A BASKETBALL coach from Worcester University is grabbing her next opportunity with both hands.
Shanice Turner has scored the post of head coach of the England under 14s women’s basketball team.
She has been studying to become a PE teacher at the university alongside basketball playing and coaching commitments.
Playing regularly since she was 14, Shanice got into coaching due to an injury that put her on the sidelines. She recently guided the team at international tournaments in Greece and Scotland.
The 27-year-old from Wolverhampton said: “I’m proud, it means all the hard work has paid off. I think it’s more about the children than the status, being able to work with kids at such a high level that understand the game. Being able to take my coaching to the next level is also an exciting process and learn from coaches of such a high level in the England set up.”
Shanice has herself played basketball for England at under 17 women’s level and was also selected for the under 18s women’s squad. She has played professionally for Gloucester Queens (Women’s British Basketball League) and has been playing for the Worcester Wolves Women’s team, currently in Division 1 of the National Basketball League, since 2016, of which she is now the captain. She has also been the assistant coach for this team since 2023.
The former North East Wolverhampton Academy student has been coaching at junior level since she was 16. She studied for two years at a basketball academy, where she earned her coaching qualifications. But her first taste of a formal coaching role came when an injury put her off the court for a year in the 2022 to 23 season and she took on the head coach role for the University of Worcester Women’s Basketball 2nd team.
A second season out with injury a year later saw her join the Worcester Wolves Men’s team as assistant coach. She has been the assistant coach for England Women under 15s for the last two years and has been on the England talent pathway, coaching regionally under 13s to under 15s.
Shanice added: “It’s the chance of a lifetime and I do feel I put in the work to get there 100 per cent,” she said. “Because of my injury I know anything can happen at any time, so whenever you have a great opportunity like this you have got to grab it with both hands.”
