GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) — Quistelle Williams is returning home to Ottawa Hills High School, her alma mater, as the new varsity girls basketball coach.
“I love Ottawa Hills. I’ve been trying to get back here. I now have that opportunity,” Coach Q said. “I’m excited to instill what has been instilled into me into the girls.”
Her goal is to help restore the tradition of girls’ basketball at Ottawa Hills.
“I am looking to give them a fresh start, remind the city how good women’s basketball used to be here at Ottawa, and just give it all I got,” Coach Q exclaimed.
She explained that basketball was an important outlet while growing up.
“Basketball got me through everything,” she said. “It helped me basically become the person I am today. It got me out of a lot of tough situations. It was more so like my therapy as a kid. It’s my first love and I honestly still love it today.”
After high school, she received multiple offers to continue her playing career – ultimately deciding on the University of Arkansas. After her playing career, she returned to West Michigan and began coaching. She has coached at Union High School, Grand Rapids Community College, and multiple travel basketball organizations.
“I’m looking for players that are hard-working, don’t mind hitting the floor,” she said. “I want them to practice just as hard as they will play a game. They’re going to have to pick each other up.”
Williams also plans to emphasize success in the classroom.
“You’ve got to be a student before you can be an athlete,” she said. “If you work hard at basketball, you work hard in the classroom, you get results.”
Her message for the Ottawa Hills community is simple: “Go Bengals!”
Join Coach Q at Ottawa Hills for open gym sessions to prepare for the upcoming season.
