Who is Stephanie Ready?

Not only was I giving an extraordinary opportunity to watch an extravagant game between the Charlotte Bobcats and Philadelphia 76ers, but before the game was actually my better experience. I was blessed and honor with an opportunity to interview an historical phenomenal women named Stephanie Ready.  Who is Stephanie Ready? Stephanie Ready is a former Basketball coach who became the first female to coach in a men’s professional league from 2001-2003. She served as an assistant coach with the Greenville Groove of the National Basketball Development League (NBADL). She is currently serving as a sideline reporter and Sports Analyst for the Charlotte Bobcats.
Ready is originally from Takoma Park, Maryland where she graduated Cum Laude from Coppin State with a major in Psychology. At Coppin State she was a standout player in Volleyball and Basketball ranking in the top 10 in assist, steals, points, and rebounds. The beginning of coaching years started at her Alma-Ata Coppin State as a Volleyball Coach where she served three years as the youngest coach in Division I Volleyball. One of her biggest accomplishments was snapping their 129-match losing streak. Ready coached the Volleyball team for three years and resigned in 2001.
Soon after that, Ready was hired by Ron Mitchell to assist him with the Coppin State men’s basketball team, becoming the third women to coach in Division I men’s basketball. In that same year Stephanie had to resign because she was giving the opportunity to help coach in the men’s D-League with the Greenville Groove. “It was an amazing experience”, Ready said. “It was also challenging of course because I was young in my career and there were players older than I was when I was coaching”. In the first year as an assistant coach, Ready helped led the Groove to a championship in their first year. “It was an extraordinary run” said Ready. “I still have great relationships with the coaches, players, and their kids”.
Stephanie is a great exemplar of what most females should follow when having doubts of trying to compete with males for a position. ESPN for example, which has a predominance of males working in that company, females are perceived to not fit the level of competition as a sports analyst like a lot males. Stephanie Ready definitely disagrees with that statement. “If you’re passionate about something then you will always find a certain level of success at that” said Ready. “In Sports in particular with females you really have to know what you are talking about. If you are passionate about it you will find success and don’t worry about what other people think”.
Would we ever see Stephanie on the sidelines again as a coach? “That’s a question I get asked a lot”, a chuckling Ready answered. “The answer is yes, but not right now. I love broadcasting and staying this close to the game without having the stress of being a coach”. When you attend a Charlotte Bobcats game just look towards the entrance of the Bobcats and you will Stephanie at her work desk working on her craft constantly studying her notes. She also has this emotional attachment with the fans that attend always willing to talk, take pictures, and fulfill the fans with a smile and wave.  It’s not a job for Ready but more like a career attachment with the game that she learned about and loves.