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Along with serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator, she is in charge of the Dolphin guards after spending her first three seasons working with the post players. Last season, senior Crystal Bell had her best season as a Dolphin under Pennix’ s tutelage. Bell was named A-Sun Defensive Player of the Year (program first) and earned second team all-conference accolades after posting a single-season school-record 84 steals. She finished her two-year stint at JU fifth all-time in steals with 139. She also led the Dolphins in scoring (13.1) and blocks (32), while ranking second in rebounds (7.2). Bell scored double-digits 25 times, including 17 of the first 19 games. She finished the year with five double-doubles as well. In 2010-11, GiGi Thomas, Ashanti Williams and Crystal Bell each were key players at the guard position. Thomas finished second on the team in scoring (10.3 ppg), three-pointers (27) and assists (48), while taking third in steals (35) and blocks (17). She also recorded doubles doubles vs. Wake Forest (12 pts., 10 rebs., 12/17) and Mercer (14 pts., 11 rebs., 1/24). Williams had double-figures in scoring off the bench on seven occasions, including hitting the 20-point barrier three times. Bell finished tied for fifth on the single-season list in steals (55), while also scoring 21 points in the opener at USF – the most by a Dolphin in their debut at JU. In 2009-10, the Dolphins finished third in the A-Sun in steals (288), including 10 or more steals in 12 contests. Pennix was also instrumental in helping Thomas and Williams to solid seasons in the Dolphins backcourt. Thomas scored in double figures in her final four games, including a season-high 23 points and two blocks in the A-Sun Tournament win over Campbell. Williams finished second in three-point percentage (.268) and assists (56). She also recorded double-digits in scoring in four straight games (1/14-23) which included a career-best 17 points in the overtime win against UNF (1/18). In 2008-09, she helped senior guards Regina Omoite, DaVina Hamilton and Virginia Gregiore cap their careers as the best front-court players in school history. Hamilton posted a team-high 10.0 points per game and 63 steals – which is third on the single-season list. She also ranked second with 95 assists, while Gregiore was second in points per game (9.5). Omoite broke her own single-season record with a team-high 154 assists and finished second on the squad with 56 steals. In the career record books, Gregiore finished second in scoring with 1,345 points, while Omoite took fifth with 1,027 points. The trio also ended their careers ranked in the top three spots in steals and assists, as well as, the top five in minutes played. From 2005-08, Pennix helped develop forward Ashley Williams into one of the most dominant forces in the A-Sun and arguably the best player in program history. As a senior, Williams notched program records for points (1,489), field goals made (579) and blocks (128) while earning first team all-conference honors, A-Sun All-Tournament team and preseason Player of the Year accolades. As a junior, Williams surpassed her own program record with 509 points as she earned first team all-conference honors for the second consecutive season. As a sophomore, Williams set a previous program record with 478 points and became only the second Dolphin to earn first team all-conference honors. Pennix also worked with a group of underclassmen post players (Crystal Grable, Danielle Gray, Desarae Johnson and Lynsey Paschal) who have combined to help the Dolphins achieve the No. 1 spot in the 2007-08 Preseason Coaches Poll, votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Top-25 Poll, back-to-back 20-win seasons and the sixth best turnaround in the nation in two seasons. Among the new single-season records accomplished by the Dolphins in 2008-09 were blocks (126) and rebounds (1,210). Grable enjoyed the most improved season by tallying career bests in every category, including ranking second on the squad with a career-high 24 blocked shots. Prior to JU, she served two years as an assistant at Coastal Carolina, where she assisted in all aspects of the program and also served as the recruiting coordinator. In two years with the Chanticleers, Pennix helped lead the squad to a pair of Big South Conference Tournament appearances and was responsible for restructuring the 2004-05 team after graduating their entire starting lineup the previous year. Her top recruit, Kim Turner, was named second team All-Big South after leading the Lady Chants with 13.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per contest this past year. Pennix joined the Coastal Carolina staff in 2003 after spending four years as an assistant coach at her alma-mater, High Point University, where she served as travel coordinator, developed and monitored strength and conditioning programs and assisted in recruiting. During her tenure at High Point, she helped the Panthers improve their record from 6-22 in 1999-00 to an 18-12 mark the following year and advance to the Big South Conference Championship Game against Liberty. She has also served as a collegiate camp clinician at Wake Forest, Appalachian State, High Point and Coastal Carolina during her career. A four-year letterwinner at High Point from 1995-99, Pennix led the Panthers to a pair of Carolina-Virginia Athletic Conference Tournament titles and an appearance in the NCAA Division II East Regional Elite Eight in 1996. She earned Carolina-Virginia Athletic Conference Rookie-of-the-Year accolades in 1995 and was also named CVAC All-Tournament in 1995 and 1996. As a senior, Pennix served as team captain and was later named the Panther's Most Valuable Player. She finished her career ranked seventh in the Panther record book with career 1,457 points. In the summer of 2008, Pennix revived her playing career by joining the Jacksonville Cougars of the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League (WBCBL) for a season. A native of Elon, N.C., Pennix earned her bachelor's degree in physical education and recreation in 1999. |
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