Dena Noble has never been able to forget the feeling of being on a winning team.
That adrenaline rush of hitting the basketball court is still a draw for Noble, who was recently named head coach of the Lincoln Girls Basketball Team. She wants to provide that feeling to a new generation of players.
“I’m looking forward to getting the nostalgic feeling,” Noble said. “I love that feeling, that adrenaline rush especially on game day. I can’t wait to see the girls take what was taught to them and watch it play out.”
Noble, the Ellwood native, is no stranger to the court. Her love for basketball began at a young age when her parents put a hoop up. She started playing officially in 7th grade and continued through college when she was recruited by Westminster for an academic and athletic scholarship where she earned a bachelors in mathematics and computer science. Noble then continued her education earning her teaching certificate from Robert Morris as well as a Master’s in educational leadership and her principal certification from Duquesne.
Although she loved her time on the college court, Noble’s heart belongs on the Lincoln court where she hopes to resurrect the glory days of her time. She said although the girls have recently made playoff appearances, the last time the Lincoln girls won a playoff game was when she and her team were WPIAL finalists in 1995. She and her sister, Jolene Krupa, were part of the most successful girls basketball program in the school’s history from 1993-1995.
“We want to rewrite history, and do it again,” she said.
Noble is experienced in coaching and teaching youth. For the past 16 years she has been a math teacher at Lincoln. When she is not teaching and coaching, she enjoys exercise and weight lifting and spending time with her husband of 19 years and her two children, Jase 13 and Claire 15.
Her belief is that success in life and on the court boils down to hard work.
“I always tell my players you might not be the most talented or the most gifted person on that court, but anyone can be the most competitive,” Noble said. “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
Noble said she decided to apply for the position because she was seeing a rapid change in coaches. She said there were four different coaches over a five-year span.
“It’s hard to be successful with that many changes in coaches,” Noble said. “I love this program and I don’t want to see it falter. Some of my best memories of my life are playing on that court. I want my daughter, my niece, my students to have those same memories. We want that for these girls.”
Noble’s sister, Krupa, was the head coach of the team from 2011-2016 when Noble served as her assistant coach. The pair built the program back up, but had to take a step back to juggle family time. This time around Krupa will be the assistant coach.
Noble will also be working with Paul Hervatine, JV assistant who has been with the program for past 5 years and Heidi Feltrop, volunteer assistant. She believes this coaching team will be one of the keys to success.
“There will never be another group of people who care more about success of the players off and on the court,” she said.
According to Noble, she is most looking forward to just getting back to it and giving it 100%.
“I love to play it, I love to coach it,” she said. “The best part will be seeing the joy and excitement of the players.”
I am happy to see that Ellwood hired one of their former Students. Do not see that often in Ellwood!!