Sideline Stories: Adrienne Shibles, Bowdoin College Women’s Basketball
I grew up on a dairy farm in rural Maine. Though I didn’t realize it at the time, I was fairly isolated and lonely as a young girl. I learned a lot of important lessons around hard work and service to others, but I lacked the confidence necessary to step outside my very narrow comfort zone and navigate the realities of life.
Opportunities for girls in sport were not vast in the 1980s, and I was far too insecure to participate in co-ed sport. It was the invitation of the high school basketball coach that made the ultimate difference in my life path. He stopped me in the hallway one day and asked if I would go out for the eighth-grade team. Some youth aren’t yet equipped to dare greatly and take risks. I needed encouragement to step into the arena, and Coach Downer changed my life that day.
From then on, I was hooked. I loved the camaraderie, discipline, and competition that the game provided. I also loved the person I could be while wearing the jersey. At that time, the basketball court seemed to be the one place where girls who were strong, assertive, aggressive, and confident were celebrated. It was here, between the lines, where I started to develop my self-confidence and wondered how far the game could take me.
It eventually led me to Bates, where I was fortunate to compete for female coaches for the very first time. Representation certainly matters; it wasn’t until I saw strong, capable women at the helm that I began to consider a similar career path. These role models helped me to dream bigger than I had imagined, and with an enormous leap of faith, I began my coaching journey.
I have held various coaching roles over the years, instructing youth, high school, and collegiate athletes, and I have worked with the top young talent in the nation as a USA Basketball coach. Through each of these experiences, I have borne witness to the gifts of the game. Regardless of age or level, a healthy competitive experience can impact one’s life in a transformative manner.
As I embark on my 30th year in this profession, I still feel a sense of wonder and excitement for the lessons the sport will reveal in time. When I first wore the whistle, I assumed that my job was to control the developmental process for the student-athletes. It turns out that the most effective means of empowerment is to relent control to others with love and trust. Through this philosophy, I’ve gained inspiration and knowledge from unique perspectives, and I now know that collective leadership better serves the common good. I am blessed to serve as a conduit for others in their quests to navigate their own journeys, and – in turn – we ALL continue to evolve through this amazing game and the wisdom it imparts.