Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamika Newman.
Tamika, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am from Northeast Houston. I am 1 of 5 kids born to my mother. I was eventually raised by my grandmother. My childhood consisted of going to church and school. I found reading enjoyable as it allowed me to escape my current situation and live in the fantasy world of the characters in my books. With the formation of the WNBA in 1997, when I was 12 years old, my sports interests were peaked. Around this time, I also discovered the career path of being a sideline reporter. My role model was Pam Oliver, the first African American female sideline reporter.
A year later, after witnessing the 2000 US Women’s Volleyball Olympic team, which featured 4 African American Women, I fell in love with the sport of volleyball. I spent high school training really hard to be a great athlete in addition to participating in programs at my church. I did eventually earn a scholarship to Prairie View A&M to play basketball and volleyball. I ended my athletic career there a conference champion and conference most valuable player. I took that energy and went into a coaching career. I invested ten years as a High School Teacher and Coach. I have worked at every level: private, charter, and public. I also coached travel volleyball for 12 years. As an African American female volleyball coach in suburban Houston, I faced many challenges. I initially struggled to find a head coaching position.
Once I found one, I realized that community buy-in was going to be a challenge. At every stop, I had to prove my value and that I knew what I was doing. I witnessed my white counterparts receive respect the minute they walked into the gym, after a final life-changing season at an affluent high school outside Houston. I decided to pursue my own business, Grit and Grind Athletics, which is an athletic service provider specializing in affordable and professional skills and leadership training for coaches and athletes in low resource areas. In addition to that, I released my first book, Grateful & Greedy: Challenging and Redefining What it Means to Win in Life, which is a memoir/self-help book. Each chapter offers a lesson I learned through challenges in my life. I owe a lot of my work ethic and values to my grandmother and my HBCU education.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I struggled growing up in an area with low resources. Information was not readily available and mentors even more scarce. In addition to that, there was not much achievement in my family. So I had to create my own blueprint. I oftentimes suffered with the imposter syndrome, just not really believing I was deserving of some of the opportunities I was afforded.
Please tell us about Grit and Grind Athletics Consulting.
Grit and Grind Athletics host clinics, camps, and workshops for athletes and coaches. For athletes, we are committed to developing the whole athlete, with an emphasis on building up their mental strength.
For Coaches: My coaching program will give female minority sport coaches the strategies and tools to be courageous and innovative leaders so they can educate, influence, and support the needs of their athletes. You can email me for details about my coaching program.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Getting dressed for church with my grandma. Specifically, her giving me a little of her lipstick. Playing basketball at the court in my neighborhood.
Pricing:
- My new book is sold on my website for $30
Contact Info:
- Website: tamikanewman.com
- Phone: 8328231862
- Email: newmantamika38@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CGneSrTlVGf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tamika.newman.7
- Twitter: @coachnoexcuses
Image Credit:
Alecea Rush
Suggest a story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
