What do Michael Jordan, Carl Lewis, Jackie Joyner-Kersey and Kamie Ethridge have in common?

What don’t they have in common?

Wait, who’s Kamie Ethridge?

All of the aforementioned athletes have won a Gold Medal in the Olympics, but only one, Kamie Ethridge, is in DeKalb.

Yes, right here in the corn fields of DeKalb, NIU has a Gold Medal winner.

Kamie Ethridge is the new Graduate Assistant on the women’s basketball coaching staff. Ethridge was a member of the United States 1988 Olympic Gold Medal-winning women’s basketball team, something that she will never forget.

“Women athletes grow up dreaming of the Olympics since there is no NBA,” Ethridge said. “It was absolutely a dream come true—the highlight of my career.”

Before the Olympics, Ethridge played four years at the University of Texas-Austin (1982-86), in which she led the Lady Longhorns to a perfect 36-0 record and an NCAA Championship her senior year. Playing point guard, Ethridge was named the Most Valuable Player of the championship game and was later given the 1986 Broderick Cup, signifying her as the nation’s top female student athlete. She was selected three times to the All-Southeast Conference team and still holds 14 Texas individual, career and season records. Ethridge closed her collegiate career averaging 6.3 points, 5.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game.

The list continues on Ethridge’s accomplishments. In 1985-86, she was named Kodak All-America and in 1986 she was a Naismith All-America and recipient of the Francis Pomeroy Niasmith Award. Ethridge received her bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1987 after a year as women’s basketball student coach at Texas (1986-87). After graduation, Ethridge played professional basketball for OECE of the Italian Basketball League (1988-89). She decided not to return to Italy despite the high salary and high competitive play.

“It was a very competitive league,” Ethridge said. “I had a little knee trouble and some team complications.”

This brings up perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Ethridge’s career. In 1987, Ethridge competed in the Pan American Games and in the process, tore up her knee. She went through reconstructive knee surgery and thought her hopes were gone.

“I went through reconstructive surgery thinking my dreams would be out the window,” Ethridge said. “But God blessed my rehabilitation.”

Ethridge went on to play for the Olympic team despite her setback. That feat describes Kamie Ethridge. She’s a competitor, to say the least.

When Coach Jane Albright heard through a friend that Ethridge wanted to come back from Italy and be a graduate assistant, she jumped at the chance.

“The whole thing is a dream come true for us,” Albright said. “I didn’t know her, but I knew she was interested in coaching and her accomplishments.”

The NIU administration opened up another coaching position which allowed Ethridge to come here. So far, Ethridge has been busy on and off the court.

On the court, Ethridge has been instrumental to the guards. She helps the team with ball-handling, defensive skills and overall vision of the court. Even at this early stage of the season, the guards are reaping the benefits of Ethridge and her knowledge.

“I can’t even put into words how much I’ve learned from her and her knowledge of the game,” point guard Denise Dove said. “She is what I would call an expert. She’s just really going to help the team. She’s been there—that’s awesome.”

Off the court, Ethridge does some scouting, speaking and organizational paper work. She’s doing even more paper work in the class room.

Ethridge is currently enrolled in the Sports Management program. She plans to use her experience at NIU to help her in her future plans.

Speaking of the future, Ethridge is a little unsure. She said that she might want to go on and be one of the top coaches in the nation.

“I think I might want to coach on the college level,” Ethridge said. “Maybe, I will get back to the University of Texas. For right now, I want to learn how to be a good assistant coach and create and maintain a top college program.”

NIU and Albright are a good place to start for Ethridge, because she recognized that the program is on an upswing, much to the credit of Albright.

“Jane has many strengths,” Ethridge said. “She turned the program around. She’s a tremendous recruiter and a well-rounded person. I’m learning a lot from her—she deserves all the credit in the world.”

As for playing again, Ethridge said that it’s not a priority right now.

“No, I don’t plan on it right now,” Ethridge said. “I have no desire right now, but who knows.”

And knowing what Kamie Ethridge has already accomplished, anything is possible.