Illinois Wesleyan coach hosts girls basketball camp in Maroa

MAROA, Ill. (WAND) — A former Illinois State basketball standout is now coaching the next generation of players this week at the Ballers Performance Club in Maroa.

Kate Bullman, a two-time all-league defender with the Redbirds, is heading into her third season as an assistant coach at Illinois Wesleyan. Dozens of girls, third through eighth grade, are participating in the camp.

Bullman said the experience of coaching younger players differs from her work at the college level.

"I don't really think of myself as a role model. I just show them myself. And if they want to look up to me, then that's awesome. And I love that. But that's not really the goal. The goal is just to make the next generation a lot better. And I think by doing camps like this is awesome, especially for young girls who don't always have as many role models," Bullman said.

She said summer camps allow her to work with players she does not coach during the regular season.

"I coach college now, which is awesome; I love it. That's always what I wanted to do, but coaching the younger kids, especially in the summer when I don't get to coach the college kids, is pretty fun," Bullman said. "I get to do a lot of drills that we don't get to do, like dribble knock out with the younger kids, which is super fun and a great change of pace. It's a lot more fun. I mean, I love my job, but kids are always going to be more fun."