Meet Kirsten Eckerman, Blackhawk’s new Women’s Basketball coach.

Coach Eckerman is one of six new coaches at Blackhawk, supporting the college's new sports, including men’s golf, coed clay target shooting, women’s volleyball, coed bowling, and men’s and women’s basketball.

Originally from Ohio, Kirsten Eckerman attended Danville Local High School, where she was on the basketball, volleyball and softball teams and competed in track and field. 

Coach Eckerman brings a history of high athletic and academic achievement to her new role. She attended the College of Wooster, where she earned a degree in psychology, and Blackhawk Technical College for Nursing. Afterward, she attended Grand Canyon University and earned a Master’s in Nursing. During this time, she continued to play basketball and softball at the college level.

The time she spent as an ER and trauma nurse gives Coach Eckerman a heightened ability to thrive in high-pressure situations, something she has been able to apply to coaching. 

Her background also informs her approach to balancing academics and athletics.

“Academics come before athletics. Period. We will have a team meeting before the season starts and set a minimum GPA requirement that the team will agree upon. I would like to see that above the minimum NJCAA requirements. If needed, we will also develop the best way for study sessions and tutoring,” she said.

Student-athletes have a unique opportunity to use their passion for sports in their pursuits outside of athletics, and the character building that occurs on the court translates to their success as a member of a team in their chosen career path, she said. 

At the college level, Coach Eckerman focuses on development and improvement coming from the players' ability to work as a team. 

“I expect a lot from my players,” she said, “I expect integrity, work ethic, honesty, and respect from everyone on and off the court. Being a part of this team is more than just putting on a jersey and stepping onto the court. We are ambassadors of the college in the community. This is an exciting time and I'm honored to be a part of it!”

Information Session on Aug. 23

To learn more about the inaugural season of Talons basketball, there will be a Women’s Basketball Information Session on Friday, Aug. 23, from 4-5:30 p.m. in Room 2606 in the Central building on the Beloit-Janesville campus. For more information, contact Coach Kirsten Eckerman at keckerman@blackhawk.edu or (608) 743-4426.

Students interested in learning more about Blackhawk Athletics can visit blackhawk.edu/athletics or reach out to Athletic Director Nile Finney at athletics@blackhawk.edu.