Faith Halliday is in her second year of coaching basketball and continues to grow into her role on the sidelines. After spending years as a player, Halliday now focuses on teaching and supporting young athletes in the community where she grew up.
Halliday says her inspiration to coach came from two former coaches, Lorie Opp and Mary Alice Jenkins. Both coached her during middle school and high school and played a major role in her development. “They were passionate about basketball and helping me achieve my goals,” Halliday said. “I want to be able to provide that for the youth in our community.” Their encouragement motivated her to stay involved in the sport and give back.
Even in her second year, the transition from player to coach has been challenging. Halliday says being on the sidelines is still difficult because she remains competitive. “I still have that side of me that wants to win and make every move,” she said. However, she has learned that coaching requires patience and trust in her players rather than direct control of the game.
Halliday’s coaching philosophy centers on responsibility and effort. She believes academics should always come first. “Good work ethic in the classroom comes first,” she said. Once that standard is met, she focuses on helping players develop a love for the game and a strong work ethic. She wants her athletes to understand that hard work applies both on and off the court.
One aspect of coaching that surprised Halliday was how different it is from playing. After competing at the college level, she noticed a significant difference in pace when coaching middle school athletes. “The pace change was the biggest surprise,” she said. Adjusting drills, expectations, and communication to match younger players has been an important learning experience.
Coaching has helped Halliday grow both personally and professionally. She says the experience has made her more excited to give back to the community that supported her as a player. Halliday hopes to keep the love of basketball strong for young girls at Giant City School and help create a positive environment for future athletes.
