4 minute read
CHAMISSA ANDERSON
“I believe God places people in our lives for certain seasons to groom us for what is forthcoming. After college I got a job working in the corporate world and coaching basketball part time. Doing whatever it took to get to practice in the evenings and games on the weekends became an art for me challenging myself to maintain time management. My love and passion for coaching was blatantly obvious to friends and finally one asked me “Why don’t you do this full time?” I had never been asked that before and my eyes were opened to the possibilities that day. It was possible to make coaching my full time career.
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God placed it in my heart that He would provide a full time job for me in coaching I just had to trust Him. After applying all over the country…I FINALLY received my first college coaching job. God had called me to the middle on Kansas at a local junior college. The job was part-time salary which meant I would need to rely on God to help with financials as well. Did I miss God? No, I had heard from Him and I knew to accept the position and move to Kansas by faith. After three days accepting the part-time position the current head coach if 18 years called me and told me she was resign. That very moment I remember my first thoughts being “God knew.” And not only did He know but He had something bigger in store for me that year. Who knew that we would make history that year and win the first EVER national championship for the college. Doesn’t God work in wonderful ways? After winning it all…I could only think - WOW that was a God thing!
I remained at the college for two more years and God began to lay it on my heart to pursue another workplace and a new community to impact. I prayed and prayed that He would open what was right and give me peace in the process. I would always tell myself in the waiting period that God had another person’s life for me to touch. I found in fact He did have someone special to Him for me to minister to.
- Allowing God to Lead in my Career
One morning a got a call from a player crying extremely hard, I rushed to her side to find out that the doctor had just called and diagnosed her with a small brain tumor. I’ll never forget that day holding her in my arms until her parents arrived to take my place. Her mother thanked me in tears and said we are so happy you were here when we could not be. A few weeks later God opened a new door for me. I received a job offer to coach at Missouri Southern State University (MSSU). I felt so much peace in the transition because I knew God had His Hands over the situation. Fast forward to now…God is continuing to mold and grow me here at MSSU. I am on this amazing journey continuing to impact my players, staff and community. I believe God is working His wonders here and so the journey continues! “
In today’s competitive world of athletics women engage enthusiastically, proficiently and victoriously. Let’s take a screenshot of the Assistant Coach position for a College Women’s Basketball team. The responsibilities for an Assistant Head Coach garners meeting the needs of the Head Basketball Coach in oversight of a highly competitive women’s basketball program. The tasks involve recruiting student athletes, assisting in coordinating practices and activity travel, and promoting events and activities.
To complete the list of responsibilities she assists the Head Coach in planning, directing, and coaching intercollegiate womens basketball program; develops student/athletes’ fullest potential while being regionally competitive and ethically run; ensures collegiate rules and regulation compliances. Teaching and providing quality coaching and instruction as well as administering a related curriculum is just a minute agenda. There’s the need to provide ongoing oversight of student athlete’s conduct both on and off the court; assists with conflict resolution, development of positive interpersonal relationships including campus integration with other students and faculty. Wow! That’s a serious job description that requires a unique individual equipped to administer these functions.
Let’s take a look at one of America’s enthusiastic, proficient, victorious and highly anointed female basketball coaches, Chamissa Anderson. Chamissa’s ability to effectively identify and resolve problems while maintaining confidentiality, a strong personal work ethic and high level of personal integrity comes from maintaining a lifestyle second to none and that’s her walk with God.
This doesn’t by any means say she doesn’t have challenging encounters on a day to day but the bottom line is getting things resolved and maintaining a family/team state of mind with all parties involved. Traveling, early morning, evening,and weekend assignments is a part of expected goals. Being a critical, strategic thinker is a major key for effectiveness. - Dr. B. F. Gibson
