Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.
For the first time in the history of Jefferson County’s high school education and sports programs, a female coach will be joining the staff on the team of coaches for the boys’ basketball team.
In addition, a male coach will be joining the girls’ basketball team in instructing the Jefferson Somerset girls.
The historical development to the coaching staff on both teams was recognized at a special presentation and media gathering at the Jefferson Somerset campus on Wednesday, November 14.
The event was led by Jefferson Somerset’s Athletic Director Sgt. Terry Walker.
Sgt. Walker also publically introduced the two coaches who would be new additions to the school affiliated teams.
Joining the coaching staff for the male basketball team was Coach Q’Vaunda Curry.
A native of Quincy, Curry has had a long and distinguished career around sports, particularly basketball.
Developing a love for the game at a young age, Curry played basketball throughout her years as a high schooler herself and managed to obtain a full-ride sports scholarship to FAMU.
There, Curry played collegiate basketball for four years and served as a team captain for three of those years at FAMU.
Worth mentioning, Curry also set a new three-point record for the team while playing as a FAMU Rattler.
Curry graduated from Florida A&M University’s School of Business with an MBA, and has taught the Entrepreneurship Class at Jefferson Somerset.
Curry has also coached the girl’s basketball team for the last year.
Outside of coaching Jefferson Somerset’s Tigers, Curry also runs a fitness training business.
Her personal mission statement is “Love First, Be Extra, Do Better.”
“It really means a lot that you put your trust in me and your faith in me to lead you as your coach for this basketball season,” said Coach Curry. “I’m here for you guys.”
According to Coach Curry, her time spent in this position will be dedicated to growing and building the young men on the team.
“We’re going to have a good time, we’re going to win some games. We’re going to look good, we’re going to be good, we’re going to make good grades, we’re going to be leaders on campus.,” added Coach Curry. “We’re going to change the culture at Somerset. To God be the glory, we’re going to have a good time.”
Joining the coaching staff on the female basketball team is Coach Rodell Thomas.
Another native of Quincy, Thomas has called Jefferson County his home for many years.
Already a familiar face around the Jefferson Somerset campus, Thomas is a football coach for the Tigers, with his own illustrious background in football as an NFL athlete for the Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks.
A graduate of Alabama State, Thomas has coached basketball many years, including coaching girl’s basketball for 10 years in another school district.
“I love the game of basketball, I played the game of basketball and I thought I was pretty decent at the game of basketball,” said Thomas, adding that he is looking forward to helping shape and build Jefferson Somerset’s female Fighting Tigers basketball team.
“Girls will give you everything they got,” said Coach Thomas. “We will give you a good show when you come out and watch them play...Everyone will want to be a Somerset Tiger.”
The mixing of genders among the coaching staff is something that other collegiate level sports teams have began to do, with Tallahassee’s FAMU making a similar decision when a female coach was added to the college’s staff on the male basketball team.
But according to Sgt. Walker, Jefferson Somerset was already pondering the impact of making the switch before hearing of FAMU’s change.
“I’m a firm believer of giving equal opportunity to everyone,” said Sgt. Walker. “We are prepared to deal with anybody who wants to say anything to us about this decision.”
To the students and athletes who will be under Coach Curry and Coach Thomas, Sgt. Walker stressed the importance of representing their school and coaches well both during their games, during training and on campus.
“You are part of the history. [This] is the first time we’ve had a boy’s basketball team with a girl coach,” said Sgt. Walker. “I believe that you will show a whole lot of people that you can do an outstanding job; that this team will be recognized as one of the best, well-behaved teams that this school ever had.
To the male athletes, in particular, Sgt. Walker said: “You will be evaluated not just by her (Coach Curry), but on how you follow her.”
Before this decision was made by the school staff spoke with some of the key athletes and gained insight from the student-athletes themselves about the concept of adding a female coach to the staff overseeing their team.
“Hands down, all the guys said that they would want to play for Coach Curry,” said Sgt. Walker. “The players want to play for Coach Curry and that tells me a whole lot.”
The next game for the Jefferson Tigers boys team will be December 4 during a home game against Hamilton County. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m.
The next game for the Jefferson Tigers girls team will be December 6 during an away game versus Wakulla High School. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m.