Betsy Specketer

Coming off her second consecutive NJCAA National Tournament with the Bruins, Betsy Specketer rolls into her 12th year as head coach  with a 253-106 overall record, making her the winningest coach in school history. Taking the program to its heights, Specketer thrives on “doing the right things right.” That she has done and continues to do as she heads into the  2007-08  season optimistic for the Bruins to be in the mix come mid-March.

Specketer began her career at SLCC as an assistant from 1994-1996 under then head coach Monica Starrett. After one year as interim coach, she moved into her current position, taking over the reigns of an already successful program. Maintaining that success is what Specketer has done as she has guided her teams to two Scenic West Athletic Conference championships ,  two Region 18 Tournament Championships , four Region 18 Tournament runner-up finishes, two 2nd place and five 3rd place SWAC finishes. In 2005-2006 she guided the Bruins to their first ever NJCAA tournament appearance and a 12th place finish.  This past season, she led the Bruins to a repeat National Tournament appearance and an Elite Eight finish.

Specketer has coached eleven 1st Team All-Conference players, thirteen 2nd Team All-Conference players, six NJCAA All-Americans, three SWAC Conference MVPs, and five WBCA All-Americans. On top of her team’s successes, Specketer garnered the Region 18 Coach of the Year award in 1996-1997, 2001-2002, and 2006-07, a WBCA Region 7 Coach of the Year in 2000-2001 and an NJCAA District M Coach of the Year in 2005-06 and 2006-07 .

During her tenure at SLCC her teams have shown as much commitment in the classroom as they have on the court.  Not only are her teams’ graduation records enviable, but their grades are as well.  In every semester for eight consecutive years, SLCC Women’s Basketball has had a team grade point average above 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.  Six of her teams have finished as one of the top ten Academic teams in the nation in the National Junior College Athletic Association and eight of her teams have finished in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Academic Top Ten. Two of her teams (1999-2000, 2002-2003) were named as the WBCA Academic Team of the year, finishing with the nation’s top cumulative team GPA.  Star players have been star scholars as well.  Over the last nine years, 18 players have been recognized as Academic All-Americans, 17 players have been recognized as Distinguished Academic All-Americans, and 52 players have been named to the Scenic West Athletic Conference All-Academic team.

Specketer, originally from Havana, Illinois, played basketball and softball at Illinois State University in Normal, IL, earning her bachelor’s degree in 1981.  She later earned her Master’s Degree in Sports Administration from ISU in 1991.   

Bruin Assistant Coach Valerie Rodel, a 1997 graduate of Weber State University, begins her 11th season at Salt Lake Community College.

A vital ingredient to the success of Lady Bruin basketball, Rodel’s responsibilities involve a variety of different areas within the Bruin program. As recruiting coordinator, she is responsible for all on and off-campus recruitment of prospective student-athletes. In addition, she is responsible for the on-court development of the perimeter players and assists in coordinating the Lady Bruin’s offense and defense, as well as, scouting and film breakdown.

In addition to her coaching responsibilities, she also serves as the Academic Advisor for the entire Bruin Athletic program.  In this role, she is available to every SLCC student-athlete, nearly 100 total, to assist them with career counseling and choice of major, class scheduling, tutoring and study sessions, eligibility, graduation requirements, and transfer information. Her efforts have been reflected in the overall success of Bruin athletes as students, where in her eight years as Academic Advisor, SLCC’s Athletic Department has honored 51 Distinguished Academic All-Americans,  95  Academic All-Americans, and 218 Scenic West Athletic Conference All-Academic Team recipients.

At Weber State University, she was a four year starting forward for the Wildcats where she showed her dedication as a student as well by being named to the Big Sky Athletic Conference All-Academic Team in both her junior and senior years. The consummate team player, she currently ranks 6th in career steals, 7th in career assists, and 10th in career blocks in the Wildcat record books.

Originally from Idaho Falls, ID the former Valerie Sorenson is married to Mark Rodel, a Weber State alumnus and former tennis player. They are the proud parents of four year old Luke and and two year old Kate. Together they enjoy playing with their children, reading, biking, and relaxing at their family cabin in Island Park, ID.

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