Temple University Athletics
Willnett Crockett and Jim Gillespie
Willnett Crockett and Jim Gillespie Join Women’s Basketball Staff
10.1.09 | Women's Basketball
Second-year head coach Tonya Cardoza adds Crockett as assistant coach, Gillespie as DOB
PHILADELPHIA – Two staff members will join second-year head coach Tonya Cardoza's women's basketball staff, as Willnett Crockett has been hired as an assistant coach, and Jim Gillespie takes over the position of Director of Basketball Operations.
Crockett is a 2006 graduate of the University of Connecticut, where she earned a bachelor's degree in sociology. A solid post player, Crockett played an intricate part in two Final Fours at UConn, where Cardoza was an assistant coach at the time. During her four-year career, Crockett helped the squad to two BIG EAST regular season titles, two BIG EAST Tournament titles and two National Championships. She was also a part of a Division I-record 70-game winning streak from 2001-03.
Upon the completion of her college career, Crockett was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks in the second round (22nd pick overall) of the 2006 WNBA Draft. Crockett played for the Phoenix Mercury as well as overseas in such places as Africa, Latvia and Lithuania.
“Will played for me at Connecticut, and is someone who knows how to win and knows how to get the best out of others,” said Cardoza. “This is her first coaching stint, but she's already had a huge impact on the players, particularly with the freshmen. I have so much trust in her, and so much respect for her.”
Gillespie is familiar with the Owls' program and its student-athletes, having spent nearly a year as an academic specialist with the Temple Student-Athlete Academic Advisor & Support Center. Earlier in his career, Gillespie held a similar position at La Salle University, and also worked as an administrative assistant for the men's basketball program at La Salle.
Gillespie's coaching experience includes a two-year stint at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia where he was an assistant coach and also an interim head coach at the end of the 2003-04 season. At the Division I level, Gillespie worked as a volunteer assistant coach at Hawaii from 1999-2000.
In 2008, Gillespie earned his master's degree in instructional leadership from Neumann College. He attended La Salle as an undergraduate and earned his bachelor's degree in elementary and special education in 1999. He went on to serve as a special education teacher at a number of schools in Philadelphia and New Jersey.
Gillespie has worked for numerous basketball camps, including the summer camp at the University of Connecticut from 2000-05 along with Cardoza who was an assistant coach at UConn during that time.
“Jim has been a part of our program since last year in a different way, and the players really respect him and already have a great relationship with him,” said Cardoza. “He has already been a great addition to our staff and is a really hard worker. We're extremely happy to have him on board.”
Crockett is a 2006 graduate of the University of Connecticut, where she earned a bachelor's degree in sociology. A solid post player, Crockett played an intricate part in two Final Fours at UConn, where Cardoza was an assistant coach at the time. During her four-year career, Crockett helped the squad to two BIG EAST regular season titles, two BIG EAST Tournament titles and two National Championships. She was also a part of a Division I-record 70-game winning streak from 2001-03.
Upon the completion of her college career, Crockett was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks in the second round (22nd pick overall) of the 2006 WNBA Draft. Crockett played for the Phoenix Mercury as well as overseas in such places as Africa, Latvia and Lithuania.
“Will played for me at Connecticut, and is someone who knows how to win and knows how to get the best out of others,” said Cardoza. “This is her first coaching stint, but she's already had a huge impact on the players, particularly with the freshmen. I have so much trust in her, and so much respect for her.”
Gillespie is familiar with the Owls' program and its student-athletes, having spent nearly a year as an academic specialist with the Temple Student-Athlete Academic Advisor & Support Center. Earlier in his career, Gillespie held a similar position at La Salle University, and also worked as an administrative assistant for the men's basketball program at La Salle.
Gillespie's coaching experience includes a two-year stint at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia where he was an assistant coach and also an interim head coach at the end of the 2003-04 season. At the Division I level, Gillespie worked as a volunteer assistant coach at Hawaii from 1999-2000.
In 2008, Gillespie earned his master's degree in instructional leadership from Neumann College. He attended La Salle as an undergraduate and earned his bachelor's degree in elementary and special education in 1999. He went on to serve as a special education teacher at a number of schools in Philadelphia and New Jersey.
Gillespie has worked for numerous basketball camps, including the summer camp at the University of Connecticut from 2000-05 along with Cardoza who was an assistant coach at UConn during that time.
“Jim has been a part of our program since last year in a different way, and the players really respect him and already have a great relationship with him,” said Cardoza. “He has already been a great addition to our staff and is a really hard worker. We're extremely happy to have him on board.”
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