Jackie Marie Stiles (born December 21, 1978) is an American college basketball coach who was formerly an assistant coach for the University of Oklahoma women’s basketball team and at Missouri State University. Stiles set several scoring records while playing shooting guard in college and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
High school
Born in Kansas City, Kansas and raised in Claflin, Stiles played for Claflin High School, where she was named a WBCA All-American. She participated in the WBCA High School All-America Game where she scored eighteen points and earned MVP honors. Stiles won 14 individual state titles in track and field, a state record that still stands.
College
Stiles played college basketball at Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University) from 1997 to 2001. While there, she became the first NCAA Division I women’s player to score more than 1,000 points in a season, scoring 1,062 in her senior year. That year, she won the Wade Trophy, which honors the best women’s basketball player in the college ranks, as well as the Broderick Cup, which honors the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year. She competed with USA Basketball as a member of the 2000 Jones Cup Team that won the gold in Taipei, Taiwan.
During her four collegiate years, Stiles scored 3,393 points, a career total that stood as a record for Division I women’s basketball until it was broken by Kelsey Plum in 2017. On March 10, 2000, she scored 56 points against Evansville, which stands as the sixth highest number of points in a single Division I game. In her senior season, Stiles scored 41 points to help fifth seed Missouri State upset top seed Duke in the 2001 Sweet 16.
After college, Stiles had a short professional basketball career, playing in the American Basketball League for the Portland Power and the Denver Nuggets of the WNBA.
Coaching Career
Stiles transitioned into coaching after her playing career. She served as an assistant coach for the Missouri State Lady Bears from 2008 to 2012. In 2012, she became the head coach of the St. Joseph’s Academy Angels, leading the team to six consecutive state championships. In 2018, she returned to her alma mater, Missouri State University, as an assistant coach for the Lady Bears.
Awards:
– Inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016
– Wade Trophy (2001)
– Broderick Cup (2001)
– WBCA All-American in high school
Jackie Stiles’ impact on women’s basketball is undeniable. She set records that stood the test of time and blazed a trail for future generations of players. Her tenacity and skill on the court inspired young girls to dream big and showed that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible. Through her coaching career, Stiles continues to make a difference in the lives of young athletes, sharing her knowledge and passion for the game. Her legacy as a player and coach solidifies her place in women’s basketball history.