The more things change, the more things remain the same.
The moment Lisa Lavan told the Warren girls basketball team she was stepping down after 16 years as head coach, assistant coach Jenny Phillips told her players she was applying for the position.
The truth is, “Ever since I came back to Warren 16 years ago and went to a Warren girls basketball game, I knew I wanted to be a coach someday.” “I’m excited to be a part of this team,” Phillips said after being named the Lady Dragons’ new head coach this summer.
“I grew up in a basketball family and played from the fifth grade all the way through middle school, high school and college, and my love for the game never faded.” Phillips, formerly known as Jenny Rondinelli, said: “Even as adults, I still hang out with my brothers, but the rivalry is still there. They still deny it, but in their hearts they know I’m the best shooter in the family!”
“I was so grateful when Lisa invited me to join the program in 2018.” Phillips added. “There were good times, bad times and uncertain times, but in the end, being with these young women and watching them grow and succeed made it all worth it. When the time came to decide if I really wanted to take over, I spoke with my husband and family and knew in my heart I couldn’t leave this team.”
Submitted photo Jenny Phillips (left) has been named the new head coach for Warren girls basketball.
Lavan said having Phillips at the helm made the decision easier.
“I can’t think of anyone better suited to continue to lead this program to success.” “She’s developed into a great assistant coach over the years and is well prepared to be a head coach,” Lavan said. “Our players are so lucky to have a strong, confident woman like her on our team, and to me, that’s what matters most.”
“Leaving the program was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made, but two things made it easier.” Lavan said: “It was the right choice for my family, and Jenny agreed to take it over.”
In his six years, Phillips participated in two region championships and two District 10 championships.
“It’s been a great experience being a part of this program these past six years.” Phillips said, “My coaching experience began when my sister volunteered me to coach her niece, Ella, in her YMCA girls basketball league (in 2014).
“When she approached me about it, I was hesitant, but I saw it as a way to spend time with Ella and even teach her the sport she loved. My next coaching involvement was again with one of Ella’s teams. Lisa approached me and asked me to coach the eighth grade traveling team. And that’s where it all started. One of Lisa’s assistants moved out of the area and I was asked to join the high school program the following season. And six years later, here I am.
“From the moment I told the girls that Lisa was stepping down, I told them I would be applying for the position. I have been upfront with the girls about my intentions to be a head coach if possible.” She said, “The work didn’t stop after Lisa stepped down. Our team was very active this summer. We held open gyms twice a week for middle school and high school girls, took our high school team to a camp at West Liberty University in West Virginia, and participated in leagues in Jamestown and Indiana, Pennsylvania. We were busy. Since I was officially named head coach, I have made an effort to talk to our players and answer any questions they may have. I am taking each day as it comes. In the fall, we scheduled open gyms, conditioning, and lifting sessions to prepare for the upcoming season. Many of my players are multi-sport athletes, so we don’t have many girls in the fall, which I love. I also helped out quite a bit with our middle school team (7th and 8th grade) and started up basketball leagues for 3rd/4th and 5th/6th graders. I am so grateful for the parents who were willing to volunteer as coaches. Getting girls interested in and playing basketball at a young age is the best way to build a program.”
“The program has short-term and long-term goals.” Phillips said, “My main focus is on this season. The seniors we lost have left a pretty big hole both as players and as coaches, but we have the talent and focus, so I think it’s just a matter of finding and maximizing our strengths to be successful. We’re a little short in height as a team, but our tenacity and toughness are second to none. I also hope to continue to engage with our younger players in middle school and elementary school and host leagues and skills camps to continue building the fundamentals and knowledge of the game. The Lady Dragons program isn’t just for high school girls; it’s for girls of all ages who want to learn and play the game.”
“Being a Lady Dragon is a culture.” Phillips added, “Setting expectations early — responsibility, respect and kindness towards others, commitment to the team, giving 110% on the court, at school and at home — is something we emphasize to our middle and high school players. Starting and building a culture early sets the tone for both current and future players in our program.”
“Playing for a high school basketball team in the late ’90s was something I dreamed of as a kid, even though I’m older now.” She said, “As the youngest of three siblings, I was always jealous of my older sisters and brothers who played high school basketball and couldn’t wait to join the team. To now be able to join the program as a coach several years later is a dream come true. The program that has been built not only during Lisa’s time as coach, but all the coaches before her, has had a tremendous impact on this school and the players that have come out of it. My hope is to continue to build this program and help each individual become a better version of themselves on and off the court.”
“For the past few years, Lisa and I have discussed what would happen once Sammy (her youngest child) graduated, but it wasn’t until the end of our season that it was finalized.” Phillips said, “We went to dinner and she told me of her intentions. I wasn’t shocked, but I was very sad that she was leaving. We decided to keep it a secret for a while, have a dinner with the players and their families, and then figure out the best time to tell everyone. One thing she made clear was that she wanted to tell them when it was convenient for her, and I was fully supportive of that… Lisa taught me so much about the game, especially how much it has evolved since I last played collegiately in the early 2000s. But more importantly, she taught me that being a coach is not just about the fundamentals of the game, it’s about helping these young women become good people and prepare them for the real world. I pride myself on caring deeply about helping people, especially young kids, both on and off the court. Building relationships with players is a big part of being a coach. At school, with their friends, with the basketball team. Notice and hear how your players are doing on the ball court. They need to know you are there and take the time to celebrate their successes and talk to them to understand how you can help. Building trust is a key component and something I always strive for in my program.
“Lisa and I are different people and coaches, and me becoming the head coach will definitely be a big change, especially for the older girls on the team who Lisa has coached for several years.” Phillips said. “Practice procedures, expectations of players and my decisions will change… What will remain the same is what it means to be a part of this program – respect for others on and off the court, hard work and maximum effort, positive energy and attitude and being a supportive teammate.”
Lavan was recently selected as a member of the Warren County Sports Hall of Fame for the Class of 2024. In her 16 years as Warren girls basketball head coach, she led the Dragons to 268 wins (268-122) and four District 10 championships. This winter, her final season, the Lady Dragons earned their first PIAA playoff win with an overtime win over Elizabeth Forward and were named among the top 16 teams in the state in Class 4A.
Amidst the emotions, Lavan stressed that the returning players are “under a good manager”.
“She’s one of my best friends and I’m excited to watch her develop into a great head coach.” Phillips’ Lavan said. “She does it in her own way, so I’m happy about that.”
JUNIOR VOLLEYBALL The Warren junior volleyball team lost to the visiting Cathedral Prep Ramblers.
BEMUS POINT, N.Y. — The Eisenhower cross country team finished in the top 20 in a total of three individual events.
