Touring the Cal Baptist campus as a potential scholar, Brittany Chambers found she discovered a spot that would harness her future. She walked onto the basketball workforce, which was Division II on the time.
The Lancers completed because the nationwide runners-up in 2015. She graduated a 12 months later with a level in graphic design/new media.
The California native joined the workers in 2017, which was this system’s ultimate 12 months in DII. She has helped information this system via its transition to Division I. The Lancers have received 20-plus video games in 4 straight seasons and took part within the NCAA Match for the primary time this previous season.
Chambers lately spoke to Mid-Main Insanity’ Ian Sacks. Beneath is their dialog:
Ian Sacks: You performed at Cal Baptist and at the moment are there as an assistant coach. What’s it about this system that’s so particular to you?
Brittany Chambers: I believe the College in itself has simply been house for me, clearly taking part in there. It’s offered a variety of progress for me as a participant and an individual. It’s given me a variety of alternatives and style to determine my journey.
I’d hope from 2013, being a freshman in faculty to now that I’ve grown and proceed to develop. I believe there’s lots of people there who’ve and are persevering with to spend money on me. It’s only a place that I wish to spend money on as a result of they invested in me.
IS: You’ve seen the expansion of this system from whenever you had been taking part in there, a part of Division II and the transition as much as Division I and now succeeding on the Division-I degree. What has that transition been like so that you can be proper on the footstep of the entire thing?
BC: It’s been actually thrilling to be on the entrance finish of that. Once I was a participant, one in all our objectives in this system was to make CBU large time. We couldn’t actually outline what that meant, however we’d know when it occurred. We did that my sophomore 12 months, making it to the nationwide championship after which persevering with to construct on that.
Clearly transitioning to Division I, we’ve had a variety of nice success and assets. Simply seeing the administration, our president and the group pour into us, I believe we’re in a position to construct on that, and we’re nonetheless eager to make CBU large time, put our names on the map.
I believe we did that final 12 months, acquired a variety of protection, and we’re hoping to construct on that.
That’s what my greatest aim is: persevering with to place CBU on the market for folks to acknowledge who we’re. It’s an incredible privilege that I’ve acquired to be on either side of that.
IS: How has your perspective modified from being a participant to now being on the teaching aspect?
BC: It’s rather a lot completely different. It’s much more work. The largest factor that I attempt to deal with is pouring into the gamers. Even in Division II years in the past, I believe it was much more about mentorship and basketball. In at the moment’s world, it’s much more transactional, much more about NIL and cash.
However I used to be poured into as a participant. I had good mentors, coaches. To me, that’s in the end what issues. On the finish of the day, we get to ship these gamers off as girls and hopefully as a greater athlete however even a greater particular person.
Picture Courtesy of Brittany Chambers
IS: You completed taking part in at CBU in 2016 after which joined the workers in 2017. What was that 12 months in between for you?
BC: It was really an incredible 12 months. I didn’t comprehend it until now trying again on it. It was an enormous, big 12 months of progress. I’d say spiritually, really. I got here to know the Lord in faculty and was discipled. And so, in that 12 months, simply attempting to determine what I needed to do with my life and what my goal was.
I used to be in a position to construct a group of pals, and I assumed I had that, however that 12 months was very pivotal in my life.
I’ve a loopy story. I met my greatest buddy, who’s now my sister. I’m adopted, and that was the 12 months I met her. So positively God was working.
All these those who I met my senior 12 months are nonetheless in my life at the moment and are nonetheless like integral components of my life and mentors and those who I’m going to. I didn’t suppose I used to be going to have that. So, I’m very fortunate that I had that 12 months to determine that out.
IS: Seems like a tremendous story of discovering your sister that manner. What drew you into the teaching ranks?
BC: One other shaggy dog story, teaching discovered me. I used to be really house visiting my mother and father and my sister in Georgia, and [CBU head coach Jarrod Olson] referred to as me. It was type of humorous. I assumed ‘ought to I reply this or not? That is bizarre. Why is he calling me? However OK.’
So, I ended up answering, and he provided me a job.
He requested: ‘What are you doing? What are you doing together with your life?’
