New Valor Christian girls basketball coach Jessika Caldwell. (Courtesy of Valor Christian)
Valor Christian has hired Jessika Caldwell to take over its girls basketball program, the school announced Tuesday.
Caldwell had been the lead assistant at Colorado Christian University, a Division II school in Lakewood, for the past five seasons. She was also the head coach at Colorado-Colorado Springs from 2005-08, and played at Baylor prior to coaching.
At Baylor, Caldwell was named the 2004 Big 12 Sportswoman of the Year.
“I am completely honored to continue my coaching journey at Valor Christian High School,” Caldwell said in a statement. “My desire is to continue to encourage student-athletes to pursue excellence spiritually, academically and athletically.”
Caldwell takes over for Sherryl Klosterman, who resigned in May after five years leading the program. Klosterman’s teams were 79-40 during her time there.
Valor went 23-4 last season, including a trip to the Final 4.
The Eagles figure to be very good again next season, as their top seven scorers return — including Kendall Bradbury, who averaged 17.1 points, and Caroline Bryan, who averaged 17.0. Both will be seniors this fall.
“We are excited about what Jessika brings to the program,” Brian Kula, assistant AD at Valor, said in a statement. “She has a deep and passionate love for the Lord, a heart for mentoring players and skills to develop young women on and off the court. She is well respected in the basketball community and with her playing and coaching experience has the tools to achieve excellence here at Valor.”