A three-sport athlete in high school, Sara earned twelve letters (soccer, softball and basketball) at Lakeside School in Seattle. Point guard and co-captain in basketball, her team went 96-1 in her last three seasons, winning two State titles, ranked #12 in the nation by USA Today and named "Team of the Century" by The Seattle Times. She was named Lakeside Female Athlete of the Year at graduation (’94) and was the Student Body President.
Sara earned her BA in Philosophy from Princeton University where she was a two year co-captain on the women's basketball team. Post-graduation, she played and coached professionally in Denmark. After a career-ending knee injury, she returned home to Seattle where she coached the Seattle Community College women's basketball team and was named NWAACC North Division’s Coach of the Year in her first season. Sara holds a MA in Applied Behavioral Science from Baster University and is a Positive Discipline parent educator. She recently retired after eight years as the Head Coach of the Ballard Girls High School Basketball program where she was named Metro Coach of the Year in 2018. She is the Founder and Director for Ballard Basketball. Sara and her husband Justin have two boys and live in Ballard.
As the story goes, when Marcie was born her dad took one look at her long fingers and decided that she should be a basketball player. Growing up in Arizona, Marcie started playing basketball as soon as she could walk. Eventually she joined the Tucons Rattlers ( the top Tucson club basketball team and one of the top teams in Arizona). While on the Rattlers, Marcie was coached by Chris Kalssen, who she reveres as one of the best coaches she has ever met. Marcie played at Hamilton High and Basha High School in Chandler Arizona. There she was a leader with records in blocks and rebounds. After suffering a shoulder injury she decided to hang up her basketball shoes and chose a different path to continue her love for the game.
Marcie has been coaching around the Seattle Metro area, in some capacity, over the last 10 years. She has coached through the Magnolia community center since 2017. She currently coaches at University Prep, as the middle school girls coachand the high school varsity assistant coach.
Stuart has been developing, directing, and teaching One on One programs in the Seattle-Area since 2011. He joined One on One Basketball in 2004 as the Washington DC Regional Director after returning to his hometown from Seattle, where his wife was attending law school. During his three years as Regional Director in DC, Stuart led substantial growth of the After School Enrichment programs and he helped develop and launch the Player Development Program (PDP). Stuart grew up in Bethesda, MD, and played varsity basketball and rugby at Walt Whitman High School. At Loyola University New Orleans, Stuart was selected captain of the rugby team his junior and senior years, and was selected to the U.S. Eagles Collegiate All-East Rugby Team, an honor given to only 45 college players east of the Mississippi River. Stuart has competed in several team and individual sports, but his first love is basketball. He takes pride in teaching the fundamentals to aspiring players of all ages. His experience working with children as young as 4-years-old to coaching both boys and girls varsity teams and training collegiate-level athletes has allowed him to develop different strategies and nuances that are most effective for each group or individual player. “I’ve seen professional players with amazing skills demonstrate to kids at camps and clinics, but when it comes to actually teaching those skills, what progression to teach them in, and simply how to relate to the kids in general…well, that is an entirely different skill. The ability to relate and adapt to your students in addition to your content knowledge is what makes a great coach or instructor in this day and age.” Since 2011, One on One Seattle has had the pleasure of partnering with more than 50 Seattle-area school enrichment programs, and provides several camp and clinic opportunities throughout the year in partnership with Seattle Parks & Recreation and Redmond Parks Dept.
Coach Liz graduated from Lind-Ritzville High School and was a 4-year letterman in basketball and softball with two years of volleyball. Her basketball team went 28-0 to win the 2003 State B Championship and placed 2nd in the 2004 State A Championships. After high school, Liz attended Big Bend Community College where she earned basketball & softball scholarships. Post-college, she was the assistant coach for both basketball and softball teams at Big Bend CC for the next 5 years. Liz completed her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice/Forensic Science at ASU online in 2019 with hopes of becoming a crime scene investigator or possibly the next Annalise Keating (defense lawyer). She's worked for the Innocence Project and helped fight for Justice and equality for women and minorities.
Liz comes from a big sports loving family, with some who still are playing/coaching at the collegiate and professional level including uncle Wayne Tinkle, OSU men's head basketball coach.
Coaching philosophy: Having played all positions, Coach Liz has a high basketball IQ and the ability to teach all positions. She loves building relationships, helping players learn to love the game and teaching the core values, bonds, and mindsets that last far after you’re done playing. She says, "Seeing kids grow and do things they thought they couldn’t do on and off the court is awesome as a coach!" Currently, Coach Liz is a youth development professional/athletic staff program at the Ballard Boys and Girls Club and coaches multiple Ballard Basketball trainings and in house leagues.
Coach Kayla is a current player on the Seattle Pacific University women's basketball team. Named to the So Cal Holiday Prep Classic all-tournament team as a sophomore in 2015. Four-time winner of the Garfield girls basketball scholar award. After graduating from Garfield in 2018, spent a year at the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School.
Fun facts: Has been playing basketball since 7th grade. ... Also has done track, volleyball, softball, soccer, and Frisbee. ...Easiest subject in school is English. ... Toughest subject is History. ... If she could invite anyone to dinner, it would be Maya Angelou "because I love her poetry and the way she carries herself. She is one of the people who inspired me to write and get into poetry." She would serve Spanish rice with sautéed onions, garlic, green bell peppers, tomato sauce, and chicken. ... If she could be any action hero, would be Rogue from X-Men "because I cold have the ability to absorb and sometimes also remove the memories, physical strength and superpowers of anyone she touches." In 10 years, plans to be in medical school at NYU, starting her residency, and working with actual patients. ...
Benji started playing basketball at the age of 5. As an undersized guard he had to rely on his work ethic by building his skills to compete with bigger and stronger players. This lead to the development of a great handle, a pure shot, and excellent court vision.
He approaches coaching by emphasizing hard work within a fun environment.
Now Benji hopes to pass down his knowledge of and passion for the game to enthusiastic students in the Seattle area.
Emma Seymour was a four year member of the Smith College basketball team playing the position of small forward/shooting guard. Majoring in the Study of Women and Gender and minoring in Exercise and Sports Studies, Emma holds the current Smith College record for field goal percentage in a game going 9 for 9. During her junior year she recorded a career high 22 points and 11 rebounds in 19 minutes against Mount Holyoke College; in the same season she led the team in blocks. In the 2017-18 season Smith won the NEWMAC regular season conference and was ranked 1st in the league. During the 2018-19 season Smith was ranked 2nd in the NEWMAC received an at-large bid to the NCAA National Tournament where they made it to the 2nd Round. Emma is passionate about women's participation in sport and has worked to bring awareness to the inequalities that female athletes face both in college and professionally. She has writing published in Ms. Magazine, Forbes Magazine, and The Hampshire Gazette calling attention these matters. Emma became a member of the NEWMAC All-Academic Team for the 2018-2019 season and is excited to apply what she has learned on the court and in the classroom to begin her career as a coach!
Coach
Coach
Our coaches use PCA for professional development. Check them out:
Coaches and players are members of AAU. Join at: www.aausports.org
Looking for more individual or small group training this Summer? Coach Greg will help you build your skills and mindset with fun sessions that are flexible to your schedule.
Copyright © 2021 Ballard Basketball - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy