University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Former Lady Eagle Janice Felder Honored at National Girls and Women in Sports Day
2/7/2024 10:00:00 AM | General, Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Miss Athletics recently honored Coach Janice Felder, a former Golden Eagle women's basketball player, with the 2024 National Girls and Women in Sports Day award. She was selected for her commitment for advocating for women and girls in her community.
"There is no one more deserving of this honor than Coach Felder," said Sonya Varnell, Southern Miss Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman's Administrator. "She is an excellent role model for girls and women and has work tirelessly in her community advocating for children."
The Magnolia, Mississippi native was a superstar basketball player at South Pike High School where she was recruited to play for the Lady Eagles by Coach Joye Lee-McNelis, who worked as an assistant for the legendary Coach Kay James in 1990.
In 1994, she was the first-ever Southern Miss women's basketball player to be named a Kodak All-American. The University named a street for her, called Felder Place on the front of campus by Wilbur Hall.
Felder finished her career as a member of the Lady Eagles' 1,000-Point Club. After almost 30 years since she last wore a Lady Eagle jersey, Felder remains the top point scorer in Southern Miss basketball history, either men or women, with 2,275 points. She also ranks No. 1 in points per game (19.4), field goals made (927), free throws made (421), rebounds (1,169) and double-doubles (60).
Following her amazing collegiate career, Felder played professionally oversees in Switzerland and Israel. In 1996, she returned to the United States to play for the Richmond Rage of the American Basketball League. In the ABL, she was teammates with Taj McWilliams, Dawn Staley and Jackie Joyner-Kersee. In between playing professionally, Felder came back to Southern Miss to finish her Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation.
Felder then started her coaching career at Jones County Junior College in 1997 under Sandra Sumrall. After one year with the Bobcats, she got a call from Coach Kay James to come home to Southern Miss. In 1999, after James retired from college basketball, she went to the WNBA Seattle Storm as an assistant coach, and Felder was offered a tryout, but pulled a hamstring doing training camp thereby ending her return to professional basketball. She would remain an assistant coach with the Lady Eagles through the 2001-2002 season.
She then went back to her roots at South Pike High School, becoming a physical education teacher and an assistant girls' basketball coach. When asked why she wanted to be a teacher and coach, this was her response.
"My greatest passion is working with the youth," said Felder. "And being able to share my knowledge of basketball with the next generation is a blessing."
During this time, she coached three of her nieces, and they won the 2007 Class 3A State Championship. In addition, Felder used her platform as a coach to create the "Coaches Closet," a closet that contained shoes, clothes, and personal hygiene products for any student in need in the area.
In 2011, she fulfilled her dream by being named the Head Girls' Basketball Coach at South Pike High School. During her tenure as head coach, she won two regular season championships, three district titles, and three Coach of the Year honors. She also went to Jackson twice to play for a state championship. Felder retired from coaching in 2016 and has remained a Physical Education teacher.
Her education also includes a Master of Arts in Teaching from Alcorn State in 2021. Early last year, Felder was diagnosed with breast cancer and was unable to work for six months. Now, her primary concern remains for her students being unable to get what they needed from the "Coaches Closet."
Felder summed it up perfectly by saying, "God's plan has put her in a perfect place to do what she loves!"
In 1987, National Girls and Women's in Sports Day was introduced, to remember the late great Flo Hyman, an Olympic volleyball silver medalist, for her athletic achievements and dedication to equality in women's sports.
"There is no one more deserving of this honor than Coach Felder," said Sonya Varnell, Southern Miss Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman's Administrator. "She is an excellent role model for girls and women and has work tirelessly in her community advocating for children."
The Magnolia, Mississippi native was a superstar basketball player at South Pike High School where she was recruited to play for the Lady Eagles by Coach Joye Lee-McNelis, who worked as an assistant for the legendary Coach Kay James in 1990.
In 1994, she was the first-ever Southern Miss women's basketball player to be named a Kodak All-American. The University named a street for her, called Felder Place on the front of campus by Wilbur Hall.
Felder finished her career as a member of the Lady Eagles' 1,000-Point Club. After almost 30 years since she last wore a Lady Eagle jersey, Felder remains the top point scorer in Southern Miss basketball history, either men or women, with 2,275 points. She also ranks No. 1 in points per game (19.4), field goals made (927), free throws made (421), rebounds (1,169) and double-doubles (60).
Following her amazing collegiate career, Felder played professionally oversees in Switzerland and Israel. In 1996, she returned to the United States to play for the Richmond Rage of the American Basketball League. In the ABL, she was teammates with Taj McWilliams, Dawn Staley and Jackie Joyner-Kersee. In between playing professionally, Felder came back to Southern Miss to finish her Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation.
Felder then started her coaching career at Jones County Junior College in 1997 under Sandra Sumrall. After one year with the Bobcats, she got a call from Coach Kay James to come home to Southern Miss. In 1999, after James retired from college basketball, she went to the WNBA Seattle Storm as an assistant coach, and Felder was offered a tryout, but pulled a hamstring doing training camp thereby ending her return to professional basketball. She would remain an assistant coach with the Lady Eagles through the 2001-2002 season.
She then went back to her roots at South Pike High School, becoming a physical education teacher and an assistant girls' basketball coach. When asked why she wanted to be a teacher and coach, this was her response.
"My greatest passion is working with the youth," said Felder. "And being able to share my knowledge of basketball with the next generation is a blessing."
During this time, she coached three of her nieces, and they won the 2007 Class 3A State Championship. In addition, Felder used her platform as a coach to create the "Coaches Closet," a closet that contained shoes, clothes, and personal hygiene products for any student in need in the area.
In 2011, she fulfilled her dream by being named the Head Girls' Basketball Coach at South Pike High School. During her tenure as head coach, she won two regular season championships, three district titles, and three Coach of the Year honors. She also went to Jackson twice to play for a state championship. Felder retired from coaching in 2016 and has remained a Physical Education teacher.
Her education also includes a Master of Arts in Teaching from Alcorn State in 2021. Early last year, Felder was diagnosed with breast cancer and was unable to work for six months. Now, her primary concern remains for her students being unable to get what they needed from the "Coaches Closet."
Felder summed it up perfectly by saying, "God's plan has put her in a perfect place to do what she loves!"
In 1987, National Girls and Women's in Sports Day was introduced, to remember the late great Flo Hyman, an Olympic volleyball silver medalist, for her athletic achievements and dedication to equality in women's sports.
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