May 31, 2007

Grand Valley State women's basketball head coach Janel Burgess announced the hiring of Jill VanderEnde as her top assistant coach for the 2007-08 season. VanderEnde joins the Laker staff after spending last season as an assistant coach for the women's basketball team at Eastern Michigan.

"I am extremely excited to be a part of the basketball program at Grand Valley State," said VanderEnde. "It is an honor to be able to work at such an accredited university that has a rich basketball tradition."

Prior to her one-year stint at Eastern Michigan, VanderEnde spent five years as an assistant coach at Central Michigan University. At Central Michigan, Jill was involved in all aspects of recruiting, scouting, team evaluations, player development, and on-the-floor coaching. In addition, she coordinated all preseason and postseason conditioning, scheduling, and team travel. She was the program's perimeter coach and her main responsibility was to develop the guards.

"Jill is a great addition to the Laker family," said Burgess. "I am looking forward to her and I working together and continuing to develop the women's basketball program at Grand Valley."

Before coaching at Central Michigan, VanderEnde was an assistant coach at the University of Findlay where she helped lead the team to an NAIA Final Four appearance and a GLIAC South Division title.

VanderEnde was a four-year standout guard at Lake Superior State University. She earned All-GLIAC honors in her senior campaign and was honored by LSSU with the Deborah McPherson "Outstanding Female Athlete Award." She graduated from LSSU with a bachelor's degree in human services in 1999 and earned her master's in business administration in 2000 while coaching at Findlay.

"She has so much experience in the profession and with the GLIAC," added Burgess. "She loves to help develop young ladies both on and off the court and will be a perfect fit with the Laker program."

The Grand Rapids native attended West Catholic High School and lettered in basketball, volleyball, and softball. She captured all-state, all-area, and all-city honors in basketball, and all-city accolades in volleyball.

"I have been away from home for 12 years and this is a great opportunity for me to be back in the Grand Rapids area," said VanderEnde. "It isn't very often in coaching that you get the chance to do what you love in your hometown. It is great to be back in the area and in the GLIAC on both a professional and personal level."

VanderEnde is a member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, the Michigan High School Coaches Association, and the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan.