Today we’d like to introduce you to Elisha Williams.
Hi Elisha, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Born & raised in Memphis, I grew up in the heart of Frayser. I attended two schools who sadly no longer exist, Corning Elementary and THE Frayser Middle/High School.
I was in foster care at a very young, and later adopted by one of the most amazing human beings to walk this Earth! She adopted me and 4 other foster children who happen to be all boys, so I grew up an only girl.
I played with dolls, but around 5/6 years old, I knew that life wasn’t for me lol. I enjoyed playing football and basketball with my brothers, God brother & boy cousins. I literally grew up around all boys, so I really had no choice but to fall in love with sports.
My elementary team got a girls basketball team and I immediately knew that’s where I wanted to be. I made the team and that’s where it all began for me. I played in community centers like Ed Rice, Raleigh & North Frayser all the time. Then in middle school, competitive school ball was where it was at! I played all throughout middle and high school, receiving honors such an All Team Defensive player, Top Student Scholar Athlete, representing my school at true district sports banquet, and Miss Basketball my Senior year.
I just loved everything basketball and the love that I have for it never stopped. In college at the University of Memphis, I played on several intramural teams and absolutely loved still being able to compete.
After college, I really didn’t play anymore, but of course I’ve always watched WNBA games & my Boston Celtics play. It wasn’t until recently, about 3 years ago, that I played again, like competitively. I played in the semi-pro women’s league here in Memphis called She Got Game. If you haven’t heard about it, you’re missing out on some of the city’s most balling female ballers! Please for look it up and support it!
During that season, ny body gave out on me lol. I realized that my body changed way more than I thought it did. After 3 children & not having a consistent workout regime, my body said girl please, so I only played one season. During this time, my athletic director, Anthony Prince, at my church Breath of Life Christian Center, was just developing our youth athletic teams and did an announcement during service seeking coaches. I hesitated because I really didn’t think I’d have the time, but eventually I reached out to him, came to a practice and we developed a girls 3rd-5th grade team. We entered them into the one of the first seasons of the Jr..She Got Game League and literally within 2 weeks, competed and won 1st runner up in the league Championship!
I felt so fulfill, and knew that I had found apart of my purpose. This is our 3rd season and this year and we expanded immensely! Our entire program now sponsors 6 teams, where I head coach the elementary and middle school girls team.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Growing up, I think my biggest challenge or obstacle was over committing. I was involved in so many things, that even though I loved basketball, I just wanted to do it all, if that make sense. I’m a jack of all trades, so there’s a lot that I could do and can do.
I think that if you just focus and lock—in on that one thing, you’ll truly become a master of it. If I really locked-in with basketball like I want my players to lock-in, I know I could’ve gotten somewhere major with it. Even if not on a team, definitely on a high-scale staff, but that wasn’t my purpose.
Serving these young athletes, educating them on the game and growing their love for it so that they can go as far as they want to go, is apart of my purpose and I absolutely am privileged to be in this position.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the Assistant Athletic Director of our athletics department at Breathe of Life Christian Center, known as BOLCC, and the Head Coach of our girls’ elementary and middle school teams. This is our 3rd season and this year and we expanded immensely! Our entire program now sponsors 6 teams, from Kindergarten to middle school boys and girls! We came a long way from 6 girls winning a championship in 2 weeks! Lol!
We are a ministry first, teaching life lessons through sports! We pray, we play, and we fly high, the Eagles way!
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
If you’re passionate about it, don’t give up on it. Ask the Most High for a path and do the work! DO THE WORK! Dont skip the process.
He always provides.
Pricing:
- Free to join us!
