Priscilla Rickenbacker, also known as Coach P., is Commissioner of the Greater Providence Basketball League. She oversees all league operations including the management of 30 church teams within the city of Charlotte and serves approximately 500 youth, ages 4 – 18 each season.
With the prayers and support of the GPBC family, Athletic Directors of participating churches and dedicated coaches and staff, Coach P. has run a successful program for over ten years. The mission of the league is "strive to be more Christ-like, showing the Spirit of Jesus Christ, while bringing young people together to glorify God through an organized basketball program and competition." In addition to learning and playing basketball, youth learn important life lessons such as respect, responsibility, and self-discipline by participating in community service projects and informative field trips.
Although Coach P. is an accomplished athlete and has had meaningful experiences in the sports arena as a player and coach, accepting the assignment as commissioner of the league was a leap of faith.
As a player for North Carolina Wesleyan College where she earned All Region, All Conference, All Tournament and Most Valuable Player honors and the school’s first female athlete to be named an All- American by the American Women’s Sports Foundation. She was also inducted into North Carolina’s Wesleyan College Hall of Fame in for Basketball and Softball in 2008.
Coach P is a native of Charlotte NC and earned her bachelor’s degree in Physical Education in 1985 from North Carolina Wesleyan College. She went on to enjoy an impressive collegiate coaching career, serving as assistant women’s basketball coaches at institutions as Johnson C Smith University, the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay which, Loyola University Chicago, the University of Cincinnati and Appalachian State University.
Within the high school ranks, Coach P, was an assistant coach/ Head JV Coach at Kings Mountain HS, where she graduated from in 1979., She also brought notable success to North Gaston High School in Dallas NC as head women basketball coach from 1997-1999, During the 1997-98 season, she led the Wildcats to their first Conference Championship since 1977 with an overall record of 23-2. She then proceeded to earn Conference Coach of the Year accolades the following season. Coach P was also inducted into the Kings Mountain High School Hall of Fame in 2015.
Yet, accepting this assignment in 2008 was uncharted territory; Coach P. trusted and surrendered all to God. She has been and will forever be faithful! Since 2008, the league has grown every year on and off the court. Coach P. has watched youth grow from feeble to more developed athletes. More importantly, she has grown more spiritually with players, coaches, directors, and league staff. With great anticipation and faith, she looks forward to what God is going to do next with the league. To God be the Glory for what He has done and will do!
For more information regarding the league and off-the-court activities, email Coach P. at sportsministry@greaterprovidence.org.
