Jennifer Gillom
Encyclopedia
Jennifer "Grandmama" Gillom (born June 13, 1964 in Abbeville, Mississippi
) is a former WNBA basketball
player who played for the Phoenix Mercury
from 1997
to 2002
. Gillom was formerly the head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks
of the WNBA
.
Gillom played college basketball in the University of Mississippi
and helped the United States Basketball Team
to a gold medal in women's basketball in the 1988 Summer Olympics
. Gillom signed with the Mercury in 1996
where she was All-WNBA in 1998
and won the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award
in her final season.
Gillom was the head coach of the Xavier College Preparatory
High School basketball team in Phoenix, Arizona
in 2006. Starting in the 2008 season, Gillom served as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Lynx
. In June 2009, she was named head coach of the team. She succeeded Don Zierden, who resigned to accept an assistant coaching job under Flip Saunders
of the Washington Wizards
.
In 2009, Gillom was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
, located in Knoxville, Tennessee
.
Gillom was named, along with Doug Bruno
, as an assistant coach to the 2010 USA Basketball Women's World Championship Team
WNBA Career Averages
Abbeville, Mississippi
-Education:The Town of Abbeville is served by the Lafayette County School District.The University of Mississippi also owns and operates the University of Mississippi Field Station, which is located in Abbeville. It is a natural laboratory used to study, research and teach about sustainable...
) is a former WNBA basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who played for the Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
from 1997
1997 in sports
1997 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Luc Alphand, France** Women's overall season champion: Pernilla Wiberg, Sweden-American football:...
to 2002
2002 in sports
2002 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Stephan Eberharter, Austria** Women's overall season champion: Michaela Dorfmeister, Austria-American football:...
. Gillom was formerly the head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
of the WNBA
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
.
Gillom played college basketball in the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
and helped the United States Basketball Team
Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics took place at the Jamsil Gymnasium in Seoul, South Korea. The United States won the gold medal in the women's competition, thus repeating their performance from the 1984 tournament. In the men's tournament, the Soviet Union took home their second gold medal in...
to a gold medal in women's basketball in the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
. Gillom signed with the Mercury in 1996
1996 in sports
1996 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Lasse Kjus, Norway** Women's overall season champion: Katja Seizinger, Germany-American football:...
where she was All-WNBA in 1998
1998 in sports
1998 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Hermann Maier, Austria** Women's overall season champion: Katja Seizinger, Germany-American football:...
and won the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award
Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award
The Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award is an annual Women's National Basketball Association award given since the league's inaugural season, to the player who most "exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court—ethical behavior, fair play and integrity." This is the same criterion used by the...
in her final season.
Gillom was the head coach of the Xavier College Preparatory
Xavier College Preparatory
Xavier College Preparatory is a Catholic, all-female private high school in Phoenix, Arizona. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, drawing students from 120 local schools and transfer students from around the world.-History:...
High School basketball team in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
in 2006. Starting in the 2008 season, Gillom served as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Lynx
Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1999 season...
. In June 2009, she was named head coach of the team. She succeeded Don Zierden, who resigned to accept an assistant coaching job under Flip Saunders
Flip Saunders
Phillip "Flip" Saunders is an American basketball head coach of the Washington Wizards. He previously coached the Detroit Pistons and the Minnesota Timberwolves.-High school and college player:Saunders was born in Cincinnati, Ohio....
of the Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
.
In 2009, Gillom was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame honors men and women who have contributed to the sport of women's basketball. The Hall of Fame opened in 1999 in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA...
, located in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
.
Gillom was named, along with Doug Bruno
Doug Bruno
Doug Bruno is the head coach of the DePaul Blue Demons women's basketball team. In 2008–09, he completed his 23rd season as head coach. In 2007, Bruno completed a two-year term as President of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, a position to which he was elected by his peers...
, as an assistant coach to the 2010 USA Basketball Women's World Championship Team
Career statistics
WNBA Career Totals| Year | Team | G | GS | MIN | FGM | FGA | FTM | FTA | 3PTM | 3PTA | REB | AST | STL | TO | BLK | PTS |
| 1997 | PHX | 28 | 28 | 874 | 163 | 376 | 94 | 121 | 20 | 65 | 151 | 21 | 37 | 58 | 15 | 440 |
| 1998 | PHX | 30 | 30 | 962 | 228 | 492 | 137 | 195 | 31 | 82 | 219 | 42 | 50 | 89 | 10 | 624 |
| 1999 | PHX | 32 | 32 | 1,095 | 163 | 428 | 141 | 177 | 18 | 72 | 184 | 54 | 37 | 87 | 7 | 485 |
| 2000 | PHX | 30 | 30 | 826 | 139 | 316 | 79 | 106 | 19 | 69 | 116 | 45 | 21 | 59 | 29 | 376 |
| 2001 | PHX | 32 | 32 | 858 | 150 | 355 | 71 | 96 | 24 | 70 | 127 | 35 | 31 | 71 | 19 | 395 |
| 2002 | PHX | 31 | 31 | 874 | 166 | 400 | 105 | 131 | 36 | 93 | 116 | 37 | 29 | 61 | 21 | 473 |
| 2003 | LA | 33 | 10 | 397 | 40 | 97 | 16 | 21 | 7 | 26 | 55 | 21 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 103 |
| Totals | 216 | 193 | 5,886 | 1,049 | 2,464 | 643 | 847 | 155 | 477 | 968 | 255 | 221 | 434 | 104 | 2,896 |
WNBA Career Averages
| Year | Team | MIN | FG% | FT% | 3PT% | REB | AST | STL | TO | BLK | PTS |
| 1997 | PHX | 31.2 | .434 | .777 | .308 | 5.4 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 15.7 |
| 1998 | PHX | 32.1 | .463 | .703 | .378 | 7.3 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 20.8 |
| 1999 | PHX | 34.2 | .381 | .797 | .250 | 5.8 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 15.2 |
| 2000 | PHX | 27.5 | .440 | .745 | .275 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 12.5 |
| 2001 | PHX | 26.8 | .423 | .740 | .343 | 4.0 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 12.3 |
| 2002 | PHX | 28.2 | .415 | .802 | .387 | 3.7 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 15.3 |
| 2003 | LA | 12.0 | .412 | .762 | .269 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 3.1 |
| Totals | 27.3 | .426 | .759 | .325 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 13.4 |