Know a Patriot: More than a basketball coach

Assistant Coach for GMU Women's Basketball team Simone Edwards shows off a framed banner that commerates her memberahip in the WNBA's Seattle Storm All-Decade Team, an honor that was only given to seven players. (Jenna Beaver) 

Simone Edwards remembers a point in her life when she looked up and asked God for a favor -- promising to help the children of Jamaica in return.

That favor was answered and now Edwards is in her third season as assistant coach for the George Mason University women’s basketball team and she is the founder of "Simone4Children".

Edwards grew up in Kingston, Jamaica with two older brothers and a caring mother. While Edwards said her mom did the best she could to feed her children, money was tight and it was a challenge every day.

When she was 17 an opportunity emerged that would change her life and her family’s forever.

A basketball coach from Seminole Junior College came to visit Edwards in Jamaica and offered her a scholarship if she would come play basketball for the team.

“I thought it was a blessing,” said Edwards. “When I got a scholarship I didn’t know what basketball was.”

At 6’4” Edwards recalled how she was clumsy at first when picking up the sport and the other girls used to laugh at her believing she wouldn’t be able to learn basketball.

“It pushed me to work hard and prove them wrong,” Edwards said.

Edwards was soon surpassing the other players and basketball became her number one focus.

After playing at Seminole Junior College for a year she transferred and played for Iowa University where she was a two-time most valuable player of the Bi-State West Conference.

“I really wanted to succeed and help my family,” said Edwards.

Once she graduated she went abroad and played basketball in Israel.

After a few years she decided to try out for the New York Liberty, a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) development team. There were 300 girls who auditioned and Edwards was one of two players selected to play.

A year later, Edwards had moved on and was chosen to play for the WNBA on the Seattle Storm.

Edwards still remembers the rush she got from the WNBA as she entered each game with her hands held high screaming and encouraging the fans.

“It was awesome, all of the cheering. The feeling never leaves,” Edwards said.

As a result of her enthusiasm Edwards was consistently a fan favorite at the games and helped boost attendance.

The WNBA, however, doesn’t always have the same fame and fortune as the NBA holds.

The salary for a WNBA player is significantly lower than an NBA player and typically a player is forced to play abroad during the off season to make extra money.

Edwards described the difficulty in knowing both players are playing the same sport yet one player in the NBA may earn more money than an entire WNBA team.

In 2006 Edwards retired from the WNBA after ranking third in Storm career rebounds and fourth in points with 936 points. She was also one of seven Storm players to be named to the franchise’s All-Decade Team.

During her time with the Storm, Edwards followed through on her promise and created a charity for children in Jamaica called “Simone4Children.”

The organization focuses on kids in Jamaica and helps them pay for school. Edwards has won multiple awards for her charity and she is very proud of the care the charity has provided.

“If I make a difference in one to two lives it’s still a big difference for me,” Edwards said.

It is that type of dedication and passion that friends say is contagious when being around Edwards.

“[She is] one of the nicest, neatest persons I have ever met,” said Ann Shirley, a close friend of Edwards and a senior advisor to former Prime Minister of Jamaica Portia Simpson Miller.

“She has a vibrant public personality,” said Shirley. “What you see is what you get.”

Now as an assistant coach at Mason, Edwards described how the experience is completely different being on the sideline compared to running down the court. But as Edwards admits, she can’t imagine herself not being around the sport.

“After I left [the WNBA] I wanted to be around basketball,” said Edwards. “I love the game and I love teaching it.”

In the future she hopes to be a head coach, but for now she is content at Mason while still playing on her Jamaican team during the summer months.

“I can adapt anywhere,” Edwards said. “If I put my mind to it I can get through really any situation.”

Q & A with Edwards

• Age: 37

• How long have you worked at Mason? I have been here since May of 2008.

• Position in WNBA: I was a Center in the WNBA with the NY Liberty and the Seattle Storm .

• Something people would be surprised to know: I didn't learn about basketball or start playing basketball until my senior year in high school.

• Proudest Accomplishment: Getting awards for my work through my foundation.

• A quality people find most annoying about you: I can ignore you for a very long time [laughs].

• Who is your role model? My mother because of her love and dedication to her children.

• Subject that causes you to rant: relationships

• What do you drive? Toyota Prius and a Mustang

• Most trouble you have ever gotten in: [I] threw a stone that caused a boy to get a few stitches when I was younger.

• Biggest regret: Getting into a relationship out of sympathy and not love.

• What food is always in your refrigerator? Chicken

• Must-see TV: Nothing in particular.

• Describe a perfect day: When all that's on my face at the end of the day is a smile.

• What actress would play you in a movie? Anyone who gets to date the hot actor.

• What is in your car CD player right now? A mix tape of Jamaican dance hall and some good R&B.

• Most embarrassing moment: When I was called to go into a WNBA game and I lifted up my warm up shirt at the scorers table and I had no jersey under it.

• Who would you love to meet? Any billionaire who is willing to give me one percent of their money.

• Best advice you ever got: From my mom when I was a teenager, "Don't settle for what's around you, always strive for more."

• Who is better Lebron James or Kobe Bryant? Kobe

• Favorite sport besides basketball: Football, I just love those guys tackling each other.

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Know a Patriot is one of C2M's newest features. The idea? It's simple. Find and interview interesting patriots with unique stories. They can be students, faculty, staff, alum, or members of the Mason community. Once we sit down with them we get their story and then publish it along with a short Q & A.

Do you know a patriot with a great story? E-mail suggestions to Reuben Jones at rjone4@masonlive.gmu.edu.