Coach Jill Prudden
For those of us in and around the Oak Ridge area, the name Jill Prudden is synonymous with Oak Ridge High School girls basketball. Coach Prudden grew up in Michigan and graduated from Michigan State University before finding a permanent home here in East Tennessee. She said spending some summers here and realizing the great change of seasons this area hosts played a part in her reasoning to apply for and accept the ORHS coaching position, beginning in the 1978-1979 school year.
It must have been fate for her to come to Oak Ridge at exactly the right time when the transition was being made from half court to a five on five girls’ basketball game. Having no previous experience with the half court game, she was a perfect fit for ORHS and made it a smooth conversion. Coach Prudden’s favorite memories include the people she has met, the coaches she has worked with, and the administration. But, none of that could overshadow the memories she has made with her “kids”.
Coach Prudden has watched the new players come in, seemingly with a long process of maturity before them, then experience them growing up to graduate and become successful, contributing citizens in this community and others. Among those she could use as an example of remarkable memories is Nikki Caldwell, current head coach at UCLA. Nikki was a basketball standout at both ORHS and the University of Tennessee. In addition, Jennifer Azzi, former Stanford All-American and Olympian is one of Coach Prudden’s former players.
Thankful for Dr. Cletus McMahon & Orthopaedic Surgeons of Oak Ridge’s involvement, Coach Prudden wanted to be sure to mention Dr. McMahon’s affiliation with Oak Ridge High School’s sports programs over the years. She is grateful for his compassionate responses and valuable time given to her, her family, and the players all these years.
Coach Prudden plans to continue to be a part of the community, teaching physical education to fifth through eighth graders at Robertsville Middle School, and supporting the high school and team she loves. As coach, she will be missed, but she won’t be far away and we will always have the amazing memories she has helped to provide through the years. We can count ourselves thankful she chose Oak Ridge as her adopted home.
Congratulations to the newly hired head coach, former assistant coach and former ORHS standout, David Scott. Orthopaedic Surgeons of Oak Ridge wish Coach Scott the best of luck and our support in the coming years.
