A mother to two travel sports-playing daughters, Kate is excited to create a national platform to celebrate the leadership, commitment and talent of the nation’s remarkable, young female athletes. A former public affairs executive in New York with Cablevision, a media and telecommunications company that owned the New York Knicks (NBA) and New York Liberty (WNBA), Kate has been working and impacting the national youth sports scene for more than two decades.
Kate and her husband created and managed the U.S. Army Bowl on NBC for more than 10 years, the biggest showcase event in high school football. Kate was also a creator and executive producer of “The Ride,” a docu-style reality TV show about eight high school quarterbacks searching for a DI scholarship (MTV2, Fox Sports and NBC Sports). Most recently, Kate helped to create Gurlz Got Game, a national basketball showcase for middle school girls.
Kate is no stranger to the Hall of Fame brand as Kate’s husband Rich managed the football portfolio at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Village for several years. Kate has worked directly with young athletes as a certified yoga instructor and studio owner helping athletes move better through TRX, FMS and yoga. Kate is behind much of the combine testing that will be featured at the “Ladies Ball.” Through her company StillPoint Yoga, she pursues her passion of helping young athletes and others find a mind-body connection. Her movement philosophy is best summed up by Gray Cook, “First move well, then move often.”
A father and travel coach on the national girls’ basketball circuit, Rich is excited to help architect the “Ladies Ball” as the next big event in basketball. Before turning his energy to basketball, Rich spent twenty years building the nation’s biggest football events, including the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on NBC that featured the nation’s top prep stars like Reggie Bush, Tim Tebow and Adrian Peterson. Over the past five years, Rich created and ran the biggest football event portfolio at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, which featured showcase events on CBS Sports Network and events in China, Europe and Mexico. With an appetite to make the girls’ game bigger and better, Rich launched Gurlz Got Game, the first ever national combine for top middle school and high school girls that featured many Division I athletes. Rich also served as a National Testing partner for AAU basketball. His event team has supported the Capital Classic, the longest running all-star game in the country. Rich believed that today’s girls deserve more and created a national basketball platform and event series that features the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame where the legends and current stars come together to showcase the future of women’s basketball. The platform is supported by top brands and national media.
A top point guard who has graced many tournament courts domestically and in the Philippines, “Jersey Jay” has been coaching top girls’ teams and athletes in the New York tri-state area. He also has served as the chief evaluator for international girls’ teams from Asia, Europe and Latin America. A professional fitness athlete and top sports executive, he continues to love and grow the great game of basketball with the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
The love and passion for basketball started at a young age for Coach Chad. He played travel basketball with Indiana’s Finest throughout high school, followed by two seasons playing at Saint Joseph “Pumas” College Indiana for two seasons. His coaching career started in 2004. He has worked with programs such as Indiana Flight, Indiana Swish, and Indiana Fever. Coach Chad was also the president of Mooresville Basketball Youth Development for several years and now owns Team Indiana Basketball. Through his experience, Team Indiana Basketball is one of the fastest-growing girls basketball programs in the state. Chad is excited about the opportunity to share his knowledge and help select the final teams in the midwest region.
With over 32 years of experience in the basketball industry, Joycelyn has become the go-to when it comes to planning and executing youth sports events. She was an AAU coach for 11 years, introducing her to the tournament world. She was a part of the Prime Time Basketball Tournament organization for 17 years, was the former Basketball Director for Jermaine O’Neal’s Drive Nation Sports Facility, and is currently the Director at the SWAC. She has worked with top organizations to organize the staffing, officials and bringing together elite teams that yield some of the top events in the states, i.e., Nike EYBL, Under Armour, GASO, Prep Hoops, MLK Classic, Made Hoops and GSE, and many more. A well-respected leader in the industry, Joycelyn is a mentor to those interested in the business. Her relationships, wisdom, and overall experience with the basketball community set her apart from the rest. She is thrilled to be part of the Ladies Ball and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame movement and support a platform strictly for young girls to shine and excel for future growth.
A Three Year Letterman and Brevard County All-Star out of Rockledge High School, who played semi-pro for the Tallahassee Rim, Coach Jason is making a name in the Atlanta area. He began coaching in 2019 when his daughter decided to play for an AAU team, Gwinnett Team. In 2020, he founded The Georgia Dominance Lioness. Georgia Dominance currently sits on a 128 - 48 record, 21 championships, and seven runner-ups, including the 2021 South Regional Ladies Ball Championship in the 12th-grade division. In the last two years, Coach Jason has built great relationships with college coaches at every level and has over 21 female athletes playing college basketball today. As he continues to impact the future of today’s and tomorrow’s generation, Coach Jason is excited to be part of the selection team to help scout the final teams in the southern region.
Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, Coach Steve was an Akron Buchtel High School star athlete. During his remarkable high school career, he earned numerous football, basketball, and track accolades. As a defensive back and receiver, Coach Steve played football for the University of Cincinnati and several years professionally in the NFL and Arena Football.
Today, he owns and manages Most Known Unknown (MKU) Athletics, which offers student-athletes a personal development experience and is designed to give maximum exposure and the recognition necessary to increase the likelihood of being recruited. MKU Athletics is also considered one of the top programs for girls youth basketball in Northeast Ohio. A father to two basketball-playing daughters, his dedication to helping grow the great game of girls basketball has become a mission. He is excited to do it with the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
A San Antonio Native, Coach JT found the love and passion for basketball through his Idol, the late great Kobe Bean Bryant. He played basketball at Converse Judson and finished at Roosevelt High School, where he was a two-year starter. Coach JT was voted into the San Antonio All-Star Game, where he was selected as a starter and captain. He went on to play at Richland Junior College under John Felment. Under outstanding leadership, he learned the values of coaching and training young players and making a difference in their lives. In the last several years, Coach JT has been running his girls basketball program, Locked N Elite, in Dallas, where he currently resides. He has had great talent come through his organization, whether they come to train or play for him. He continues to teach the game and give young women overlooked by coaches, trainers, and big-name organizations an opportunity to play the game they love - no matter the skill level.
Coach O took over the reins as the Head Boys Varsity Basketball coach at Oliver Ames High School after serving two seasons as the Head Boys Varsity coach at Walpole High School, nine seasons as an assistant coach at Oliver Ames, one season as JV coach at King Philip. During Coach O's 9-season stint at Oliver Ames, he helped the program win the Hockomock Davenport Conference in 2011 & 2015, reach the 2015 MIAA D2 South Sectional Finals and the 2nd round in the MIAA State tournament in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. While coaching at King Philip, the team made it to the MIAA D2 South Sectional Finals. Coach O assisted in coaching NBA star Jake Layman who in 2012 was the #67 top recruit in the nation, the 3rd best player in Massachusetts, Hockomock Player of the Year, and ESPN Mr. Basketball of Massachusetts. Coach O played basketball at Martin Van Buren High School in Queens, New York, and was a 3-year Varsity player with team MVP honors. He continued his student-athletic career at Curry College, playing for the Colonels, where he was a 4-year starter and elected team captain for two seasons. Coach O is the Director of AAU Basketball Operations for the Dana Barros Gladiators basketball club. He is a member of IAABO #30 basketball officials and serves on the Board of Executives for the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA).
Creator of the McDonald’s All American Game, with over fifty years of experience producing some of the biggest events in basketball, we were proud to have had basketball legend Bob Geoghan serve as Honorary Chairman of the first Ladies Ball National Selection Team in 2020/2021.
Bob started his basketball journey in 1966 and 1970 by serving on the Hospitality Committee for the NCAA Final Four. In 1978, he forever changed high school basketball with the creation of the McDonald’s All American Game, one of the biggest all-star basketball events as well as one of the longest running events in sports. The game has been played for over 42 years in cities around the country and has featured the best of the best. Its alumni include Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Kevin Garnett, Patrick Ewing, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, James Harden, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James.
Bob continued his work as a basketball pioneer when he launched the tradition of showcasing the best lady ballers with the addition of the girls’ game in 2002. His deep pool of basketball and media contacts in the national girls’ community helped him build a blue-ribbon national selection team that identified and selected the top ladies from around the country. Hundreds of the best girls in the country have played in the McDonald’s Game with many later becoming college and WNBA stars. Alumni include Breanna Stewart, Candace Parker, Skyler Diggins, Elena Della Donne, Ivory Latta, Tina Charles, A’ja Wilson, Katie Lou Samuelson, Chiney Ogwumike, Sue Bird, Kelsey Plum, and Maya Moore.
Bob was a great inspiration to the game of basketball and a pioneer in the creation of high-level basketball events. We miss Bob greatly, but will continue to grow the game and opportunities for young players in his honor.
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Knoxville, TN 37915