Kentucky junior Cassidy Rowe talked with Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman, a former high school/college player, at the Rise Up Sports awards ceremony. (Larry Vaught Photo)
Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman is a former high school (Mercer County) and college (Centre College) basketball player as well as a former high school coach and educator.
Her grandfather, Jack Coleman, was the first 1,000-point scorer at the University of Louisville and an NBA all-star.
Obviously basketball and sports are important to her so it was no surprise she attended the fourth annual Rise Up Sports Awards ceremony last week in Lexington in conjunction with the girls state basketball tournament. Rise Up Sports was founded by Tonia Rice to give girls/females a platform and spotlight of their own.
Coleman was one of those recognized for her contributions and support of female sports.
“One of the things that prepared me for this type of work was being a student-athlete and coach,” Coleman, who guided Nelson County to the 2017 state tournament, said. “It made me tough and gave me a thick skin.”
She appreciated the stories about the Rise Up Sports winners that highlighted the “resilience, hard work and sacrifices” the award winners made and praised them for the “difference” they were making on their schools, teams and communities.
Coleman shared how several recent natural disasters in Kentucky showed the way Kentuckians will help others and often she saw high school sports teams leading the way to help neighbors any way they could.
She had been part of this event and had no idea she would be recognized for her contributions helping female athletes and others in Kentucky with the Title IX award.
“I would come back every year if I could,” Coleman said. “This lifts up young women who are student-athletes in Kentucky. Every chance I can lift them up as examples and help everyone see what amazing work they can do on and off the courts and fields, then I will be there.”
Coleman said it is inspiring to see the “barriers” they beat.
“They are constantly overcoming barriers and rising above whatever obstacles they face,” Coleman said. “They’re putting other people before themselves. They’re being good teammates. That’s what we need more of in the real world, right? So it’s great to see that kind of thing here.”
Coleman admitted being back with so many special athletes during state tournament week did bring back memories for her.
“It does make me think of all the tough times and the good times, and to remember how much it means to these student-athletes, to their coaches, to have these teams recognized for all of all of the work that they do,” Coleman said.
“It’s always important to do that and to be here, to be just to be recognized. I know how special that would feel as a player and a coach, so I feel honored that they asked me to just be a small part of this.”
One Response
It would be nice to hear her say that she is opposed to having men in women’s locker rooms and sports.