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Women's Basketball: Coaching Staff
Jill Cress begins her 15th year as the head coach of the women’s basketball program at William Jewell College. Before coming to Jewell, Jill was the Interim Head Coach at Ottawa University. Cress is a native of Vinton, Iowa, and is a 1993 graduate of Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, where she received a B.S. in Education along with a reading approval and coaching endorsement. While at Northwestern she was a 4-year starter in both basketball and softball.
The William Jewell women’s basketball team has become known for their up-tempo style of play and their pressing defense. This style of play has helped make the Cardinals one of the consistent front-runners in the competitive Heart of America Athletic conference, considered one of the strongest NAIA conferences in the nation. The Cardinals have been to the National Tournament seven of the last nine years, including three “Sweet 16” appearances. The Cardinals overall record under Cress’ leadership is 296-163. During her tenure at Jewell Cress has had the opportunity to coach 8 All-Americans (14 selections) and 16 Academic All-Americans (31 selections). “William Jewell is truly a special place where students are challenged both academically and athletically. I am proud of our student athletes’ accomplishments on the court and am just as proud of the way they excel and represent our family off the court.”
Jill and her husband Rex have four children, Addisyn, Tyson, Leighton and Rylan and reside in Blue Springs, Mo.
Chad Thomason
Assistant Coach
Chad Thomason is a 2007 graduate of William Jewell College. Chad graduated with a degree in mathematics and earned his master’s degree in mathematics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. While at Jewell, Chad was a student athlete with the men’s basketball program as well as a three-year letter winner on the men’s tennis team. During his junior year, Chad chose to pursue a coaching career and joined the women’s basketball program as a student assistant. Chad will be beginning his seventh year in the program and is now the head assistant coach for the women’s team. During Chad’s time with the program the women have had a record of 147- 54, four national tournament appearances (including two sweet 16s), one conference championship and one tournament championship.
Bethany Garrison
Assistant Coach
Bethany Garrison will be entering her second year as women’s basketball assistant coach at William Jewell College. Before coming to William Jewell, Bethany was an assistant coach at Evangel University for two years where she also spent her college career. Garrison graduated in just 3 years from Evangel in 2005 with a B.S. in Public Relations and Advertising. During Garrison’s playing debut she helped the Crusaders tally a 55-5 conference record and a 90-23 record overall as well as leading the Crusaders to the national tournament each season, making the sweet 16, elite 8 and final 4. She helped lead the team in rebounding, assist, steals and field goal percentage as well as being chosen best defensive player two years in a row and hustle player of the year all three years. After playing at Evangel, Garrison went on to play in Australia in 2005, earning a gold meda,l and in 2007 earning a silver medal in the Arafura international games. Garrison also played in Italy in 2006.
Courtney McCartney
Student Assistant Coach
Brittany Colby
Student Assistant Coach
Olivia Bridgeford
Student Assistant Coach
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