Former Clairton star settling into new role as head coach at La Roche
At the time, it was a chore for Kamela Gissendanner.
Like many college scholarship athletes, part of the responsibility associated with being part of the Penn State women's basketball team was working the program's basketball camps for youth and high school-aged kids.
“I just saw it as a job then,” Gissendanner said. “Something we just had to do.”
Little did Gissendanner know that the experience was planting the seeds for what she now sees as a lifelong vocation.
Gissendanner, a 2003 Clairton High School graduate, was named head coach of the La Roche College women's basketball team Aug. 17.
“I guess it made a more serious impact than I saw initially,” Gissendanner said of her time working camps as a college kid. “Teaching is what I love to do. Somebody took the time to teach me and put positive things into me. Now, I feel like it's my time to give back and do the same thing for them.”
Gissendanner, 27, left Clairton as the school's career scoring leader (2,703 points) and as a two-time WPIAL Class A champion. A guard, she was The Associated Press small-school Pennsylvania player of the year as a senior.
She played as a freshman at North Carolina State before transferring to Penn State, where she played for coach Rene Portland and Coquese Washington.
“I've had some great teachers/coaches over the years,” Gissendanner said. “I played for three college coaches over my career — that's pretty unheard of.
“I was just able to pick and choose the very good qualities — and maybe even recognize some of the bad qualities — that I thought worked with me coming up in high school and college. Hopefully, that makes me better able to be an effective teacher with the girls, be it on the court or off the court. That's my main goal.”
Gissendanner played briefly in the WNBA and was MVP of the Kvinnenligaen League where she spent a season in Norway. She was also one of the top players in Slovakia's Cassovia League in one season there.
Gissendanner replaced Eddie Benton as coach of the Redhawks. Interestingly, Benton left to become an assistant at St. Francis University in Loretto. Gissendanner's previous job in coaching was as an assistant with the Red Flash (she spent the past year playing professionally in Europe).
The Division I Red Flash won the Northeast Conference and advanced to the NCAA Tournament during both seasons Gissendanner spent on the staff.
“Kind of funny how we did kind of a switcharoo,” Gissendanner said.
The situation wasn't a complete coincidence, however, as Gissendanner's interest in the La Roche position began when she called Benton to congratulate him and offer assistance on his new job at St. Francis.
La Roche went 22-6 last season, winning the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference championship and qualifying for the NCAA Division III tournament.
“We are very fortunate to have someone with Kam's experience on board,” La Roche athletic director Jim Tinkey said in a release. “She has plenty to offer to the ladies in our basketball program and the La Roche College community. I have all the confidence in the world in Kam's work ethic, her ability to teach the game, and her passion for coaching.”
Chris Adamski is a freelance writer.
