. I'm like, I'm out, and I want to
say that. Next week, Julius Randall's um like point person
was like, hey, he needs a publicist. And I heard that,
you know, you're kind of good at this whatever, and
I was like, yeah, and they're like, do you want
to be as publicists? And I was like for show.
So he was a senior in Kentucky at the time

(55:43):
and it hadn't been announced yet that he was going
to enter the draft. So long story short, I had
Julius Randall as the seventh pick of the Los Angeles
Lakers as my first like theme yeah, um, and so
I kind of just got thrown into the fire, but
I'm made a business out of it. Uh. And so
fast forward, my son was getting a little bit older,

(56:06):
and I was like Jay's had I was going Nina.
I was like going to all these places, but I
wasn't home enough and I was ready to kind of
settle down. And so that was like in the midst
of all that is when I got business Woman of
the Year because I was everywhere like I was getting
there was behind the scenes, like to your point, no

(56:29):
one would know that I was. Then I helped coordinate
that Jersey retirement, like nobody would know that, but I was.
I found myself in a lot of different places, but
I was away from my kids, so I was like,
let me find something. What can I see myself doing
for the rest of my life. That also allows me
to be, you know, just more present with my son.
And um, I'm like, let's do basketball, like, let's jump

(56:50):
into it full flesh. Because even in Preston Wood, I
was it was part time right like, it wasn't a
full time thing. And so I put some fillers out there,
um and and it landed. And so but I knew
that like to be the coach that I wanted to be,
I couldn't equally give a hundred percent to my you know,
consulting business, pr business and coach in the way that

(57:14):
I that I wanted to do it. Um. So now
that that's why I've moved into more of a consultancy
where I still know how to connect people very efficiently.
Like I still know what used to take me a
long time to do, I can do it really quick.
So it's not something that um, I really even market
now like it's it's more so just word of mouth

(57:35):
because I really give a lot, if not everything in
my day to coaching to coaching my team. So I
hope that answers your question. Yeah, that does. I just
wanted to get some background. I mean, to be recognized
as you have and received some of the accoletes. It's
always nice to hear about the grind and how people started. Um,

(58:00):
I didn't have any idea that Julish Randall was your client.
That's something that was revelation right here on this show
kJ Live. You heard it first. Uh No, but no,
it's awesome, Jericho, No listen. I wanted to just wish
you the best at Winward and your next journey. UM.
I have no doubt given your experiences that it's gonna

(58:23):
be an amazing one and a highly successful one. You
possess a lot of the skills and qualities that we've
seen in a lot of the great coaches, and I
think that thank you you with your personal twist on
it too. As far as who you are coming up
in this, you know your generation and who you just
turned out to be as experiences typically make us, it's
it's it's it's right that sounds. I think it's gonna

(58:44):
be a really good opportunity. Thank you so much for
coming on kJ Live. Do you want to give any
shout outs before you go? Um? Well, first of all,
kJ thank you. UM you guys have been like family
to me, even if it's from a disc And UM,
I rock with Johnson's at a high level. So I
appreciate you reaching out and just honored to be on

(59:07):
the show and congratulations on the show and and all
that you continue to do and continue to inspire. UM
shout outs. Uh, you know, not really like I really
don't have. I finally got a Twitter, So I was
off social media for years and I finally got a Twitter.
So I guess that, Um, but you know, come out

(59:30):
and support the when we're girls basketball team when the
season is is here. Uh and uh, I think the
other thing is, you know, my kid, my son Dariah.
I was talking to somebody like I'm just so proud
of the young man and he's becoming you know, like
someone asked me what motivates me? And m obviously our
kids like naturally motivate, but you know, dry and I

(59:53):
bounced around a lot, like to all those jobs that
you see all my resume, Like he came with me,
He was with me, and as a parent, you know,
you you just hope that you're doing a good job.
And so to see him now, I was just with
him and we went to New York for Mother's Day
and he's just like so like this independent young man,

(01:00:14):
that young boy that uh, he's him, but he's he's sharp, man,
He's sharp. He's on top of his stuff, and you know,
I just I feel like all the stuff that we
went through so far, he's taking that and really embraced it.

(01:00:34):
And it's I can see how it's making him, you know, him,
like he just walks in like this confidence about himself.
And I'm just really honored to be his mom. But
it's it's I just wanna. I know that there's so
many working mothers out there and father's right, um, but female,
being a female coach and a mom is a really

(01:00:54):
hard thing to do. Um, But I have to just
wreck Ny is my son and the role that he
continues to play in my life. You know. So I
appreciate you giving me the platform to do that. Absolutely.
Shout out to Geriah. I love that, all right, Yeah, no,
that's it. I appreciate it, alright, Ladies and gentlemen, Jericho Williams,

(01:01:18):
thank you