Jenny Kenesie returns to the Rangers for her ninth season as head coach. She quickly moved up in rank after being the team’s top assistant coach during the 2001-2002 season.
Last year, Kenesie led the Rangers to the most successful season in school history by finishing 23-8 and returning to the NCAA Tournament for just the second time ever. The Rangers won the school’s first basketball division championship and advanced to the title game of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament. Parkside won five games against teams that reached the NCAA Midwest Regional to go with three victories against nationally ranked teams. Her career mark now stands at 126-102 (.553); the highest win percentage ever for a Parkside coach.
Last year’s squad was among the nation’s leaders in multiple categories; finishing in the top 36 in the country in nine of the 17 ranked statistical categories. The team was ranked fourth in the nation in field goal percentage (47.7%); the highest percentage in school history. They also finished 11th in the country in rebounding margin (+8.7 rpg); the third time in the last four years they’ve finished in the top 11 in that category. The squad also set school records in free throws made, free throws attempted, and most rebounds in a season.
In 2008-2009, despite fielding one of the youngest squads in the conference she led the Rangers to the second-best season in school history finishing the campaign with an 18-10 overall record. The Rangers put together a school-record 10-game winning streak and finished second in the GLVC Eastern Division with a 14-4 league mark; the best conference winning percentage in program history. She recorded her 100th career win on February 7th, 2009 with a 72-70 overtime win at Kentucky Wesleyan.
The ’08-’09 squad allowed the fewest rebounds per game in the country (28.3) en route to finishing seventh in the nation in rebounding margin (+8.7). The Rangers also finished 18th in the nation in free throw percentage and 26th in team field goal percentage. The team finished second in the GLVC in scoring defense allowing just 62.8 points per game.
This followed a breakthrough year in 2007-2008 when the Rangers got back to the GLVC Tournament while amassing 17 wins, now the third-most in school history. The team recorded four victories over NCAA Tournament teams including a late season, 21-point come-from-behind victory at then division leader, Indianapolis. The 2007-2008 squad finished among the country’s leaders in free throw percentage (fourth), three-point percentage (14th), and turnovers per game (21st); setting school records in both shooting categories.
In just her third season as head coach, the Rangers posted the best record in school history finishing with a 20-12 record. The Rangers finished third in the Great Lakes Valley Conference which marked the best finish in conference play for UW-Parkside in school history (14-6). The squad earned a bid for the Division II NCAA tournament for the first time in school history.
Kenesie has coached the top three all-time scorers in UW-Parkside history in Sammy Kromm, Carrie Weir, and Amanda Gibson Kromm led the nation in field goal percentage at .650 for the 2004-05 season. Kenesie has coached five of the top 11 scorers in Parkside history.
The Ranger mentor coached three all-region players, three first team all-GLVC players and 12 total all-conference players in her eight years as the head coach for the Rangers. Off the court, Kenesie’s influence is apparent. The Rangers have amassed a grade point average over a 3.0 during her career with seven players from last year’s squad earning GLVC All-Academic recognition.
Kenesie had a storied career as a player, culminating at the University of Louisville, where she was the Cardinals’ starting point guard for three years. Kenesie ranks second in school history in all-time assists and is among the Conference USA leaders in all-time assists.
Kenesie led the University of Louisville in steals, free throw percentage and assists for two years. She led the Cardinals to a trio of NCAA Division I tournament appearances and was one of the elite guards in Conference USA.
Locally, Kenesie stared at Kenosha St. Joseph’s High School where she led the Lancers to three state tournament appearances.
Kenesie was all-conference all four years in the prestigious Metro Conference. Kenesie also was a two-time Metro Conference Player of the Year and was selected to the all-state team in her last two seasons.
Kenesie holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree from the University of Louisville and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Kenesie and her husband, Eric, and their sons, Eric Jr., (4) and Christopher (1) reside in Kenosha.
