MILL CREEK — It didn’t take long for Jeannie Howell to realize that she was hooked on coaching.
Following a four-year career as a player for the Albertson College basketball team, Howell began her teaching and coaching career at Everett High School last year.
She took over the freshman team and also sat on the bench with the varsity team for their games.
“It was wonderful and addicting,” Howell said of her first season with the Seagulls. “I’ve played basketball my whole life and since I haven’t been able to play — I graduated from college and couldn’t play anymore — I wanted to kind of find another way to be involved in the sport.
“It’s addicting because it’s a new challenge and a new way to approach the game that I haven’t been able to try before.”
Howell, 23, faces an even more formidable challenge this winter, as she assumes the head coaching duties for the Jackson girls basketball program. She replaces former coach Julie Iverson, who was not retained by the Everett School District.
When she was offered the position, Howell admits she was a little surprised.
“I’m very excited and happy to have gotten this,” the Everett High School graduate said. “It’s probably more just being at the right place at the right time. To get this opportunity being so young … doesn’t happen often.”
Howell inherits a team with plenty of talent, including all-league first-team forward Emilee Eisinger and second-team forward Sam McCracken. Howell remembers being impressed by the Timberwolves.
“They (had) very good athletes,” Howell said. “They were definitely a challenge for Everett High to deal with … overall their whole team was athletic. They looked like they could work the ball both inside and out, which is nice. They ran the floor very well. They were an exciting team to watch even as an opposing coach.”
The year’s experience under Everett head coach Craig Langley taught Howell a lot about what it takes to run a high school program, especially the behind the scenes responsibilities such as team management and organizing activities with parents and the community.
“That was a great learning process for me to be able to help out and to watch him handle all those different things,” Howell said.
Howell already has talked with some of her players at a meeting about two weeks ago. She came away impressed at the numbers (20) which showed up with relatively short notice in the middle of summer.
Being only 23 and fresh out of college should be an advantage in some respects, according to Howell.
It wasn’t too long ago that she was playing high school ball.
“I know the challenges that the girls are facing,” Howell said. “I just went through the whole college basketball scene. For girls that are interested in that or just college in general, it’s very fresh in my mind.”
Some of the questions from the players at the meeting dealt with college recruiting and the options that Howell could help them with.
Everett advanced to the state tournament in Howell’s sophomore season and she would like nothing more than to make it back to state as a coach.
“I have a passion for the game of basketball,” Howell said. “I’m a student of the game and I want to teach my players how to be students of the game and to look at every detail out there on the basketball court … I hope to somehow get my players to have that drive to always give 100 percent and to do whatever you can to win a ball game.”
Howell was recruited by Albertson College, a NAIA school located in Caldwell, Idaho, after coaches saw her play at an all-star tournament in Oregon City. Howell visited the school and came away impressed both with the coaches and team and with the academic environment.
“It was academically challenging, which I really liked,” Howell said. “That’s one of the things that drew me there. The fact their basketball team was successful was great too.”
Howell was a starter for her last three years at Albertson College. She was starting her freshman season but then suffered an ankle injury. By the end of her career, Howell held the school records for rebounds, assists, steals and most games started.
Along the way, Howell also picked up something else — a new husband. Howell, who was previously known as Jeannie Thompson, married Albertson baseball player Todd Howell last month.
“He’s actually from Marysville, so it was an odd thing to meet somebody in Idaho from your hometown,” Howell said.
Her husband also is looking to become a teacher and coach.
Howell’s plan was always to return home. Her family still lives in the area.
“I love the Everett School District and this area,” Howell said. “I had always wanted to come back to this area somehow. So it worked out perfect.”
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