Coach Donita Adams is in her first season at Watkins Mill. She is one of the best young coaches in the area and is looking to build a solid Montgomery county program. Coach Adams answered a few questions for 695Hoops.com. 



695: Where did you grow up?

Coach: I grew up in Germantown, MD in Montgomery County.

695: Did you play any sports growing up?

Coach: Yes. I started officially playing in sport leagues at the age of 7 with the Olney Boys and Girls Club. I competed with girls and boys that were older than me. My mother put me in all types of sports to make me more versatile, soccer, t-ball, basketball, and cheerleading.

As I grew older, I venture out to try different sports. I ran track, tennis, and softball. I knew that basketball was my passion and first love but when you’re an athlete you don’t limit yourself.

695: How did you get into coaching?

Coach: I was fortunate to have been coached by some amazing coaches that inspired my coaching philosophy. Being a coach provides you the opportunity to not only coach but to teach, mentor, lead, and guide. God revealed my purpose to me at an early age and it took me some years to pursue it to the fullest. When it became evident that my basketball playing career was concluding, I vowed to pass on the blessing and knowledge I retain throughout my career to the next generation.

695: Talk about your coaching career...

Coach: My first coaching job was with Damascus High School. While as a player, I had the opportunity to assist the head coach in coaching during the summer camps. At which time, I fell in love with coaching because it came natural to me. For the next two summer till I graduated I coached the camps and successfully won championships each year. My coaching career continued for a few years at Damascus as I was given the task to coach their Varsity Summer and fall league teams.

 In 2012, I accepted a Head Coaching job at Salem International University. During my tenure, I was able to reduce the defensive margin in half from the previous year and increased the number of wins. I decided to resign from coaching collegiate basketball and join the United States Army National Guard as a Chaplain Assistant. Most importantly, to fulfill my purpose in coaching youth basketball. Currently, I’m the Head Varsity Coach at Watkins Mill High School in Gaithersburg, MD.

I’m also an owner of Truth Basketball, LLC a personal basketball training business to teach, coach and mentor the youth.

695: Who has been the biggest influence on your coaching style and philosophy?

Coach: I developed a coaching style and philosophy from Coach Harold, my college coach and Coach Steele my AAU coach. I took a lot of what those two taught me about connecting with players, planning preparation and standards along with expectations.  

695: What is your biggest pet peeve as a coach?

Coach: There are an abundance of pet peeves that I have but my number one would be when a player doubts their ability especially when they utter the words I CAN’T.

695: What do you think about the state of girls basketball in this area?

Coach: Over the years, there has been a drastic decline is female participation in sports. There has also been a lack of efficient player development throughout the Montgomery county area causing the level of completion in the area to decline. I’m blessed to be back coaching in the area to help rejuvenate the basketball culture.  

695: Talk about this year's team....

Coach: This year’s team will be completely different team from last year. We have to confirm the players to believe in the system and believe in themselves. The girls are fully capable of doing good things this season. This year is all about player development and rebuilding a new culture.  

695: What challenges do you anticipate in building the program?

Coach: Despite knowing the struggles I will face when taking over the girls basketball program at Watkins Mill, the primary challenge is building confidence in the ladies and making them believe in themselves. We have some really talented players and my job is to make them believe mentally and physically that they can be great individually and collectively as a team.

695: What else do you do besides coach?

Coach: I’m a member of the United States Army National Guard as a Chaplain Assistant just recently named Religious Affairs Specialist. In addition, I teach in Montgomery County Public Schools as a Paraeducator. In my spare time, I spend quality time with my family, go to church and train youth basketball. 



Coach Adams at the DC Girls Middle School Showcase