Ruth Sinn has started her 15th season coaching the St. Thomas women’s basketball team.

Sinn started coaching the Tommies in 2005, and her teams have been successful ever since. The Tommies have been undefeated in the MIAC the past three seasons, and last year, Sinn led the Tommies to the Final Four.

“My freshman year we made it to the Sweet Sixteen, my sophomore year we made it to the Final Four,” junior post Kaia Porter said. “I think those are just experiences that I’ll remember forever, and I think what is really cool is that people don’t see all the hard work it takes to get there.”

Sinn has created a team culture that her players have bought into. Her organized practices and structure shows her passion for the game. This comes with over 30 years of coaching experience in women’s basketball.

“It’s process based, it’s how we improve, it’s how we get better and how we challenge each other on a daily basis. It’s not personal, it is just being our best together,” said Sinn.

Porter remembers when she was at an Amatuer Athletic Union (AAU) basketball tournament in high school and walked by a coach telling her players something. She really liked what the coach was saying to her players, and it turns out that coach was Sinn.

“I remember thinking, ‘Wow, I would want to play for someone like that’,” Porter said.

Not only does Sinn impact her current players with her passion for the game, but she has left a mark on players that have graduated.

Lucia Renikoff graduated in 2019 after playing four years under Sinn.

Renikoff learned alot from her coach and has carried that knowledge into post-graduation life.

“Trusting the process coach talked about a lot, and understanding that you are not going to do everything right away, but you can do the little things in anything you do, to contribute to your team whether that be at work or on the basketball court,” Renikoff said.

Sinn wants her players to have gained more than just basketball skills when they graduate.

“One of our core principles is that we do want to build strong, confident women who aren’t perfectionists, but are willing to dare greatly,” Sinn said. “The beauty of athletics is the person you become in the process,” Sinn said.

Rae Beaner can be reached at rnbeaner696@stkate.edu.