by By Dan Ninham
There was a time in history when native people left their communities for more opportunities. Many times they didn’t come home. There are more and more native people that leave that are coming back home to empower their communities.
Nadia Begay-Watson, 36, is from Kirtland, NM. She has coached her eighth year of varsity volleyball at Kirtland Central HS. She has also helped coach basketball for the past three seasons at Navajo Prep.
“I am Navajo,” said Nadia. “My clans are Nakai Dine’e nishłį́, Tabaaha bashishchiin, Kinyaa’aanii dashicheii and Kinyaa’aanii dashinalì.”
“We moved back to Kirtland at the end of 2013,” said Nadia. “I was in Idaho for 10 years before that. After college I was asked to assist at the local Borah HS. That’s when I got my first chance to work with the youth. I knew then that this was something I really enjoyed.”
“When we decided to move back home I jumped at the chance for a head basketball coaching job at Kirthland Central HS,” said Nadia. “I did not get the job however and they needed a volleyball coach. I was a bit hesitant but still decided helping youth is helping youth. I could still implement my philosophy and open another door for the youth to do. Eight years later we as a coaching staff signed seven girls to play volleyball at the next level and grew the program to be a competitive one.”
“In high school from 1999-2003, I played volleyball, basketball and ran track at Kirtland Central HS,” said Nadia. “I earned a full ride scholarship to play basketball at Boise State University in Boise, ID.”
Nadia was named the New Mexico Player of the Year. She was featured in Kids Sports Illustrated too. She led Boise State to their second ever NCAA tournament appearance. She also held the record for most three-point field goals and points in an NCAA tournament game that was broken in 2012.
“Growing up I was taught the value of hard work and self-reliance,” said Nadia. “I could do anything hard if I really did want it. Our ancestors endured many hardships. Because of them I’m able to follow my dream and help those follow their dreams.”
“My mother Jacque Begay, Bob Tanner, Janet Lomakema, Fred Nez, Jerry Curtis, Clifton Yazzie Sr. and many others but have influenced me as a coach,” said Nadia. “These coaches growing up saw how if they wanted to get to their daughters to the next level of basketball they needed to do something. Being from a small town there was not an established club team or AAU team. They decided to make their own and take us places to get us seen.”
“I now know how hard it is to do something like this. How much time and effort was put in to doing this. Their work was realized when they sent multiple girls to D1 schools and junior colleges for basketball,” added Nadia.
“Each coach brought something different,” said Nadia. “They probably won’t ever get recognized but it is coaches like them across the nation and on reservations that are instilling values in the youth to reach for something higher.”
“As a high school coach I try to bring something to my program to honor all the coaches I ever had,” added Nadia.
“Now that I’m a coach myself I still try to better myself,” said Nadia. “Still learning a lot. Rainy Crisp has been a big mentor I have learned a lot under and apply her teachings from her program.”
“Nana Allison Brewer has been there to help me navigate coaching as a young coach,” added Nadia.
“Rainy Crisp has been a friend and mentor for a long time,” said Nadia. “The way she connects with her players is something that I hope to do more of. She still has problems within her programs and the way that it’s handled and resolved is always with grace. If I ever need help she’s there.”
“Coach Nana Allison Brewer was there when I was just starting out with volleyball,” said Nadia. “She taught me the ‘ins-and-outs’ of volleyball. She too being an established coach helped me in many ways off the court. For instance, we had a rebuilding season with more losses than wins. She helped me keep a positive mind in ways to help players not get discouraged.”
The COVID-19 pandemic made everyone throughout the world change their normal ways of their life.
“Physically, it was a real challenge to have workouts this past year,” said Nadia. “When we did it was only three or four people at a time. They couldn’t share balls or breathe on each other. It was a real challenge. We still held workouts as many time as we could and whenever we were allowed too. We as coaches recognized that the athletes needed this and we were willing to put ourselves at risk to help them physically.”
“Emotionally, I had to make sure I was checking on them via text or phone call,” said Nadia. “With the Native American communities being hit so hard with COVID, it was imperative that we check on those students who needed it. For the most part my kids have handled this well. Grades were good and they were very open to communicating with us coaches.”
“Being in-tune with my athletes during this pandemic was really important because they were all at one point probably feeing alone. Just making sure that they were thought of or missed,” added Nadia.
“I read somewhere that the goal wasn’t to make it out of the reservation but to strengthen it,” said Nadia. “I truly believe that’s what I’m trying to do. Strengthening the next generation.”
Photo Credit: Curtis Ray Benally
