Hendrix leads with love and grace
Former Lady Wildkat stand-out leaving her mark as head coach at Miami (OH)
Today’s article is brought to you by Gary Rhinebarger for Howard County Council Dist. 1. Working together to bring politics back to the people.
For some, being destined for greatness is an understatement. Qualities and attributes not found in the average person begin to emerge very early in their lives. DeUnna Hendrix is a living embodiment of the word “greatness.”
Hendrix, the fourth-year head coach of women’s basketball at Miami (OH) University, leads her team from a perspective of love and grace. The Kokomo native is creating a culture within her team that embraces love, trust, and acceptance. By doing so, she lays down a solid foundation for success in her career, for her players, and for the basketball program.
As far back as Kokomo folks can remember Hendrix playing basketball, it was apparent she just knows the game. It is no wonder she has been able to live a life of basketball and leadership the way she has. She credits those who came before her who have invested in her.
“It started with my family, my immediate family,” said Hendrix. “My mother [Robin Hendrix] was a hooper. My uncle [Paul Hendrix] trained me in my early days. I loved growing up in Kokomo. There is such a strong tradition, growing up watching Tiffany Longworth, Misty Oliver, Tammy Steiner. I could credit so many, Charlie Hall, Bobby Pettigrew; they kept me on track. There’s a rich history of basketball in Kokomo, but the love, the love is different.”
Hendrix couldn’t be more thankful to have been surrounded by people who, as she put it, “just wanted to see me succeed.” The genuineness that was given to her as a youth, is the very thing that shines through most in her as a coach.
It was once stated of Hendrix by hall of Fame coach Charlie Hall, “you can’t say anybody is born to do anything, but if anyone was kind of born to coach, it could be DeUnna.” There could be no truer statement made about her. Her family history in hoops, her IQ, her passion, and her patience are all ingredients that make a quality coach.
Hendrix is no stranger to success. In her high school days, she was amongst the top leadership of the 2003 Indiana Girls state champion Kokomo Lady Wildkats. Side by side with friends and family that she grew up with -- Anne Thatcher-Clarke, Ashley Johnson, Ashley Hayes, Gretchen Hendrix-Zientek -- the significance of that team led by Hendrix was that they were undefeated with a 26-0 record. That put KHS on the map with a No. 14 national ranking.
Hendrix who was a three-sport athlete as a Wildkat, capped off her illustrious high school basketball career with 1,199 points and 2003 Indiana All-Star and first-team All-State selections.
In college, Hendrix attended Richmond University in Virginia where she led her team to an NCAA tournament appearance. After college, Hendrix played professionally for the Jacksonville Cougars of the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League. She played for a few years, but when it was time for her to put her playing days behind her, that is really when Hendrix began to fulfill her life’s calling as a coach.
Her first move to High Point University in North Carolina to be an assistant coach in 2011 changed her life. It wasn’t even a year later that Hendrix attained the head coaching position at High Point, and the rest, as they say, is history.
She is succeeding as a coach, and the statistics are indisputable. At High Point, Hendrix became the third highest winning coach in school history, and her 67.4 Big South conference win percentage is the best in school history.
At Miami (OH), her teams have battled injuries which have made it difficult to manage a high win record, but the foundation is present. And Hendrix’s presence is felt on an individual level. Under her leadership with the RedHawks, four members of her team have earned All-MAC honors, and 15 have been named to the Academic All-MAC team the past three seasons; proving that academics is at the forefront for Hendrix and the RedHawks team.
A recent video surfaced of her ‘Mic’d Up’ at practice. It is truly a testament to Hendrix’s vibrant spirit and of her brilliance operating within her craft. In her complete element, she displays a passion for the game and for young people. The things that she has learned over the years and instills in her players are transformative and extend well beyond the game of basketball.
“It’s okay to be different,” said Hendrix. “It’s okay to be whoever you are and however you want to do it. Just accept all the things about you. Work really hard at being able to do it your way but be humble enough to receive the help that you need.”
Profoundly, Hendrix talked about the things that go unmentioned in reference to the game of basketball but are key ingredients to growth and maturity.
“When you talk about ingredients, I can start and end with grace,” said Hendrix. “Grace for myself when it comes to the mistakes I’ve made. Grace for others understanding that evolution is a thing and people continue to evolve and develop.
“Basketball has been ministry to me, and when you think about ministry, it’s love, it’s grace, it’s all the things as a competitor that you don’t hear a whole lot about. You’re supposed to be tough. You’re supposed to be the hardest working, and all those things are important, but at the core it should be about people, grace, love, and trust. If you do things the right way, and be a good human, it pays you back.”