"My most memorable class had to be choir with Ms. Marcell. Her passion for music always inspired us to be the best that we could be for her."

In July of 2019, Pamella Goode Jenkins ’98 was appointed as head coach of the women’s lacrosse team at Delaware State University. She most recently served a three-year stint as head women’s lacrosse coach at NCAA Division II Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio, where she also held the positions of assistant director of athletics and senior woman administrator. From 2013 to 2015, Pamella was a member of the women’s lacrosse staff at Oberlin College, serving as an assistant coach the first two seasons before being appointed as acting head coach in the last year. Her college coaching resume also includes three years (2005-08) as an assistant coach at the University of Vermont of the Division I America East Conference and two years as head women’s lacrosse coach at Division II New Haven (Connecticut).
Pamella received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Bridgeport in 2002 and a master’s in Management of Sports Industries from the University of New Haven in 2005. Pamella began her lacrosse career as a high school player at Rye Country Day. She and her husband Kerry have  three children, Helene, Javin and Josiah.

What was your most memorable class at Rye Country Day?
My most memorable class had to be choir with Ms. Marcell. Her passion for music always inspired us to be the best that we could be for her.

Is there anything you wish you could do at RCDS that you didn’t do when you were a student?
Not at all. I had a great experience at RCDS and have wonderful memories of my time there.

Was there a coach who inspired you to pursue lacrosse in college and beyond?
My former math teacher in 10th grade, Mrs. Couch. She’s the one who encouraged me to play lacrosse, and I fell in love with the sport as soon as she put a stick in my hand.

Beside skills of the game and physical ability, what other values do you look for in an athlete and consider important as the head women’s lacrosse coach at Delaware State University?
Some of the big core values that I look for are a willingness to improve, working hard, and appreciating every time you step onto a lacrosse field. Also playing for more than just yourself— it’s a team sport for a reason. 

What advice do you have for our student-athletes as they begin to think about playing collegiate sports?
My biggest piece of advice for aspiring college athletes is to identify the schools you are interested in attending and sending those coaches a detailed email along with film of why you want to attend that particular school and play for that team. Coaches get so many generic emails that fall to the wayside, but I, for example, love when a student-athlete shows initiative and is passionate about coming to my university.