Professional PLL
06:00 PM
Jul 19
Phi
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US Lacrosse Magazine has partnered with Blaxers Blog to produce a series of stories that illuminate the minority lacrosse experience and promote the accomplishments of those individuals who have defied stereotypes to succeed in the sport.
Read more about Blaxers Blog and the content partnership here.
Representation has a profound effect in society and does not reserve a place just for youth. Confidence and mentorship can be harvested from the fruits of representation. Often, Black women are not granted opportunities to embrace the sport as players and coaches.
It’s difficult convincing others to be interested in something new when they don’t see themselves commonly in said field. Despite rapid growth of college lacrosse programs, there’s an alarming scarcity of Black women’s lacrosse coaches and players.
According to the 2019 NCAA Demographic Database statistics; Black women only make up 3 percent of women’s college lacrosse players (429), 2 percent of head coaches (10), and 2 percent of assistant coaches (15) across the NCAA’s three levels. Delaware State head coach Pamella Jenkins is a trailblazer who strives to inspire others to embrace the sport.
Jenkins began her lacrosse journey as a junior at Rye Country Day School (N.Y.). She would later play in the college ranks at Hartwick College from 1998-99 and American University from 1999-2000. During her freshman year, Hartwick’s Office of U.S. Pluralism Programs named Jenkins its woman student-athlete of the year.
Jenkins is no stranger to building team culture, as she managed the Missouri Baptist University program from scratch while serving as a Sports Management professor briefly in 2005. They lacked a conference and home field. She also served under basketball operations and game management.
“My different roles at Notre Dame College helped me understand operations,” Jenkins said.
She frames her team culture behind empathy, effective communication and previous coaching experiences.
“Look for resources,” Jenkins said. “Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions. Be teachable and understand you players’ attributes.”
Jenkins abides by a simple set of rules when it comes to working with young student-athletes.
“You often have your finger on everything,” Jenkins said. “It’s important to have a good reflection of yourself along with your players and act like a family. I’m their biggest advocate. I had to build up programs and establish foundation. It is a process, and you want to get 1 percent better every day.”
Before Delaware State, she made stops at New Haven (2005-06), Vermont (2006-08) and Oberlin (2012-14). Then, in July 2019, she became the third head coach in Delaware State’s program history.
Jenkins began coaching because she never played under a Black coach.
“Every season, I find ways to diversify my roster more,” Jenkins said. “As a Black head coach, you have weight on your shoulders. Eyes are always on you. We need more opportunities for girls and coaches. HBCUs are an environment that’s a safe space and their friendly, family atmosphere made me feel comfortable. I hope more D1 HBCUs and conferences add women’s lacrosse. It would be fantastic for the sport.”
Jenkins goes the extra mile to help Delaware State by volunteering as an aide at campus-wide COVID-19 testing events. Jenkins, a former senior women’s administrator, assistant athletic director and head coach at Notre Dame College (2016-19), understands that pitching in to support the HBCU staff goes a long way.
“We are a piece of a larger puzzle,” Jenkins said. “We must help the school be successful. From previous jobs, I understood how my program fit into the athletic director’s vision.”
Hornets senior Rebecca Green echoed how important it is to support HBCUs.
“It’s important to support HBCUs because this is an experience, love and support you don’t find anywhere else,” Green said. “HBCUs are safe havens for Black students to grow and be proud of their Blackness.”
Tamrin Swann, another Hornets senior, agreed.
“HBCUs are a sense of community where we can be and feel accepted,” Swann said. “This is where we were first given the opportunity to receive higher education when other colleges did not.”
Last season brought about an entirely different and unprecedented set of challenges for Jenkins, as the 2020 lacrosse season was cut short due to COVID-19.
Jenkins was candid about informing her players of the canceled season.
“It was one of the hardest announcements I’ve ever had to give,” Jenkins said. “I empathized and hugged my players. I told them that the season may have been short, but it was meaningful. I told my seniors that even after graduation, I’m still here for them whenever they need anything.”
Jenkins’ upfront yet warm approach helped make the news easier to digest.
“She’s such a compassionate and determined woman who always pushes us to be the best we can be. A true representation of a role model,” Swann said. “Coach Jenkins has been a real positive light in my life. She sees things in us that we might not see yet for ourselves. She’s a great woman that I’m proud to call my coach,” Green said.
Her impact is felt just as much off the field.
After the 2020 season ended early, a standard of academic success was raised for the program. Eleven of the 24 players accomplished a GPA of 4.0 or better. Seven players were named to the Southern Conference Honor Roll, which requires a year-long streak of a 3.0 or better. Molysha “Moe” Brown, Nina Dillard and Gwenna Gentle earned the SoCon Commissioner’s Medal for maintaining a yearly standard of a 3.8 or higher.
Annually, a handful of Division I HBCUs are plagued with Academic Progress Rate (APR) violations and punishments from the NCAA despite many lacking the necessary resources to maintain the standard score. Delaware State women’s lacrosse was not one of those programs.
“Our academic success motivates me to bring my full self day in and day out,” Swann said. “We hold each other accountable and failure is never an option,” Green said.
As for the current semester at Delaware State, all student-athletes are on campus. According to Jenkins, roughly 50 percent of the student population is residing on campus and mandated COVID testing happens twice weekly. Temperature and system checks are conducted daily.
There are 29 players on the Hornets roster, 15 of whom are returning from 2020 when the team went 1-5.
“I have four amazing seniors [this season]. Their positivity is critical,” Jenkins said of Green, Swann, Dachelle Johnson and Saphire Small. “They are positive and push their teammates to get individually better.”
Swann said Jenkins has taught her to “learn to love the game while cherishing the skin you’re in.”
Jenkins has even inspired Green to possibly follow in her footsteps.
“Lacrosse is a beautiful sport,” Green said. “ I want to be a role model for generations after me and show little Black girls that we exist. Representation is everything.”
FUN ON THE FIELD
Over on Instagram (instagram.com/blaxersblog), Blaxers Blog posted a video from the sidelines of the Jamaican national team. Celebrating a win, Jamaican players danced and laughed as a group.
The Jamaican women's team also used music and dance to bond.