Coaches & Trainers

Coach Vanessa Selden McClendon

Founder and Director, Northwest Magic

Former Professional WBB player. University of Oregon WBB alumni. Owner/Founder of Northwest Magic, Team Huff, & Team Rice. One of the top trainers in Washington State. Known for team placement and player development.

Vanessa Selden-McClendon’s experience is well rounded. She grew up as a military brat and traveled all over the United States and Asia as a youngster with her parents, spending her High School Years in Antioch, California.

Her career highlighted by earning Second-Team all-state honors from California Basketball Magazine as well as East Bay player of the year by the East Bay Prep Writers Association. She averaged 19.9 points, 8.4 steals and 4.3 assists a game her final year, eclipsing state’s single- season steals standard (252) in addition to finishing second on career chart (674). She paced the team to 26-6 record and Division I runner-up in the Northern California championships, netting 21 points in the title game. She received dozens of offers from D1 schools, including University of Washington and Washington State but decided to attend University of Oregon (Ducks 1989-1992).

She started as a freshman, opened the first 23 games of initial collegiate season to become the Ducks first player to land Pac-10 all-freshman honors since 1987. The squad’s most valuable newcomer assumed quarterback role by accumulating most steals (52) in three years and finishing second on the team in assists (89). Oregon’s third leading scorer, averaging 16.2 points per game during the conference seasons.

After her collegiate years, she had the opportunity to play professionally in Barcelona, Spain; Tasmania, Australia; and on several teams in Germany. Due to a chronic knee problem, her career ended, but not her passion for the game. She assisted in player development for Portland Fire (ABL league) as a practice player and attended several WNBA training camps.

Although her professional pursuit was prior to the thriving of the WNBA, her love for the game has never been stronger.

Vanessa started  Northwest Magic is 2007.  Training and Coaching some of the top players in Washington State.

Vanessa was inducted into Antioch’s Hall of Fame in October of 2012. Click

Vanessa is an inactive Family Therapist and lives in Puyallup,Washington State with her husband of 30 years, Gerald, and 17year-old son, Marcus.

This season Coach Vanessa will continue to lead all teams and training programs.  Coach Vanessa will also be coaching the 6th Rising & 17U Elite 40 team again.

Coach Gerald draws from his experience of playing, training, and coaching with his wife Coach Vanessa for over 20 plus years. A 20-year retired veteran of the US Army, Coach Gerald brings high energy and drill sergeant leadership skills to Northwest Magic. Responsible for quality control of the organization with Teams, Coaches, Parents, and Gym Facilities.

Coach Gerald lives in Puyallup, WA with wife Vanessa of 30 years and son, Marcus 17.

This season, Coach Gerald will oversee the Boys Program .  

Edwina Martin-Arnold’s life has been filled with a passion for youth sports. It is my firm belief that a young person’s physical, mental, and social development can be enhanced through involvement with athletics.

Edwina’s coaching career began over thirty years ago when she volunteered to coach at Rainier Beach Recreation Center. She continued coaching through the years mostly with the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO).

In 2007, Edwina co-founded Northwest Magic Basketball with Vanessa and Gerald McClendon. Her role has changed over the years depending on the needs of Magic. She has led the coaching technics, player development, accounting, and membership development. Her role today is strategic development, helping to guide the future growth of the organization as well as Head Coach for the Rising 7th Grade Team & on the Elite 40 High School Coaching Staff.  

In addition, Edwina is a lawyer and currently, she is the Chief of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)

Coach La-Keeshia boasts an impressive coaching career spanning over 10 years, starting from her own experience as a player in high school, junior college, and a four-year college in California. She began her coaching journey at Showalter Middle School and her passion for growth and learning propelled her to become a Varsity Assistant at Foster High School. Eventually, she earned the position of JV Head Coach. Presently, Coach Keeshia holds the esteemed role of Varsity Girls Head Coach at Franklin-Pierce High School. In addition to her coaching responsibilities, Coach Keeshia has joined the Elite 40 Coaching Staff this season, Assistant Coach for the 17U team and head coach of the 15/16U team.  She has also taken on the role of Assistant Director and managing the recruitment process. This expanded role allows her to contribute further to the success of the Magic program.

