The former Gordon College player is shaping the next generation at Lexington Christian Academy, blending lessons from her playing career with inspirations from the college game she follows so closely.
For many coaches, the love of the game begins long before they ever pick up a clipboard. It starts with early practices, long bus rides and countless hours spent learning the rhythm of basketball as a player. For Jenna Olson, that journey began on the court and eventually led her to the sideline, where she now guides the girls basketball program at Lexington Christian Academy.
A former collegiate athlete at Gordon College, Olson has carried the lessons she learned as a player into her coaching career. Today, she is helping shape young athletes not only as basketball players but as confident leaders, building a program rooted in discipline, growth and a deep appreciation for the game.
Before she was a coach, Olson was a competitor.
At Gordon College, a Division III program in Wenham, Massachusetts, Olson spent her collegiate career learning what it meant to be part of a team that demanded hard work, preparation and resilience. Playing for the Fighting Scots, she became known for her reliability and willingness to do the small things that help teams win – rebounding, defending and playing with energy.
Her time at Gordon wasn’t just about statistics or minutes played. It was about understanding the deeper layers of the sport: how to read the floor, how to communicate with teammates and how to lead, even when you’re not the one scoring the most points.
Those experiences would eventually shape the way she approached coaching. Basketball gave Olson a lens through which to see leadership and teamwork, and when her playing days came to an end, it became clear that her connection to the sport wasn’t finished.
Many former players step away from the game after college. Olson moved closer to it. She began working in education and athletics at Lexington Christian Academy, where she now serves as the head coach of the varsity girls basketball program. In that role, Olson embraced the opportunity to mentor student-athletes during some of the most formative years of their lives.
At the high school level, coaching requires more than designing plays or managing game rotations. It means understanding how to motivate young athletes, how to build trust within a team and how to help players discover confidence in themselves. For Olson, that process begins with culture.
She emphasizes effort, accountability and a team-first mindset – values she learned during her own playing career. Practices focus on fundamentals, communication and the type of competitive energy that prepares players for the challenges of the season.
But Olson’s approach to coaching is also shaped by something else: a deep connection to the broader world of women’s basketball. One thing that stands out about Olson as a coach is how closely she follows women’s college basketball.
Many coaches draw inspiration from different levels of the sport, but Olson is particularly tuned in to the college game. She studies teams, watches players and pays attention to coaching styles that resonate with her.
Two of the players she admires most are Aubrey Galvan and Mikayla Blakes, both of whom represent the type of toughness and skill that Olson values in her own players. Both players, who play for the Vanderbilt Commodores, stand out to Olson for their scoring ability and fearless style of play. Watching athletes like these two players helps Olson think about how she can challenge her own players to be confident and aggressive on the court.
On the coaching side, Olson also looks to some of the most respected leaders in the women’s college game. She is particularly inspired by Shea Ralph, the head coach of Vanderbilt, and Kenny Brooks of Kentucky. Both coaches have built strong cultures within their programs, emphasizing toughness, trust and player development – qualities Olson hopes to replicate within her own team.
Following the college game allows her to bring fresh ideas into her gym. Whether it’s a defensive concept, an offensive action or simply the mentality a team plays with, Olson is constantly looking for ways to translate what she sees at the highest levels of women’s basketball into lessons for her players.
For Olson, coaching doesn’t stop when practice ends. Like many coaches, some of her best ideas come during the quiet moments away from the court. She has shared that many of her most creative thoughts arrive late at night, often just as she’s about to fall asleep.
It’s during those moments that she might think about a new drill, a lineup adjustment or a different way to communicate something to her team. Coaching is as much about reflection as it is about action. The best leaders are constantly thinking about how to improve their teams, and Olson is no exception.
Another element of Olson’s coaching philosophy is recognizing the qualities that don’t always show up on the stat sheet. After games, she awards what her team calls the “Moxie Player of the Game.” The honor isn’t necessarily given to the leading scorer or the player with the most highlights. Instead, it celebrates the athlete who demonstrated grit, effort and the kind of attitude that lifts a team.Sometimes that means diving on the floor for loose balls. Other times it might be a player who stepped up defensively, brought energy off the bench or showed leadership during a tough moment in the game.
By highlighting “moxie,” Olson reinforces the values she wants her program to represent – toughness, resilience and the willingness to do whatever it takes for the team. The award has quickly become something players take pride in, a symbol of the type of competitor Olson hopes every athlete in her program strives to be.
While wins and losses matter, Olson’s ultimate goal as a coach reaches far beyond the scoreboard. At Lexington Christian Academy, she is focused on helping young athletes grow as people. Basketball becomes a vehicle for teaching life skills – discipline, perseverance, communication and leadership.
Every practice, every film session and every game becomes an opportunity to reinforce those values. For players in her program, Olson isn’t just a coach. She is a mentor, someone who understands the pressures and challenges of being a student-athlete because she once lived them herself.
Women’s basketball continues to grow at every level – from youth leagues to high school gyms to sold-out arenas at the college and professional levels. Coaches like Jenna Olson play an important role in that growth. By developing young players and instilling a love for the game, she helps ensure that the next generation of athletes continues to push women’s basketball forward.
From her days as a player at Gordon College to her current role leading the program at Lexington Christian Academy, Olson’s journey reflects the enduring impact of the sport. As she continues to guide her team, one thing is certain: the passion that first brought her to basketball is the same passion she now passes on to every athlete who steps into her gym.