After three seasons without a girls basketball team, Modesto Christian will field a team once again this winter.
The Crusaders have not had a girls basketball team since the COVID pandemic ended. In 2019-20 they went 16-13 overall, 8-4 in Tri-City Athletic League play and won their Division II first-round matchup against Grant.
To rebuild the program, Modesto Christian has hired former Ceres High star and Stanislaus State record holder and hall of famer Shannon Donnelly.
After a decorated career at Ceres where she competed in volleyball, basketball and track and field, Donnelly went on to Stan State where after four seasons, she holds 38 school records, was named to the WBCA third-team All-American team three times, was a four-time All-Region and All-CCAA selection and was also named to the WBCA All-Freshman Team in 2020. She is the only Warrior to score 2,000-plus points with 1,000 or more rebounds. She finished with 70 double-doubles and 52 20-point games.
She graduated from Stan State in 2003 and was inducted into the Warriors Hall of Fame in 2011. She was the first to have her jersey retired by the women’s basketball program.
“I’ve been praying about it a lot and I’ve always loved coaching,” she said. “To rebuild a program from the start, but not only rebuild a program with the values the program has spiritually, religiously and the core values that MC holds, I feel like it’s a perfect fit for what I want to do.”
In the years since sports returned to normal, Modesto Christian struggled with participation, but Donnelly feels that an excited young crop of basketball players will help rebuild the program.
“I believe this is the right time to start the program and build it from the girls that are already there and want to be there and see what we can turn it into from the ground up,” she said.”
Donnelly has been wanting to coach high school. She says she coaches a summer travel team, but during the school year, outside of helping out when asked, she didn’t have the time she felt was necessary to have her own program. Now, she is excited for her first high school coaching experience.
“If I’m going to take over or start a program, I want to make sure that I’m 100% devoted to giving what the program and the kids deserve,” she said. “Now in my life, this is the time where I can devote the time to what a program needs.”
She knows there will be some big shoes to fill.
Under former coach Robb Spencer, the Crusaders won seven total section titles and the 2014 Division III state championship.
“I’m glad they’re starting the program up again. Robb did a great job with it so it will be an honor just to be part of the legacy,” Donnelly said.
It’s looking like the Crusaders will play in the Tri-City Athletic League this winter. They will have better knowledge of numbers and what level they will play when the school year starts.
“I’m honored that they even thought about me and blessed that they gave me the job,” Donnelly said. “I have a good relationship with Robb and I have a good relationship with (boys basketball coach) Brice (Fantazia). Talking about it I think they just hear my excitement with basketball in general. I think they knew that it would be a good fit and I’m excited just to be back in basketball again.”
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