GPS announced the new head varsity basketball coach is Janna Eichelberger. Former director of Basketball Operations with the men’s basketball program at Tennessee State University (one of only seven women on a NCAA Division I men’s basketball coaching staff), Ms. Eichelberger also worked as an assistant with the Women's Basketball program at TSU for two years.
“I am extremely humbled and grateful for the opportunity to lead the varsity basketball program at GPS,” Ms. Eichelberger says. “I plan to work very hard to keep this program progressing to new levels of success. I cannot wait to get started.”
Teresa Phillips, TSU athletic director and GPS Class of 1976, says of Ms. Eichelberger’s being named to coach at GPS, “I am so very pleased to hear of Janna Eichelberger’s appointment on the staff at GPS. She has spent six productive years at Tennessee State in preparation for her first head coaching opportunity. The girls of GPS will find in her a passionate teacher of the game, and GPS will find that Janna will be a great fit to the overall mission of developing young women.”
In addition to her college coaching experience, Ms. Eichelberger has also been heavily involved in AAU basketball for players in grades three through eight and has worked as a personal instructor for skill development with some of the top high school players in the central part of the state. She is recognized around Nashville as an outstanding teacher of the game.
“I am excited to have Janna come to GPS to continue the positive work that was done with our basketball program this year,” says Jay Watts, GPS athletic director, who served as basketball coach last season. “She is passionate about the game of basketball but also committed to the development of the whole player. Her leadership and drive will serve as a great example for our current players and give constructive direction for our entire program.”
Prior to her time at TSU, Ms. Eichelberger was a Division I student-athlete for four years at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. She was the captain of her college basketball team for two years and was on the Academic All-Summit League squad four consecutive years. She was also named to the Summit League Commissioner's List for Academic Excellence. During her junior season, Ms. Eichelberger was her team’s second-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder as guard for the Jaguars. In high school, she was a McDonald’s All-American Nominee, four time All-Region player, and All-State honoree.
Ms. Eichelberger earned her master's degree at Tennessee State University in human performance and sports sciences after receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology with a minor in business administration from IUPUI. She will also be teaching sixth grade physical education at GPS.