Once a Phoenix, always a Phoenix
Jelena Mamic could think of no better place to begin her coaching career than at her alma mata.
The 23-year-old St. Catharines native is one of the most successful and decorated athletes in the history of St. Francis Secondary School and is now back volunteering with the senior girls basketball team.
“I just wanted to give back. St. Francis was great, the teachers were great,” she said. “Mr. (Pat) O’Leary and Mr. (Pat) Sullivan were great and I love basketball so I thought it would be good to start with high school basketball and see where it takes me.”
Mamic played four years at St. Francis and went to numerous OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) playdowns in both basketball and soccer. She recently graduated from McMaster University with a degree in medical radiations sciences and played on the women’s basketball team.
With that type of resume, it’s no wonder Sullivan and senior coach Jono Marcheterre jumped at the chance to have her volunteer at the school.
“She is just recently off the floor herself playing at Mac. It’s a pretty amazing opportunity for the girls as well,” Marcheterre said. “I think that is something that is the key element here. The students get to see someone like Jelena, her name is all over the wall from OFSAA soccer banners and from Standard championship banners, and she knows what she’s talking about.
“Hopefully it’s a message to the kids that also inspires them to do the same down the road.”
Mamic, who works as an x-ray technologist at both St. Catharines and Niagara Falls hospitals, admits it is a steep learning curve after being fresh out of university basketball.
“I’m learning a lot and how to deal with players individually. It’s very different from university basketball so I have to tone it down just a little bit here and there,” she said. “John has been great and Pat has been helping me out, tweaking drills and stuff.”
Mamic, who came back twice from injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee while at Mac, admits she didn’t need to be coddled as a player.
She mentioned Tara Poulin, Dave Picton, O’Leary and McMaster coach Theresa Burns as some of her favourites because they liked to light a fire under her.
“I liked the kick in the rear end. I like them being critical and all of my coaches have been like that,” she smiled.
She quickly realized that approach doesn’t always work for every player.
“It’s difficult because when you’re a player and you’re yelling at your teammates it’s different than when you’re a coach,” she said. “It’s different in high school basketball. Being more vocal with the girls is harder so you have to take each player individually and know what works for them.
“Sometimes a high-five is better than an I-told-you-so kind of thing.”
Mamic said she would have loved it if a former member of the Phoenix had returned to the school to help out when she was playing.
“I know that would have meant the world to me. It gives the girls hope for the future and maybe get them into it.”
That is exactly the message Marcheterre and Sullivan would like to spread.
“She’s a volunteer and in the beginning stages of her career and she’s making it work,” Marcheterre said. “It demonstrates to the kids there is time in the day to help out and find a way and give back to a program that gave a lot to her. That’s the big message. That’s something we’re actively trying to promote.”
Mamic, who also plans to help coach the senior boys basketball team this year, isn’t the only former player to be volunteering with Marcheterre.
Karly Ruetz, who played in four OFSAAs, won gold medal with Mamic at OFSAA soccer and played briefly at Brock, also helps out, as does former hockey star Sara Bauer.
Bauer also played played basketball at the school before attending the University of Wisconsin where she won the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top female hockey player in the United States, as well as back-to-back national championships.
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