Kofi Cockburn, University of Illinois. Josh Minott, University of Memphis. Samardo Samuels, University of Louisville. These three former college basketball players all have one thing in common: They’ve all been coached by West Ottawa’s own instructor Kyle Plank.
Plank has spent the past 23 years coaching basketball in Jamaica during the summer, with trips varying anywhere from five days to two weeks. “My brother’s former roommate from Notre Dame had done some volunteer work in Jamaica teaching in the schools for 2 years in the late 90’s. During that time, he and another Notre Dame grad began coaching basketball and helped start the Jumpball Basketball Programme. After they left the island to pursue careers in their degrees, they continued to run the Jumpball Basketball Programme camp each summer. Chad [Sutcliffe] was looking for someone to help and knew that I had played college basketball, and was teaching and coaching. He called and asked if I’d be interested in flying down and helping out. I agreed and have been volunteering there ever since.”
The Jumpball Basketball Programme is a summer event that is held for the children of Jamaica, and they provide free basketball clinics and coaching development programs for these kids. Multiple volunteers (including Plank) come to Jamaica every summer and provide these children opportunities to grow as basketball players, and also as young adults. Many of these kids have very little knowledge of the game of basketball, and have never even touched a basketball in their lives, so Plank and Jumpball are trying to help expand the game of basketball for these kids. Jamaica is one of the poorest countries in the Caribbean, so lots of kids do not get opportunities like Jumpball. “Having a ball that has air in it is a treasure, let alone having a place to actually play with a hoop,” Plank said.
The Jumpball Basketball Programme is more than just a place for underprivileged kids to learn the game of basketball, but it has also become a community. Plank has seen many of the former players he has coached bringing their kids to the clinics, and almost half of the current Jumpball coaches are former campers from the Jumpball clinics.
Plank is also on the staff of the Jamaican National Basketball Team, where he has been able to meet and work with some of the greatest Jamaican basketball players. Their ultimate goal is to qualify and compete in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but right now they are in the process of building the team, by gaining awareness, raising money, and fielding some 3v3 and 5v5 World Cup events and qualifiers. Rick Turner, the head coach of the Jamaican National Basketball Team, had some high praise for Plank. “He’s an outstanding teacher. He’s been teaching for a long time, so he has a great way of breaking things down and explaining things to players, and he always has a plan in doing so.”
“[Plank] is very personable. He’s been teaching and coaching in Jamaica for 20+ years and has developed relationships with the players. Being a good player himself, he has garnered the respect of the kids, the men, the women, that he comes across,” said Turner.
William Maloney, Co-Director of Jumpball, also views Plank very highly. Maloney says that Plank is a great coach, “Because he’s able to connect with kids. He does this primarily by being himself. He’s funny and he’s not afraid to be a clown, but can also be serious and very demanding. He has high standards. He sets clear expectations. His players see that he works hard for them and in turn they work hard to draw the best out of themselves.” Maloney emphasizes the fact that Plank is able to connect with the campers by being his true self. “He’ll sing a Van Halen song at the top of his lungs (to a confused but amused group of Jamaican players) to get their attention and focus and show them that he’s there for them. He’s not afraid of being laughed at and that endears kids to him.”
From these opportunities in Jamaica, Plank has grown a lot as an individual, and has learned many lessons that cannot be obtained from only coaching in the United States. “I’ve learned that sport is a universal language. Sport can teach important values, and provide learning experiences that carry over into being successful in any society.” Plank encourages anyone to travel abroad and spend time with people in a different country and culture, just as he has in this impactful way.