Coach Tim Brown returns for his 6th stint with the Northwest Magic coaching staff.  Having all 4 of his kids always involved in basketball at some level, Coach Tim has subsequently coached at various levels while raising his four children including. High School Varsity Boys Coach, High School Varsity Girls Coach,  AAU teams just to name a few. Coach Tim is currently the Head Varsity Girls coach at Bethel High School.

Coach Tim brings unequaled leadership skills and experience to the athletes in the Northwest Magic Program.

Coach Tim had two daughters that play(ed) for Northwest Magic. Tianna Brown (currently Grand Canyon University) and Tiarra Brown (also played for Grand Canyon University)

Coach Tim lives in Spanaway, WA with his wife.

This season, Coach Tim will manage the Blue Star 15U team. 

LeAsia Jones is a multi-sport athlete from California who has a overall passion for sports and working with kids. 

 She participated in Volleyball, Basketball, and Track & Field in high school and college.  

 She was an NAIA Women’s Volleyball assistant and NWACC Men’s Basketball assistant coach. Was an assistant and head coach for multiple ABA Men’s semipro teams. She has years of experience training and directing basketball skills camps, clinics, group and private trainings. 

 Currently plays semi-professional basketball for Christian Faith and has 2 WBCBL Championships with Seattle Dynasty. 

Jones attended Oroville High where she played 4 years of Varsity basketball averaging a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) and 3 blocks per game. In her High School’s own Duard Millet Basketball Tournament she received the Varsity Girl MVP award scoring a career high of 24 points. Was Westside League Champions one season going undefeated 10-0, was back to back NSCIF Section Finalist in 2001 & 2002, a All The Best-All Star Game Participant in 2003, received Character Is First (CIF) Victory With Honor Patch Award before heading to the State Tournament. 

 Women’s Volleyball Team (1999, 2001-2003) Westside League Most Valuable Defensive Player 1999, Most Improved 2001, Westside League Most Valuable Defensive Player 2002, All The Best All-Star Game Participant 2003. 

2-Time Chico State High School Heptathlon Winner and Record Holder 2002 & 2003 

 Outstanding Senior Enterprise Record Female Athlete 2003 winner alongside Aaron Rogers who won the Male Athlete award. 

 Gatorade High School Track & Field Athlete 2003. 

  NSCIF High Hurdles All Time Record Holder 2003. 

After graduating high school Jones signed with NCAA Div II Chico State on a basketball and Track & Field scholarship. 

 While at NCAA Div II Chico State her game high was 14 points 9 rebounds against Holy Names. Due to dealing with the transition from high school to college Jones became academically ineligible her freshman year. She got back on track academically taking extra courses at Butte College before her sophomore year, but tore her ACL, MCL and manicus in preseason practice. At the end of the year she transferred to Lane Community College for a fresh start and to reunite with her high school teammate Dominique King. 

 While at Lane Community College her game high she scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half to take the lead over Chemeketa Community College to take the win also grabbing 11 rebounds. Her team won the NWAACC Tournament in 2005-06 finishing with a 33-1 record (undefeated at home). For the tournament she finished with a total of 14pts and 12 rebounds. In track & field at NWAACC Southern Regional’s finished 2nd place in 2006 and 3rd place in 2007 in shot put, and  6th in Heptathlon in 2007. 

 After graduating from Lane, Jones transferred to NAIA Div II Evergreen State College, where she played Volleyball and Basketball. After finishing up her first year of Volleyball, Jones ruptured her achillies in her second week of practice and had to sit out that season. Despite another injury Jones bounced back becoming a leading blocker in Volleyball next season and in basketball she had a game high of 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks and steals against Seattle University. 

This season, Coach Leasia will Coach the Mini Magic program and also is one of Magics Lead Skills Trainers.