How would you describe your experience as a volleyball student-athlete at Winona State?   “I appreciate my experience as a WSU student-athlete more every day. It was not always perfect and there were some really tough days. There were also some great moments and memories that will live forever. I learned so much about myself, about leadership, about time management.” 

Did you envision a career in college athletics when you were working on your degree in education? “I always thought I was going to be a teacher and a coach, so getting an education degree was going to be perfect! I started to think more about a job in athletics as I got older. I had a work study job in the Athletic Department my entire time as an undergrad. I enjoyed it a lot and realized maybe it was something I wanted to do.”

At WSU, you served in both coaching and administrative roles. How did your experiences at WSU  help you in your current role as the Women’s Commissioner and Vice-President of the WCHA ?  “More than the experiences, it was the people at WSU who helped prepare me for a career in athletics. I have tremendous respect for all of the administrators and coaches I had the opportunity to work with and learn from. I owe so much to Larry Holstad. He not only took a chance on me, but he never stopped teaching and mentoring me. Watching him work with the coaches, watching him love WSU the way he does, it helped me understand early that the relationships are always bigger than the moments. Meeting and working with colleagues from all over the country as part of postseason championships or NSIC/NCAA events was special and helped build a network that remains helpful. Working with SAAC and empowering the student-athletes to be engaged and use their voice was one of my favorite roles. WSU had, and still has, incredible student-athletes who made the job fun.”

Your role with the WCHA provides a strong platform to help women build careers in sport; coaching, administration, support staff, to name just a few.  What are some of the initiatives that fans of the WCHA  should look for in that regard?  “I believe strongly that I have a responsibility to our student-athletes to show them what is possible for women in sport and for women in leadership. One of the biggest draws to this job for me was the opportunity to work closely with elite level young women. We have a leadership committee that meets regularly. Those women serve as a conduit between our office and their teammates. We just completed a student-athlete led voter education and registration challenge. It was awesome for me to watch the student-athletes take the initiative and work together on a topic that is so important. We are working on a new opportunities and initiatives that we will rollout with the start of the 2020-21 season.”            

Working in the NSIC before the WCHA, you already had a relationship established with Bemidji State, Minnesota-Duluth, St. Cloud State and Minnesota State-Mankato.  How did you go about connecting with the other member schools of the league? “I took campus visits as quickly as I could to all member institutions. It was vital for me to spend time with the coaches, student-athletes and administrators before the season got started. And while I did have established relationships with four of our members, I did not have relationships with the women’s hockey personnel. Having not come from hockey, it was even more important to try and get to know everyone I would be working with as quickly as possible. I also attended as many games as I could during the season. Being present and engaged was, and is, an important part of building the relationships.”

You bring a diverse background in athletics to your role in the WCHA.  What are the similarities you see in collegiate women’s hockey in your previous roles, and what is different? "In many ways sport is sport. The opportunities and challenges are similar regardless of level or specific sport. In a single-sport conference there is more opportunity for collaboration and a smaller group of key constituents. Collegiate women’s hockey is a relatively small sport in terms of number of teams playing so that makes it unique in those same ways. There is an absolute sense of respect and support for all teams because we need everyone to continue to be successful as a sport." 

The pandemic has affected sports at all levels in a wide variety of ways.  After it is over, do you envision any changes or positive learning moments for persons in leadership roles from what otherwise is a very challenging situation? " I hope that all persons in leadership are already experiencing positive learning moments. And without a doubt there will be changes. Navigating through the pandemic is something I don’t believe any of us were prepared for. It continues to be incredibly challenging. It also reminds us every day to be thankful for what we have. It’s forcing collaboration, change, difficult conversations, etc. All of those things provide opportunity to learn. Though it is hard to feel this way right now, I truly hope all of college athletics survives and comes back stronger."

