Today's post is written by Associate Head Coach Ronda Hubbard:
Many of you know that I played at Missouri State way back in the 80’s. Yes, officially, it was then SOUTHWEST Missouri State University. Looking back now, those were some really great times! I wore the number #10 and ran around trying to prove to the world that a 5-0 guard could play DI Basketball. I have told our players here at Southern… for years now… that my jersey was “retired” at MSU. Most of them just look at me like I’m a little drill sergeant, NOT a basketball player. So, I really do think they had trouble believing me. That was until this past week. No, I didn’t take each of them on in a one on one game and beat them. By the way, Coach Moeller has tried that a few times, and , well, to say the least, fallen short (Editor's note: outside sources have NOT confirmed this claim! :). So, I tried something else. I tracked down Jackie Stiles. You know, the NCAA all time leading scorer. The All American and Wade trophy 
winner. The last player to take “SMS” to the Final Four and 4th overall pick in the WNBA draft. Not to mention, WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2001. And yes, she wore the #10, and retired it graciously for me. Now our players KNOW that my precious #10 IS RETIRED. Just not by me. By Jackie. :)
I will never forget meeting Jackie for the first time. I had just come off of winning a state championship at Springfield Catholic. My first coaching job out of college. I always worked the SMS Elite camp and
the last year I worked the camp, my team did not win a game. I was NOT happy. I gave Coach (Lynnette) Robinson such a hard time about it and bugged her about giving me such a “bad team”. I mean, I was an Alum, a state champion coach, I THOUGHT I deserved special treatment! So, I show up that summer for camp and immediately look at my roster and see an 8th grader on it. Needless to say…. Once again, I am NOT happy. I immediately go to Coach Robinson and “let her have it” for giving me an 8th grader, just KNOWING that my team was going to be horrible again. She just smiled the biggest smile, nodded her head at me for the entire duration of my tantrum, and said “do the best you can with them, Hub”. So, that night I had my first practice with my team. This little 8th grader…. Well, her name was Jackie Stiles. She ended up being the best player on my team (which included 2 other seniors who had signed to play DI). We went undefeated….. and I, years later, have a great Jackie Stiles story to tell! :)
Our entire focus in the off season with our players is moving our team from GOOD to GREAT. That’s why we brought Jackie in. To show them HOW to separate themselves from the pack through hours of hard work on their OWN without the coaches around. It was so great to listen to her talk to our players, telling them HER story and how she got to enjoy the success she has had. Because Jackie played “bigger than life” most don’t realize that she is only 5-8. Many of our players towered over her…. Especially Erin Rice at 6-2. Jackie drove home themes that our program has been living by for years. Things we “preach” to our players all the time. Like her “work ethic” was what she always fell back on. It was where she, as all players, get their confidence. She taught our players her 1000 shot a day routine. Which of course is great. But what she kept telling them (and I hope they were listening) is that she did it EVERY DAY. 
Whether she was exhausted or not, whether she had practice or not, whether they played or not, whether she didn’t feel well or not…. Jackie shot. And she shot. And she shot. That’s a great lesson to all of us. If you want to BE the best, you have to step out and be a little “fanatical” about your work. She has the PASSION!
Then came the second day. This is the day Jackie found out that it was easier to drive to the basket than to drive on Missouri Southern’s campus! The poor child was side swiped coming around the corner of Leggett-Platt Arena. Interestingly, she handled it with complete composure (are you shocked?). The player that was once double and triple teamed every time she stepped on the floor was now faced with a regular day adversity. She calmly asked me to store a cheesecake in a fridge (that she was taking to a birthday party after working with our team) and walked right onto the court and started teaching our players. Almost like nothing had happened. I learned one thing. This world would be a better place if we had more Jackie’s around! Composed under pressure, always willing to laugh and share a story, and a strong leader and teacher. Fortunately for our players, they got a great workout and learned a ton. Jackie had them doing half cross, cross, cross moves around a chair to a spin around jumper. I saw Coach Mitts actually squirm in her chair as our post players were attempting these patented moves! :)
I do hope that our players remember these two days with Jackie. She has such a warm spirit, is a great story teller, and certainly knows her stuff. Our players were inspired and so was our coaching staff. The power of ONE is so incredible. Jackie’s presence here the last two days put a little pep in our step. That’s why we all should seek out successful people to “hang out” with. They inspire us and lift us up. I’ve always been told that “if you hang out with dogs, you get fleas”! Which basically refers to the fact that you are who you hang around. I’m glad our program was “hangin around” Jackie this week!
Until next time...It's a GREAT day to be a LION!!
Ronda Hubbard
Associate Head Coach
