Paul Empson - 7th Grade Boys

As a youngster, I lived all over the country, from North Carolina to Nebraska to Colorado and Texas. From the time I was young, I have had a love for sports. I did most of my growing up in Texas, and played high school basketball there in Fort Worth. I graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 1991, where I enjoyed playing intramural basketball. Upon moving to Juneau in 1993, I soon started playing city league sports and coaching Little League. I enjoy coaching young people and have done so in a variety of sporting activities. As my children have taken part in baseball, basketball, and football among other sports, I have taken the opportunity to coach many of their teams working in the Gastineau Channel Little League, Juneau Youth Football League, and Juneau Parks & Recreation.

While this is my first year coaching HoopTime, I look forward to coaching many of these talented athletes. Basketball remains my favorite sport, and I consider HoopTime to be a good organization under which kids can learn the game and push themselves to become better basketball players in a competitive environment.

I am employed as an accountant with the University of Alaska Southeast, where I have worked for the past 15 years. Along with my son Adam, currently a 7 th grader on the HoopTime team, I also have a 19 year-old daughter who attends UAS.

Sue Beckerman - 5th Grade Girls

Athletics/Sports have always been a big part of my life. I grew up a “Coast Guard Brat” living in several states, Alaska, California, Maine, Oregon to name a few. Playing games, basketball, kickball, etc. with just my brother and sisters is what helped get us through all the moving and trying to make new friends. I was fortunate to be able to attend one high school as my dad retired after serving a tour of duty at Cape Disappointment Search and Rescue Station in Ilwaco, Washington .

In high school I participated in volleyball, basketball and track. As a sophomore I was on a senior-laden basketball team which made it to the state tournament placing 8th. In my senior year we made it to state in volleyball. I topped off my high school career with being voted senior female athlete of the year.

I attended college at Central Washington University in Ellensburg , Washington where I enjoyed both intramural basketball and volleyball. I moved to Juneau in 1983 and have participated in one sport or another thru the Juneau Parks and Rec program. I went back to school in 1987 to play basketball for the inaugural UAS women’s basketball team. I recently completed my 1 st year as an assistant coach for the DZ Middle School Program.

Over the years I have coached various youth teams and was privileged for the last two years to be an assistant with the JDHS women’s program. I also volunteered during the first season of HoopTime and I am currently in my first year as the C team coach with the DZ Middle School Program. I thoroughly enjoy working with the youth of Juneau and look forward to being involved in the HoopTime program again this year.

Heather Clark

I was born and raised in Southern California .  I didn't start playing basketball until High School, but was a 3 year varsity player.  I also played softball from the age of 7 and was a 4 year varsity player during High School, earning All-League and All-County honors for 4 years.  I joined the Coast Guard after High School, and moved to Juneau in 2000.  I recently finished serving my 8 years with the Coast Guard and now work as an X-Ray Tech at Juneau Orthopedics.

I started refereeing basketball and softball when I was 15 for various youth programs.  In 1998-1999 I was the head coach of the 7th/8th grade girl’s basketball program at North Tahoe Middle School.  After moving up to Juneau , I got back into refereeing high school basketball.  Then in 2003 I started
coaching HoopTime basketball.  I was the Head coach for the 8th grade girls.  The following year I assisted coaching the 7th grade girls.

Lloyd Johnson

I have been playing, coaching and refereeing organized basketball for over 35 years.  This includes 3 years at Western High School in Anaheim , CA .  After high school I received a 2 year scholarship to play at Fullerton Junior College .  After JC I received a scholarship to play at the University of Alaska Fairbanks .  In 1985 I started refereeing basketball, and over the years I've had the privilege to referee state and regional tournaments throughout Alaska .

After college I went to work for the First National Bank of Alaska in Fairbanks .  I left Fairbanks in 1992 to manage the Kenai Branch.  In 1997 I moved to Juneau, and I manage the 5 branches in the SE Region for the bank.  

The 2006 Hoop Time season will mark my 3rd year on the coaching staff for the Program.   I have been coaching kid’s basketball for 10 years, both in Juneau and Fairbanks . 

My hobbies include hunting, fishing, golf, traveling and basketball. 

Mischa Plunkett

Mischa Plunkett is a former college basketball player and coach. She graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2003 where she was the starting point guard and team captain for the women’s basketball team. She was among the conference leaders in assists, and remains among the top assist makers at UCSC in single game highs, season highs, and career highs.

After graduating college with a BA in Psychology, she found her niche in college athletics and spent 6 years working as an administrator and coach at the college level. She spent time as an assistant coach at UC Santa Cruz for 3 years and 1 year at Haskell Indian Nations University. Mischa has also coached at numerous summer camp programs throughout California and has directed camps at UCSC since her senior year of college.

Since 2007 Mischa has spent her summers traveling throughout Southeast Alaska working with Sealaska Heritage Institute to develop and direct the Latseen Hoop Camp Program – an innovative basketball camp designed to integrate Tlingit Language development into fundamental basketball instruction. In 2008 she received her M.Ed in Sport and Recreation Administration from Temple University (Philadelphia, PA).

Mischa is originally from Anchorage, but her family roots are in Juneau. She is Tlingit, Eagle-Thunderbird (Shangukeidí) from Klukwan. Mischa recently moved back to Juneau and she enjoys spending her time working with youth from throughout Southeast. She is always excited to coach and is looking forward to being a part of the HoopTime Program this year.

Shawn Marrow 7th Grade Boys head Coach	Nathan Graves 6th Grade Boys Asst. Coach