Jenny Boucek ’88—Distinguished Alum
Written June 2016
The head coach of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, Jenny Boucek ’88 is a pioneer of women’s professional basketball, an advocate for female athletes, and role model to all who value lifelong learning. The recipient of the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award, Jenny was unable to attend Harding’s graduation in May, but she sent video remarks in which she stated that her life was dedicated to “serving other athletes and helping them find their best version of themselves.” Urging Harding graduates to embrace their identity, she declared, “Who you are is exactly who you are supposed to be.”
Jenny learned this “most difficult but life-changing lesson” as a Harding student. A “tomboy” who loved sports, Jenny came to Harding in the seventh grade. Wanting to fit in, she tried to be like others and only succeeded in losing her confidence and sense of self. After a difficult two years, she was at a crossroads. But Harding offered her the chance to do eighth grade over again—an opportunity for which she will always be grateful. “That reset really put me back on track,” she says.
With a newfound determination to be true to herself, Jenny went on to be a four-year starter at the University of Virginia, where she helped the team to achieve four regular-season ACC Championships and three NCAA Elite Eight appearances.
Graduating in 1996, she decided to try out for the WNBA inaugural season in 1997. A guard for the Cleveland Rockers franchise, she played pro basketball for less than two years before being sidelined by a serious back injury. She then began a new career path working as a scout or coach for a number of WNBA franchises. With two previous stints as a member of the Seattle Storm coaching staff, Jenny became head coach in 2015.
Her job during the WNBA season involves a grueling repetition of game preparation—on and off the court—travel, and 34 games in just 18 weeks. In the off-season she spends her time scouting college players, dissecting game videos to assess how to improve the team’s systems, doing speaking engagements in the community in support of women’s sports, monitoring and supporting her players’ off-season activities—many play overseas in the winter—and pushing herself to learn more. Attending NBA training camps and meeting with the NBA’s best coaches are among her strategies for continuing to develop as a basketball coach and player advocate.
“The challenge is constant,” she says of her job. “That’s why I like it.” She notes that a successful team is about more than plays and systems—it’s about relationships and team dynamics. Being a coach enables her to use both her “analytical side” and her “people side.” Although her goal is to develop her team into a championship contender, she is always cognizant of the big picture. She wants her athletes to develop as people, too. She says, “I’m hoping that we are all learning and growing in ways that help us outside of sports.”
Back
Jenny learned this “most difficult but life-changing lesson” as a Harding student. A “tomboy” who loved sports, Jenny came to Harding in the seventh grade. Wanting to fit in, she tried to be like others and only succeeded in losing her confidence and sense of self. After a difficult two years, she was at a crossroads. But Harding offered her the chance to do eighth grade over again—an opportunity for which she will always be grateful. “That reset really put me back on track,” she says.
With a newfound determination to be true to herself, Jenny went on to be a four-year starter at the University of Virginia, where she helped the team to achieve four regular-season ACC Championships and three NCAA Elite Eight appearances.
Graduating in 1996, she decided to try out for the WNBA inaugural season in 1997. A guard for the Cleveland Rockers franchise, she played pro basketball for less than two years before being sidelined by a serious back injury. She then began a new career path working as a scout or coach for a number of WNBA franchises. With two previous stints as a member of the Seattle Storm coaching staff, Jenny became head coach in 2015.
Her job during the WNBA season involves a grueling repetition of game preparation—on and off the court—travel, and 34 games in just 18 weeks. In the off-season she spends her time scouting college players, dissecting game videos to assess how to improve the team’s systems, doing speaking engagements in the community in support of women’s sports, monitoring and supporting her players’ off-season activities—many play overseas in the winter—and pushing herself to learn more. Attending NBA training camps and meeting with the NBA’s best coaches are among her strategies for continuing to develop as a basketball coach and player advocate.
“The challenge is constant,” she says of her job. “That’s why I like it.” She notes that a successful team is about more than plays and systems—it’s about relationships and team dynamics. Being a coach enables her to use both her “analytical side” and her “people side.” Although her goal is to develop her team into a championship contender, she is always cognizant of the big picture. She wants her athletes to develop as people, too. She says, “I’m hoping that we are all learning and growing in ways that help us outside of sports.”
Inspiring The Mind • Nurturing The Spirit