Like each graduating senior, [I had] no concept what the plan is subsequent. [I’m] simply attempting to determine it out. I used to be unemployed. I used to be placing out left and proper. I believe I had, not even exaggerating, perhaps $300 left in my checking account. And I felt like ‘man, I’m hitting all-time low.’
He stated, ‘nicely, I’ve a job opening, and I need you to have it.’
And I assumed, ‘this man’s kidding, proper?’
I informed him I’ll give it some thought. I’ll pray about it. There was some hesitancy, however on the identical time, at the back of my thoughts, I assumed beggars can’t be choosers. I would like a job.
So, I find yourself saying sure, however I’d say for positive, after about six months into the job, that is precisely what I’m speculated to be doing. That is what I’m good at. That is my calling.
I graduated with a level in graphic design, and that’s what I needed to do. I needed to be a graphic designer, but it surely didn’t play out that manner. I nonetheless get to make use of it in my job, however teaching discovered me.
IS: Was there ever a degree earlier than that cellphone name the place you even thought of teaching, even again whenever you had been youthful and taking part in?
BC: Truthfully, no. Particularly taking a 12 months off, not taking part in my senior 12 months, I assumed I used to be going to be performed with basketball perpetually. I believe my basketball IQ acquired me actually far in my basketball profession.
I tore each of my ACLs in highschool, so I didn’t play a ton earlier than faculty. I didn’t play a variety of organized basketball and couldn’t afford it. I walked on at CBU.
I didn’t suppose [coaching] was ever going to be a factor till Jarrod put that on the desk. However I believe it’s acquired me far now.
IS: It actually has. You talked about that graphic designing diploma, and I do know you assist out and just about run the CBU social media pages for the workforce. How have you ever been in a position to mix that diploma into basketball teaching, which one may not suppose are associated in any respect?
BC: It’s big now. It’s positively grown. Once I was a participant, we barely had social media, and now you’re attempting to pump out content material each different day.
I’ve gotten to place my very own stamp on CBU. I run our social media, I do all of our gear. I designed our uniforms. I’ve had the privilege of designing our whole locker room and workplace areas. I designed our courtroom. I designed our volleyball courtroom. So, I’ve acquired to truly do a variety of issues at CBU and in our program.
If I ever look again, I believe, ‘oh, I did that, and never lots of people know, and that’s completely tremendous with me.’ I’m not signing issues left and proper and placing my identify, however like I stated, CBU is my house.
So the truth that I get to design for them and do our social media and put that out for everybody to see, I by no means thought these two issues had been going to mix, however this present day it does.
IS: That’s superior how a lot you’ve performed with them. Your uniforms and courtroom look fairly sick. You talked about the phrase ‘house’ in your final reply, referred to as CBU your private home. What drew you to CBU initially to go there?
BC: Gosh, it must be a God factor, proper. Like I stated, I didn’t play three of the 4 years in highschool as a result of I tore my ACL. I used to be so determined. I knew I needed to play in faculty. I’m very aggressive.
So, I began making an inventory of issues I needed within the faculty and began touring all these campuses that I may like a minimum of attempt to hit, and CBU ended up being one in all them.
I simply acquired onto campus. I introduced my spotlight movie burned on the CD. Children don’t perceive that was a factor. I’m solely 29. There was an enormous bounce. I needed to burn my highlights on a CD.
I introduced my highlights with me, and I simply toured the campus, and as corny as this sounds, it simply felt good.
I noticed myself with the ability to come to CBU, but it surely was depending on if [Jarrod] believed in me. I needed to check out, which I did, and all of it fell in line.
I may see myself going to CBU after I walked the campus, which isn’t even the identical campus it’s at the moment as a result of it’s grown a lot.
I believe every little thing simply fell in place for me. I had the chance, and I took it and ran with it.
IS: You talked about burning your highlights on CD. We’re the identical age, so it introduced me again to that period. Lots of people at the moment received’t perceive what that’s, however I actually can relate to that. I do know you’re extra the defensive-minded coach when it comes to sport preparation for the workforce. What are your fundamental defensive ideas that you simply actually attempt to cling your hat on?
BC: With out getting my full playbook, simply kidding it’s not that critical, I’d say now we have a variety of non-negotiables. We play pack line protection, and we’re very excessive personnel. So, once we really get into video games, that comes first. That goes over what our non-negotiables are.
