A feature on Jillian Humphrey for Black History Month.

Building a program from the ground up is not unlike the creation of a story. Vast possibility spans the open space of blank pages, needing someone to put their pen to paper. That is what Jillian Humphrey is doing while treading in previously uncharted territory as the first STUNT head coach at Saint Mary's.

"It's exciting to be the first to do something and be able to start something that will continue long after I leave," said Humphrey. "It is even more impactful to realize that whatever our inaugural team accomplishes will only be the foundation of what's to come. It has been both challenging and exciting to find athletes who have the heart and skill to be part of a first-year program, as it takes a special young woman to be willing to take on the challenge of building something from the ground up. Next year's STUNT team will be able to be a part of so many firsts of their own, and I can't wait to see what team one accomplishes."

Part of the opportunity ahead for Humphrey also lies in her representation as a Black woman at a primarily white institution while adding to the growing number of Black women coaching at the NCAA level. According to the most recent NCAA Demographics Database, two percent of head coaches were Black women in 2023. Humphrey not only joins the Saint Mary's Department of Athletics as the first head coach in STUNT program history, but she also is the first Black woman to hold the title of head coach for any Belles program. The impact of both of those firsts is not lost on her.

"Representation in athletics – especially at a predominantly white institution – means a connection and an unspoken understanding with Black athletes and students. By joining the coaching staff, I am able to become another person that Black women and minorities on campus can feel comfortable enough to be themselves around. I am one more person they can feel comfortable sharing with. I am another person they can see embracing all sides of their personality – from how I chose to wear my hair, how I decide to dress, and the way I talk."

She also sees the opportunity she has to infuse the athletic department and College with more student-athletes of a variety of backgrounds and experiences while building from the common foundation of the love for competing and for the love STUNT.

"I love being a coach because sport truly does bring people together. You're forced to work with people who you initially share only one commonality with – love for the sport. I've always been fortunate enough to be on teams and go to schools that I consider diverse. I plan on making it my mission to create a diverse team with Saint Mary's STUNT. I intentionally plan to recruit athletes from many different backgrounds and body shapes. The discussions and questions that stem from inclusive environments are like no other. You're able to dispel prejudices and create a space where questions can be asked and answered in a respectful way."

While she may be the first STUNT coach and first Black woman head coach at Saint Mary's, she knows it is just the beginning of an opportunity she has to lead the way for other Black women to become the firsts of their futures.

"I'm proud to be making history in the sport and at Saint Mary's," added Humphrey. "I hope to inspire young women like myself to go after positions of leadership and to be those women of color in a role they have never seen before."

Soon, the narrative will take its full shape as the Belles are on course to begin competition in STUNT next academic year. The pages will no longer be blank as the story opens on chapter one. Under Humphrey's leadership, it will undoubtedly prove to be a page-turner.