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Shaun Sanderson
Head Women's Basketball Coach
Email: lsanders@jjc.edu
The 2010-11 season started on a bumpy road with a 0-10 start, but the Lady Wolves of Joliet made a turn that led them to a seventh place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament.
When the 2011-12 season gets underway, it will be Shaun Sanderson's fourth season as head coach. His career record is 45-53 with a trip to the NJCAA national tournament. Sanderson has helped a number of young ladies extend their playing career at four year institutions. Under his wing, he's coached seven academic honor roll students, five all tournament players, five all-conference players, three all-region players, one All-American and one Distinguished Academic All-American (4.0 student).
Last year he lead Joliet to an overall record of 18-17 and a second place finish in conference (12-2), which earned them a first round bye in the playoffs.
The Lady Wolves took advantage of the number two seeding and went on to win their third NJCAA Regional IV Women's Championship in Joliet's history.
The success of the team produced Sanderson with three Coach of the Year awards, his fifth since taken over as head coach in 2008. He was voted N4C Conference Coach of the Year for the second time in three seasons. Sanderson also earned NJCAA Region IV and District B Coach of the Year honors.
The 2009-10 season has a great deal of highs and lows. While taking on another difficult schedule, the Lady Wolves had a number of injuries and setbacks. The team carried six players on their roster for the majority of the season. Although the Lady Wolves ended the season with a disappointing 10-22 record, they were able to beat Rock Valley College 81-80 with four players (2 fouled out) on the floor to finish the game in the Region IV quarterfinals. Joliet would lose in the next round to Madison College. Sanderson was not too disappointed as for the second year in a row, he took home some hardware when he was voted the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year.
Sanderson had a great deal of success in his inaugural year as he guided Joliet to a 17-14 overall record. Finishing with a conference record of 8-2, Joliet brought home its sixth conference championship in seven years. That accomplishment was enough for the opposing coaches to vote Sanderson as the 2009 N4C Conference Coach of the Year.
Sanderson's success can be traced back to recruiting. Since joining the Joliet Junior College athletic staff in 2005, Sanderson has gained the reputation of being a recruiter. He brought in two-time NJCAA All-American Shantel Johnson. Then followed that up with another All-American in Terri Warnsley. With Sanderson's desire to watch film, go to gymnasiums and evaluate both in and out of state players, his peers have given him the nickname "the recruiting guru."
Sanderson's first three seasons as an assistant coach, under then head coach Tony Giese, saw Joliet finish with an overall record of 71-22. This includes an impressive 27-3 N4C conference record.
From 2002-2004, Sanderson was an assistant coach under then head coach Danny Turner at Joliet Township High School. He helped guide the Lady Steelmen from a 4-win season (prior to his arrival) to a Regional Championship and two Top 25 final rankings in the Chicago Sun-Times. Sanderson was also the head JV coach and saw every player on that team develop and go on to have successful collegiate careers. Some of those players included Ebony Ellis (Northern Illinois), Jaquetta Westley (Youngstown State), and Ashley Easley (Yale, 2009).
Prior to his years at JTHS, Sanderson was a volunteer assistant/manager at the University of Illinois at Chicago under then head coach Tim Eatman (University of Arkansas). He assisted in tape editing, statistics, practice drills and individual skills.
Sanderson started his basketball coaching career in 1997, when he was hired as head coach for Calvary M.B. Church girls' basketball team in Chicago. He helped introduce and develop a love for the game to girls playing organized basketball for the first time.
A native of Chicago, Sanderson graduated from Dunbar Vocational H.S. where he was a standout outfielder. He then went on to Central State University in Wilberforce, OH to continue his playing career. In December of 2007, Sanderson earned his Associate of Arts degree from Joliet Junior College. Currently, he is finishing his degree in Communications at Governors State University.
Sanderson, as a volunteer, currently serves as the recreational coordinator for the Harvey Brooks Foundation (Joliet), a non-for-profit organization that provides life-skill development and educational achievement. Having a passion for improving the lives of young adults, Sanderson also mentors students at Joliet high schools through the YMCA's Achievers Program, where he serves as coordinator. His is also a longtime member of the Black Coaches Association (BCA).
Sanderson and his wife Elaine reside in Joliet. They have a daughter, Sydnie.
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George Lowery
Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
The 2010-2011 season will be Coach Lowery's fourth term as women's basketball assistant at Joliet Junior College. Coach Lowery spent six years coaching high school students at various schools in Will County. For five years, he served as head coach for the freshmen and sophomore girls' basketball teams at Joliet Township High School. Prior to that, he spent time as the freshman boys' coach at Bolingbrook High School. His overall secondary coaching record is 88 wins and 32 losses. He also had the privilege of being Head Basketball Coach for all grades at Valley View Middle School. Mr. Lowery started his coaching career in 1997 at Valley View Middle School as the boy's and girl's basketball and track coach.
In addition, Mr. Lowery is pursuing a mathematics degree in secondary education and has worked for the last fourteen years as a paraprofessional at a junior high.
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Ryan Harris
Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
Ryan Harris will begin his second season as a member of the women's basketball coaching staff. Ryan previously was an assistant during the 2005-06 season under then head coach Tony Giese.
Ryan Harris started his teaching career with Plainfield North HS and then accepted a position with Joliet Township High School as a Health and Physical Education teacher. Ryan worked on curriculum development committee's for both schools and was able to establish impressive coaching resumes with PNHS and Joe Gura onto JTHS and Luke Yaklich, while maintaining his involvement as a fitness instructor with JJC. Ryan's success can be defined in terms of the success of his student-athletes and individuals with-in the schools.
Ryan began his education in Plainfield prior to attending Joliet Junior College while playing for Mike Martin and the men's basketball team. He transferred on to Eastern Illinois University beginning his career in Health and Physical Education, following in his father, Chuck's, footsteps. Ryan previously worked for Lifetime Fitness as a fitness instructor implementing fitness and wellness programs to individuals and athletes of all ages.
Ryan has a passion for life-long learning and looks forward to a career in education, recreation, fitness, coaching, and working with student athletes and individuals at all levels.
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