Hawks name coach; hoopster goes pro
- Updated: August 23, 2022
Anessa Wolf Black (right, 24) has been named the new women's basketball coach at San Diego Christian College / Hawks courtesy photo
2022-23 SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
By Nick Pellegrino
ECS staff writer
CASA DE ORO — Anessa Wolfblack, a 2018 graduate of San Diego Christian College, became the school’s first alum to be named the head women’s basketball coach of the Hawks.
Wolfblack, who served two seasons as team captain, then became an assistant coach under Shawn Chaffin before he offered a sudden resignation last week.
Anessa “Ness” Wolfblack
“Coach Chaffin saw an opportunity to be closer to home, with his ultimate goal to become an athletic director,” said Wolfblack. When the opportunity to Waldorf University presented itself, he had to jump at it.”
“Thus, Brain (Schroeder, the SDCC director of athletics) offered me the position — I couldn’t be happier.”
Wolfblack, who is a registered member of the Northern Cheyenne band (with ties to Lakota Sioux through her father), was a strong player locally.
Playing for Chula Vista High, Wolfblack was the 2013 South Bay League player of the year under head coach John DeJesus. The Spartans advanced to the CIF playoffs and downed local rival Otay Ranch before falling to Poway; Granite Hills was the eventual division titlist.
Wolfblack as a player, ’18
Wolfblack then played for the Hawks while earning her degree in kinesiology, with Honors, in ’18.
Her first major hurdle will be recruiting, as several players have vacated the program with the loss of Chaffin.
“I know a lot of the high school and college coaches, as well as the club teams,” she noted. “I want to bring in a bunch of San Diego kids and show my love for my hometown.”
“With the college’s move, we can offer our kids better possibilities for education. Plus, we gave a church partner to pour into these kids’ lives.”
“We also have a gym on-campus to practice at, which was always a problem when we were in Santee.”
Going Pro
Izabel “Izzy” Feller
Isabel “Izzy” Feller, a member of the San Diego Christian College women’s basketball team in 2020-21, is going professional.
A native of Melbourrne, Victoria, Australia, Feller accepted an offer from her hometown basketball team to play for the Nunawading Spectres, one of the top programs in the NBL1 (the Spectres men are the defending champions) — the highest level for basketball in Australia; by American standards, it’s a semipro league.
Feller played her high school ball at Melba (Secondary) College (a 7-12 school) in Victoria — school colours are Eucalyptus green, terracotta and charcoal.
With San Diego Christian, Feller joined fellow Aussie forward Maddison “Maddy” Zugna as the ballclub’s top scores and rebounders last season.
