Former Lady Tigers head coach Allard, set to take over NEVC basketball program

Veteran basketball coach Jenny Allard has been named as the Northeast Vernon County boys and girls head basketball coach, as well as the school’s physical education teacher.

Allard confirmed she was hired by NEVC when reached by phone Thursday evening.

Allard replaces Joel McDuffey, who accepted a similar position with Sheldon R-8.

Allard, a graduate of Pittsburg State University, began her coaching career at Sheldon. After Allard’s four-year run at the school, she returned to her alma-mater, Nevada High School, upon being hired as a science teacher and girls freshman basketball coach.

Allard spent one season coaching the freshman team, next moving up to coach the junior varsity team, a position she held for 10 years.

In the spring of 2015, Allard was named the Lady Tigers head varsity basketball coach, after longtime coach Brent Bartlett stepped away from the sideline.

Allard guided the Lady Tigers to a 10-16 overall record in 2015-16, her only season in the position.

Allard has previously described her offensive philosophy as up-tempo, while she also likes to apply full-court pressure when she can. Allard added, that in the half-court set, she likes to utilize a physical man-to-man as her base defense.

“I like a faster-pace, and pressure defense,” she told the Daily Mail in 2015.

Allard continued: “I’m a big observer of basketball. “I like to just sit there and watch. No matter what gender, what level, I love the game.”