Grace Whelan returning to where her journey started as new East Lansing girls basketball coach
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Grace Whelan has always had a drive and passion to teach people.
It's part of why she initially set out to be a math teacher.
Whelan's mission has been focused on helping others, just as she was helped during her childhood growing up in East Lansing.
And now she will have a chance to give back at her alma mater after being hired as East Lansing's girls basketball coach.
Whelan takes over the varsity job for her former coach, Rob Smith, who stepped down after a decorated run leading the Trojans that included nearly 400 victories 18 league titles, 13 district championships, 10 regional titles and a state championship.
Whelan, a 2013 East Lansing graduate, was part of several of those wins during a four-year varsity career that included being part of the Trojans' Class A state championship team in 2010.
"East Lansing has meant a lot to me," Whelan said. "It's always fun to go back and work at the place that's taught you so much and helped me grow as a person.
"When I got the call that I actually got the job, I was pretty excited and pretty enthusiastic about it."
The head role at East Lansing is the first varsity job for Whelan, who spent last season coaching Holt's freshman team. Whelan also coached at the middle school level and had a stint as a junior varsity assistant at East Lansing.
The 27-year old Whelan, who played at Saginaw Valley, hopes her youth and enthusiasm can help as she replaces Smith. Whelan takes over a Trojan program coming off back-to-back Division 1 state quarterfinal appearances.
"East Lansing is just a really high-caliber program," Whelan said. "With any program I think that's intimidating to walk into. I think having the history of playing for (Smith) and just being in the East Lansing community, it kind of smooths that transition a little bit. I'm still going to be hitting the ground running as we move forward."
ELHS is excited to welcome Trojan alum Grace Whelan as our new Girls Varsity basketball coach! She brings extensive basketball knowledge and great passion for the game and will continue the Trojan Tradition of Excellence.
Welcome home, Coach Whelan! pic.twitter.com/8nuDUInrWG— East Lansing Trojans (@eltrojans) May 23, 2022
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Grace Whelan tabbed new East Lansing girls basketball coach
