Meet Grace Campbell, New Grossmont High School Girls Basketball Coach

There's nowhere to go but up in the mind of new Grossmont High School girls head basketball coach, the Inland Empire native who was recently promoted from JV coach to the varsity level.

The Foothillers slogged through undoubtedly one of their worst seasons in school history last season, winning only two out of 24 games, and going winless in the Grossmont League. Former head coach Jeff Bickford resigned after only two years at the helm.

But Campbell's enthusiasm for the task at hand is already evident, as she has plans to "put Grossmont back on the map next season."

Campbell recently spoke to La Mesa-Mount Helix Patch via email, and talked about the challenge and what people should expect from her club next year.

Patch: What is your coaching background?

Grace Campbell: I was the Assistant Womens Basketball Coach at Chaffey College for two years, I coached Varsity Basketball at Alta Loma High School after that with my move from the Inland Empire to San Diego I was given the opportunity to coach Junior Varsity at Grossmont High School to get my foot in the door in coaching in San Diego. In between seasons I coached in youth basketball leagues and youth travel teams.

Patch: Did you play basketball in college?

Campbell: Chaffey College and Oklahoma State

Patch: What excites you most about this opportunity?

Campbell: That I am in a position to be a real positive, important person in the lives of each player. I am a person of integrity and this is giving me the opportunity to be a mentor, to help develop character and to be a positive influence. What is the most exciting for me is I am able to teach my players values on and off the court, I am able to see them each grow individually learning more and more about themselves and the game of basketball. I have the tools to help them achieve their goals and I am excited to use those tools to help their future. 

Patch: What is your coaching philosophy? Or is there a coach that you try to emulate with the things you say, teach, do, etc.?

Campbell: TEAMWORK, DISCIPLINE, COMMITMENT and HARD WORK.  I want to make my young ladies team basketball players which functions as a family and I believe in doing so we will achieve the higher goal of helping them become better players and a better person off the court. 

I am concerned with and committed to every single player in my basketball program and at every level of her development within the context of team basketball. The strength of each member is the team not one player.

Patch: What expectations do you have taking over a team that was winless in league last year, and won only 2 of 24 games? Is making the playoffs a reasonable goal?

Campbell: Unfortunately we all get caught up in wins and losses. Making playoffs and winning League is always a goal, however we need to focus on the smaller things first. My goal is for my players to develop and at the end of the season to have a sense of pride and eager to continue to play. 

My measures of success is the fun my team had and how well they learned, developed, improved and matured to become better players and students. I believe in all the players in my program...We all have to believe, my players have to believe in me as their coach and they have to believe in themselves and  their teammates and with that anything is possible. The sky is the limit for Grossmont Girls Basketball

Patch: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Campbell: "Your Future is Priority, Your Success Starts Now." Grossmont High School Girls Basketball. I am looking to fill the JV Girls Basketball and Freshman Girls Basketball vacancies. If anyone is interested email me at G_Campbell02@yahoo.com