Former four-year letterwinner Carly Grenfell returned to the Drake University women’s basketball program as the new coordinator of basketball operations in Dec., 2016.
“I am ecstatic to welcome Carly back,” Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk said. “Her return is a testament to the way our alums feel about our program and Drake. She brings great energy, passion and bleeds blue. I am excited to work with her and we will make each other better.”
Grenfell appeared in 133 career games for Drake from 2010-15. She played in six games during the 2010-11 season before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Grenfell returned from the injury and played in 126 games over the next four seasons. She was one of Drake’s top shooters during her career with 144 three-pointers made. Grenfell was awarded the prestigious Missouri Valley Conference Service and Leadership award as a junior and was a four-time selection to the MVC Academic Honor Roll.
Grenfell graduated from Drake with a bachelor’s degree in business management with a public relations major in Dec., 2014. In May, 2017, she will receive her master’s degree in communication studies from Northern Arizona University where she worked as a graduate assistant in the NAU athletics communications department for three semesters. She served as the primary communications contact for the Lumberjacks’ women’s soccer and men’s and women’s tennis programs while assisting with duties for the department’s other programs and serving as a broadcaster for NAU women’s basketball games. Grenfell interned with the social media department of the LPGA in the summer of 2016.
“When opportunity knocks, there are certain times you just know you have to answer, and the chance to come back to Drake was definitely one of those times for me,” Grenfell said. “I am extremely excited to give back to the people who made my student-athlete experience such a special one. I hope my love and passion for this university and program makes a difference for them as they so graciously did for me. I am excited to work with our student-athletes and help make their experience here as special.”
