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Coach Nikki Jessee

@coachnikkijessee

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Florida Poly WBB Head Coach 💜🏀, wife to Tampa’s coach ❤️, and mom to Magoo 💚.

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Two of my fav people. ❤️ by @coachnikkijessee

Rudi and I drove separately to church (Tom is in Texas with his team) so I could go to the grocery store, and she could work out before finishing her homework. It started pouring while I was grocery shopping. When I turned the corner to pull into our driveway, Rudi was shooting in the pouring rain, and had already run 2-miles. Love how she’s approaching her junior season. When it’s all said and done, you gotta tune out the noise, put your head down, and work. 💙💚 by @coachnikkijessee

I’ve obviously been at a ton of different colleges….and I think FL Poly is a special place. We’re obviously at the beginning stages with athletics, so we don’t have full scholarships (yet!) and we don’t have an arena (yet! Notice I said arena, and not gym - we don’t do anything halfway here). BUT we do have a pretty amazing first team. I got to work early to get things packed for our game today. I was walking to my office and happened to notice someone shooting on the outside courts. I took a closer look, and there were 2 of our freshmen shooting. I walked out there to say hi and they were like, “It’s game day, Coach!” Yes it is. And that is the coolest thing for a coach to see, and that is why this first team is special. They are setting the standard for all our future teams. 💜🏀 by @coachnikkijessee

💙😂 by @coachnikkijessee

Rudi went by herself on her last visit this weekend, and committed while there to Lee University. As her parents, we were really picky about who we let recruit our kid. She ended up with some great options at some great schools with great coaches. Every single one had lots to offer.

In the end, Rudi said Lee just felt right.

I’ve been praying for years that Rudi would play for the right coach who would love on her and take care of her. She’ll be playing for a coach who has been there for 23 years, whose associate head coach has been there for 14 years and played there, for a team that has been to the NCAA tourney 9 out of last 10 times since becoming D2, and lastly at a Christian college.

Although it’s in Tennessee, it’s everything I prayed for. Also, Rudi will play the University of Tampa as a freshman in one of her first collegiate games. God has a sense of humor. And now she can enjoy her junior season…… by @coachnikkijessee

💜 by @coachnikkijessee

Let me brag on Rudi for a bit…..This kid has never gotten the recognition she deserves. She’s always downplayed or not acknowledged.

When Rudi was 5 years old, she was playing in a church league. Obviously, her first time ever playing basketball. A mom I know came and stood next to me. Rudi got the ball and took off running with it, without dribbling it. This mom starts laughing and says, “I can’t believe your kid doesn’t know how to dribble.” She was 5. 🙄

Rudi has always had crazy high expectations put on her. When she was in 8th grade, I told her I would pay her $100 if she would just shoot the ball 10 times in a game. In true Rudi fashion, she refused. She has always done everything in her own time. We’re past that stage, but she still won’t force shots and never wants to take a bad shot.

A few weeks ago, Rudi knew she’d have to guard one of the best players in the state in a fall league game so she was nervous. We watched film the night before and worked on some stuff in the driveway. Worked on how to guard her. Rudi held her to 2 points.

Nothing Rudi does will ever be flashy. She is just solid and very, very smart. The kid works harder than anyone. It’s not where everyone can see, and it’s not for show. It’s at home and outside of practice and/or school. She is in great shape, and even runs while on vacation. She has worked very hard on being an elite shooter from the college 3-point line and is hitting at a high % now. She plays hard and runs the floor hard.

Rudi is at a new school, and that’s come with its own challenges, but she’s finally gaining confidence and not worried so much about what anyone thinks. She talks trash now and stands up for herself, which I love. She’s spent too many years playing small and worried about others and what they think.

We hear the talk too, and the opinions that Rudi has only gotten offers because of her parents. She has offers because she’s that good, whether anyone else believes so or not. The people that matter are Rudi, her family, and the college coach who believes in her. No one else matters. And we don’t care what anyone else thinks. You’re either Team Rudi or you don’t matter. 🤷🏼‍♀️ by @coachnikkijessee

Pregame meal. Not much has changed. 💜🏀 by @coachnikkijessee

One of our players asked if she could go recruiting with me this morning, and then another joined us. They showed up at my house at 8:00am wearing the exact same outfit as me coincidentally, along with glasses. Not sure if I feel more like a dork or in sync with our players. 😂💜 by @coachnikkijessee

1-week away!! 💜🏀 by @coachnikkijessee

Year 28 coaching. 1st year at Poly. Best is yet to come…..God is good. 💜🏀 by @coachnikkijessee

Fun family night. We’re not very good detectives though. ❤️💙💚 by @coachnikkijessee