Betty Jaynes
From 8-8-14
We had a little girl, from the small mill town of Porterdale, named Betty Faith. Her athletic talents were recognized by Coach Billy Crowell, and he tried to get her to play basketball, but her mother (a piano teacher), was afraid she might get hurt. After much discussion with the coach, her parents agreed to allow her to play, and she showed great promise as she performed in junior high school.
She went on to an outstanding high school career as she led her undefeated team (in her senior season) to the state finals, and was named to the All-State team! During her stellar college career, she worked with me in our athletic program at the State FFA-FHA Camp. The summer before her senior year, she expressed to me that she wanted to continue to be a pert of the game she loved. One summer day, we were sitting in the shade under the trees, waiting for the volley ball game, which Betty was going to referee. She was real quiet, and I could tell that she was deep in thought about something. Betty then said, "Coach Bradley, do you think I could teach & coach basketball?" I told her that she would never get rich, but that money could not buy the experiences & thrills which she would get in working with young people, watching them as they developed into responsible adults, and helping them turn their hopes & dreams into realities. After several quiet moments, Betty muttered, "I think I'll do that!"
After several years of coaching, she was so successful that she became the head women's basketball coach at James Madison University in Virginia. Betty studied & worked hard to become a better coach, and she wanted to join the large college coaches' association. But, she was told that they didn't allow women in that coaches association. Then she said, "All I wanted to do was to learn to be a better coach!" After much prayerful thought, she sought out several prominent college coaches for advice, and decided to go see U. of Tennessee's Pat Summitt. She told Pat that women needed an organization which would help them be better coaches & to promote the women's game. Coach Summitt said, "Betty, what are YOU going to do?" Betty replied, "I am going to quit coaching and help form an organization to promote women's basketball and help make our women & men better coaches!" And that organization (the WBCA) has grown to several thousand members! When you see the sell-out crowds that women's basketball has today, you can know it is mainly the result of this little mill-town girl from Porterdale, Ga., who had a love, passion, and a dream for basketball!! Years later, I had to tell her that I was wrong when I told her that she would never get rich, and that she WAS rich! I said to her, "There are thousands of little girls that may never know your name, but will be able to pursue their basketball dreams because of you, Betty Jaynes, & your efforts!"
