Most importantly, I’m an independent-thinking woman who has a strong faith and believes Jesus loves all of us. I’ve been married to my husband for 27 years and he’s coached high school basketball and football for 16 of those years. We have a grown and flown son, Chris, who is 25 years old. He played basketball and football for my husband, graduating from Texas Tech after playing a year of football at Mary Hardin Baylor. Our twin daughters are 14-year-old rising freshmen. Camille is a competitive gymnast and Caroline plays volleyball and runs track. I work for Frost Bank as the commercial development manager in fair and responsible banking. I spend my days and evenings cheering for my family and Baylor. I write for online publications and am currently working on my memoir.
What is your favorite part of this lifestyle?-
Watching my husband lead and guide the young men he coaches and works with every day. I also enjoy listening to his stories — the funny and the bittersweet.
What is your LEAST favorite part of this lifestyle?
- The fans and parents who don’t understand the game and make hard-to-hear comments about my husband and the other coaches. I try to ignore it and tell our daughters to not pay attention. But no matter how high we go up in the stands, the words do hurt sometimes. Plus I want to jump to his defense — which is not the answer.
What is one item you can't live without that makes this life easier?
- Our calendar. With all the comings and goings of our girls, we have to stay on top of the schedule.
What is your go to concession stand order or must have snack?
- Nachos with loads of Rico’s cheese and of course, jalapeños!
What is the craziest thing you have survived due to this lifestyle?
- When the girls were a few months old and my son was in seventh grade, we loaded up for the homecoming game that season. The weather turned colder than we expected so the girls and I left. I got them situated in their cribs and then remembered I would need to go back and get my son. I loaded them back into our suburban and cried the entire time. It was in that moment I realized I needed help at the games, keep blankets in the car and wouldn’t leave without my son.
What is one thing you would go back and tell your younger self?
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Yes, it’s important to go to games but it’s even more important to support in other ways such as listening and not making comments about the time spent at school and games. Also, the outfits you and your children wear to the games are important but really not that important. No one cares what you wear but they do pay attention to how you react to situations.
Connect with Jill on Instagram @baylorgirl90.
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