Serving as a commissioner of a NCAA Division I league, being a mom and spouse is a full plate. Can you describe what a typical week is like for you these days? "Every day is different! Our kids are in hybrid school, which means they get to go to school some days. On those days I work from the office. Other days I work from home. Lots of zoom calls. Lots of phone calls. Things will get a bit crazier as Jonte gets started with hoops. We’re a great team, all four of us, and we always find a way! "

At Winona State, you were a four-time NSIC Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Year.  Will Burnsville High School will be known for tough defense?  "Yes, it is safe to assume that my program will be known for playing tough defense. I am a true believer that defense wins championships. Defense is all about effort; it’s one thing that every player can control."

After starring at Winona State, you went on to a successful pro career in Europe. What countries did you play in and what was it like living oversees as a professional athlete?  “I was fortunate enough to live in seven different countries: Sweden, France, Finland, Romania, Italy, Lithuania, and Poland…and I was able to play in over 20 different countries. It was an unbelievable experience. I loved the opportunities of traveling somewhere new, living in a different environment, experiencing different cultures, and most importantly learning about each culture and their history. One of my favorite things to do was to hang out at the coffee shop - people watching and having random conversations with strangers. Basketball was a full-time job; we practiced twice daily, weights, film sessions, games, and traveling. People automatically assumed I had tons of free time to explore and travel, but a lot of time was spent recovering and prepping for the next session.”

In addition to coaching, you also work in real estate.  How does your experience as a college athlete affect your day-to-day work life?  “Being an athlete requires more than just knowing how to play the game. Just as in any profession, to be good at something requires dedication, discipline, sacrifice, commitment, accountability, and much more. Also, being an athlete taught me how to work with people from all different backgrounds toward a common goal and those experiences are very valuable in my profession. The same traits I used as an athlete, I use to grow my business. In order to succeed in a business where I am my own boss, I have to be disciplined, committed, and hold myself accountable.  I love having the opportunity to help people navigate through the world of real estate, especially first-time home buyers. Many things are happening throughout the process and I do my best to keep clients from feeling overwhelmed. Real Estate is one of the best investments an individual can make and to be a part of that journey for people is awesome.” 

Reflecting on your Warrior experience, what advice would you give an incoming freshman basketball player at Winona State?  "There is so much I can say here, I will do my best to keep it short. The first thing I want to say is to work hard. Of course, this is redundant and overused but it’s the truth. I have heard countless times from former college athletes and professional athletes from all sports that they wished they would have worked harder during their time. Leave no regrets. My next advice kind of goes along with the first one and that is to be invested. Whether it is practice, weight sessions, individual workouts, or whatever it may be, be invested. Give it your full attention ALL the time so you don’t find yourself going through the motions.”

How long will it be before one of your Burnsville players challenges you to a game of one-on-one?  And, thoughts on the outcome?  “Haha, this is a great question. I am certain there will be one player who will want to challenge me right away on the first day of practice. I heard through the grapevine that the players have been checking out my highlights on YouTube. I will have to let them know I still can light it up on the court!” 

What are some of your goals for the Burnsville program and how did your playing career help you establish those as a head coach? “I am currently still working through my goals for the program. First and foremost, is the development of these young men. I want to help these young men be successful on the court. I want to put them in a position where they can succeed and help take their game to a higher level. Also, at the top of my list, is the culture of the program. My aspiration is to build leaders; young men who will have a positive impact in the community and be a role model for the youth. Throughout my career, I experienced this as a player. I also took advantage of the opportunity to learn from my coaches. I played for and worked with many coaches of from all over the world. I knew one day I would go into coaching and started taking notes early on in my professional career. Those experiences certainly benefit me, but I know I still have so much to learn about the game.”

Coaching, running a business, being a dad and a spouse. Describe what a typical week is like for you these days?  "I don’t know what the typical week looks like yet, all I know is that life just got busier! A lot has been added to my plate and I am excited about it all. A few adjustments will need to be made and now, more than ever, I will have to live by my calendar. My wife and I are each other’s biggest supporter and have established a great routine that allows us to excel in our respective professions. We have always been good at making time for one another and our family!"