So, if one in all our non-negotiables is don’t get beat baseline, however we’re saying don’t let this particular person dribble and beat you left (and proper is baseline, contradicting that), we’re in a position to stroll via that and alter it up.
We’re simply attempting to be smarter. Possibly I shouldn’t say this loud, however work smarter, not tougher. Clearly we wish them to hustle. We would like them to have nice effort.
However I believe we attempt to strategize greater than something on what sort of pictures we wish them to take after which rebounding [is important]. So, we’re all the time attempting to contest, make them take robust pictures after which get the rebound.
We’re not a workforce that claims, ‘all proper, now we have to get 12 steals or three stops in a row or up the road.’ We prioritize what our strengths athletically are as a workforce and the way we will outsmart them on D and play fluidly on offense.
Our protection actually enhances our offense as a result of if we’re going loopy on D, we’re not going to have a variety of stamina on offense. Some folks may disagree, however that’s the best way we see it. And I see it that all of us have to enhance one another.
Picture Courtesy of Brittany Chambers
IS: All of it harkens again to your excessive basketball IQ displaying there on the defensive finish, working smarter, as you stated. You went 28-4 this previous 12 months, one other profitable 12 months for this system. What has been the magic sauce for you placing collectively successful season after successful season?
BC: One, it’s our workers. Jarrod, Kamille [Diaz] and I are occurring 11 years understanding one another. Now, inside that, I’ve been on workers seven years, and Jarrod completed 12. Kamille simply completed her second 12 months at CBU, however I believe being a tight-knit group and dealing nicely collectively translate to the courtroom.
If the gamers see we don’t get alongside, how will we anticipate the workforce to try this?
I’d say our workers after which simply with the ability to keep true to who we’re. I don’t suppose we’re attempting to be the subsequent Gonzaga or the subsequent Duke or South Carolina or whoever you wish to evaluate us to.
We’re simply attempting to be us and work with what now we have and attain our ceiling yearly. After we persist with that, be humble and know who we’re, what our id is and magnificence of play is, I believe that will get us actually far.
IS: How would you describe life as an assistant coach?
BC: Nicely, I’d say at CBU it’s nice. It’s a hustle, for positive. You’re balancing gamers and the pinnacle coach. You’re all the time just like the liaison between the 2.
Our head coach has an incredible relationship with the gamers, however on the identical time, you’re the liaison.
I believe I work so nicely with my head coach as a result of I take it simply as critically as he does. I fake in my thoughts like I’m the pinnacle coach within the sense of the duty falls on me too.
I believe some folks simply suppose ‘oh, that’s his choice to make, or, oh, the strain’s on him or all of it falls on him.’ That may be true. However I believe if I had been in his footwear, I’d need my assistants to do the identical.
I don’t need it simply to be on him. I need it to be on all of us. And we’re all working in direction of that.
I’d simply say it’s a grind. It’s a variety of work. You’re balancing recruiting and on-court stuff after which random duties that have to be performed, like admissions, all the opposite enjoyable stuff that comes with teaching. It looks like typically X’s and O’s are solely like 30% of the job, particularly when the season’s over.
IS: There’s positively much more that goes into it than merely being out on the courtroom and drawing up performs. You talked about a pair minutes in the past about attempting to develop the gamers each on the courtroom and off the courtroom, what are some classes that you simply attempt to instill within the gamers?
BC: Now we have a core set of values that we attempt to persist with. It’s dedication, humility, resiliency, integrity, selflessness and belief. These are all the time the core values.
However all these ladies come from each walks of life. For instance, they’re not all believers. A few of them are curious about rising. A few of them simply wish to do themselves and play basketball.
I’ve had the privilege of with the ability to stroll via some stuff with them. I attempt to be listener after which go from there.
I exploit discernment on no matter they’re going via, however I actually need them to go away feeling assured in themselves. As girls, that’s an enormous factor in our tradition. I wish to construct up these ladies to really feel like they’re ready to make choices.
They know who they’re, and so they’re assured in making a call, whether or not that’s on the courtroom or off the courtroom. However finally, basketball goes to cease and understanding who they’re and their id, I believe makes a giant distinction.