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01/18/2017 11:00 PMLauren Budney grew up playing basketball, starting with rec leagues in elementary school, after which she competed in middle school and then at Valley Regional High School. Lauren not only loves the sport, but her hometown and alma mater, as well. When she heard the Warriors’ girls’ basketball program was looking for a JV coach, Lauren was quick to apply for the job.
“Last year, I was still too young to be a coach because I had played with some of the girls who were on the team. This year, I applied again and got the call,” says Lauren, who graduated from Valley in 2013. “I didn’t apply anywhere else for a coaching position even though there were so many openings. I only wanted to coach at Valley Regional. I have such a sense of pride for where I grew up.”
Lauren was raised in Chester and still lives in the house she grew up in. Lauren enjoyed growing up in the area, especially since she has aunts, uncles, and cousins who also live in the tri-town area.
“Tri-town has really had an impact on my life and is one of the most important things about me,” says Lauren. “I love the community our area has where everybody knows everybody.”
Basketball has always been a huge part of Lauren’s life during her time in town. When she was in 5th grade, Lauren started travel basketball and began playing alongside many of the girls that she’d later compete with at Valley.
“Travel is a big-time commitment and you spend a lot of time with girls and we became best friends,” Lauren says. “Spending so much time together is a real bonding moment. That’s what I loved best.”
Now, Lauren is back on the court at Valley and enjoying her first season as the Warriors’ JV coach. Coaching is new endeavor for Lauren and so she took a 45-hour coaching class through the CIAC to earn her certification in November.
“I was totally surprised about a lot of the things that are on your plate you didn’t realize were your responsibility,” says Lauren. “I learned a lot about concussions, injuries, planning, and how important it is to have your paperwork at your right hand. In high school, you think the coach just shows up and has a list of what they want to do, but there’s so much more that goes into it.”
Lauren has had many coaches throughout the years and she’s taken something from her experiences with each of them. In her new role, Lauren feels thankful to be working alongside Valley’s varsity Head Coach Geoff Konstan, noting that they like the same up-tempo type of play; in addition to fellow assistant Allyson Pitney. Konstan says that Lauren has seamlessly stepped into her spot on the coaching staff.
“Lauren is exactly what you’d want in an assistant coach: passionate about basketball, very knowledgeable about the game, knows how to teach that knowledge to the girls, is very patient while teaching new things and working with some of the girls that haven’t played basketball all that long. And she brings a tremendous enthusiasm with her every day to practice and games,” says Konstan. “As a young coach, she can easily relate to the players and vice versa. Lauren isn’t just passionate about basketball; she’s passionate about Valley Regional basketball. Having gone to Valley and played basketball for the school, she cares about the program in a unique way. I’m hoping she’ll stay on the staff for many years to come.”
Lauren and Konstan also work together off the court. Lauren had worked at Scoops, an ice cream shop owned by her aunt and uncle. However, when it closed for the season, Konstan told Lauren about an open position at his business, Gorilla Graphics in Middletown. Lauren certainly has a lot going on while working with Valley’s JV and varsity teams six days a week, but if you ask Lauren, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s a lot of time, but it’s totally worth it. I’d do it every day if I could,” she says. “I like working with the JV girls because they’re so willing to learn and work on the fundamentals to better themselves. It’s great to see.”
One of Lauren’s fondest memories from her basketball career was when Valley’s varsity squad made states for the first time in 13 years during her senior season. Now, Lauren wants this year’s edition of Warriors to get a taste of the playoffs and she’s eager to help them achieve that goal in any way she can.
“I love Valley and I love teaching and sharing the knowledge I have about basketball. It’s more rewarding to see them use what we work on in practice in a game. You feel like what you’re teaching is making an impact on how they play basketball,” Lauren says. “I’m glad my first year of coaching is with this group of girls. They’re phenomenal and I couldn’t ask them to be any more accepting of a new coach, so I’m really thankful for that.”