Beth Madill, who up until a few weeks ago was Beth Christensen, is no stranger to the hardwood at Chuck Smith Gymnasium, but when she takes the floor this winter for the girls’ basketball season, the 2003 Enumclaw High graduate will be making her debut as coach.
Madill was picked to slide into the shoes of her former coach and mentor Ted Carlson, who is stepping away from the Enumclaw High program to spend more time with his family.
Madill, 24, acknowledges she’s young, less experienced and doesn’t have any “trophies in the case,” but she said she feels good about the future of Enumclaw basketball and is ready to build on the program’s tradition of success.
“Enumclaw has a wonderful tradition and coach Carlson has proven to be successful,” she said. “He’s someone I want to coach like. He’s a man of character and integrity and I think he passes that down to his players. He’s created better people, not just good basketball players. That’s something I want to continue.”
Madill said Enumclaw, the school and community, provided her with good role models growing up.
“I’ve had unbelievable mentors my whole life. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher and coach. Teaching is rewarding and athletics is my passion,” she said. “At Enumclaw I’ve always been around unbelievable coaches. Enumclaw has always been known for the teaching, instruction and passion that comes from its coaches.”
A health and fitness education major, Madill finished her student teaching in the fall at West Seattle High and Lawton Elementary School in Seattle. She is making her home in Carbonado. She plans to substitute in the Enumclaw School District.
Coaching EHS basketball is a dream come true, she said.
Enumclaw Athletic Director Tim Tubbs said Madill’s lack of coaching experience was never a factor; hiring her for the job was a slam dunk.
“We have a strong emphasis in our programs on values, character and community,” Tubbs said. “I can’t think of a candidate that represents those traits better than Beth.
“We take those three traits over experience and championships any day,” he said. “We measure our victories in other ways, our wins and losses are byproducts.”
As a player, Madill knows success. As a Hornet, EHS lost few games and was a regular in postseason tournaments. As a standout guard for Seattle Pacific University, the nationally-ranked Falcons lost only a handful of contests, posting a 29-1 record her senior season. In addition to her all-conference and all-American honors, she received SPU’s Falcon Award for Excellence for her athleticism and leadership. She was also an academic leader and set the Great Northwest Athletic Conference record for career assists with 501.
Last season, she asked Carlson if she could tag along to gain more experience. At the time it was a good way to learn from someone she considers among the best, but she never thought it would lead to her recent hiring.
The experience, however, is allowing her to step in without missing a beat. With the help of Doug Clyde, she has started drilling with the Hornets and will take them to team camp and summer league competition.
Like her predecessor, she said, she wants what the girls learn on the court to transfer off the court – things like teamwork, integrity and discipline. She said she wants them to walk away with a lifetime of fond memories and strong relationships.
“I want to empower young women,” she said. “I want them to be confident in their abilities. I want them to know what a privilege it is to wear Enumclaw on your jersey. It’s a commitment to the community, and an honor.”
