From Pathways to Purpose: Trinity Pettaway’s Journey to the Sideline
4/1/2026 12:00:00 PM | Tulsa Hurricane, Women's Basketball
On the surface, Trinity Pettaway's job with Tulsa Women's Basketball sounds straightforward: she's an assistant coach and the coordinator of recruiting operations. But if you ask her players and colleagues, they'll tell you she wears another title with pride — "Energy Giving Specialist."
Every day, Pettaway brings intention and positivity into the program. "I love our players by serving them well and creating a positive, safe environment where they feel seen and valued," she said. "Being a student-athlete is not easy, and most of the time the girls are their biggest critics. My job is to make sure practice and the locker room are as positive and life-giving as possible."
She oversees social recruiting strategies, new recruit packets, and campus visits, while also assisting with day-to-day operations. Whether she's organizing materials, setting up for practice, or checking in on a player, Pettaway approaches each task with consistency and care. "I build trust by being consistent, reliable, and someone they can come to. I model work by bringing energy, effort, and intentionality to everything I do, whether that's practice, recruiting, or just a conversation in the locker room."
Finding Her Path
Pettaway's journey into coaching wasn't something she saw coming. "I didn't think I would ever be a coach," she said. "I thought you at least had to have played high school basketball — and I have not played a 40-minute game of basketball in my life."
That perspective changed when she entered the Pathway to Sports Academy. It wasn't a "what" that drew her in, but a "who." Her Pathways supervisor, Mikela Berza (known as Meeks), became a pivotal mentor. "Meeks taught me not only the ins and outs of a Women's Basketball manager, but she also allowed me to explore and touch almost every part of the women's program. She led by the 'Love. Trust. Work.' example and inspired me to do so as well."
Through Pathways, Pettaway learned just how complex and collaborative the world of sports really is. She built relationships across departments — from athletic training to donor relations to compliance — and saw firsthand how many people it takes to keep a program running smoothly. "My time in the program has opened my eyes up to all of the people and moving parts that make up not only a singular team, but an athletic department as a whole."
Serving with Excellence
The lessons from Pathways still shape her daily approach. "One lesson I use every single day is the importance of serving with excellence," Pettaway said. "How you do the little things matters. Small things build trust. Small things build culture. And small things add up to big impact."
She credits Tulsa head coach Angie Nelp for reinforcing those values. "One of Coach Angie's biggest foundational pillars is culture. Do we live our culture of Love, Trust, Work not only as players, but as coaches and staff? My parents raised me to love like Jesus, to serve with a servant's heart, and to be reliable. Coach Angie hires staff that reflect those same values."
Even after graduation, when job offers weren't coming easily, Pettaway leaned on the relationships she built. "After graduation, I heard a lot of no's and/or no responses at all. For someone like myself who didn't hear 'no' too often, it was very discouraging. But people like Amari Jackson, the Assistant Director of Student Engagement and Programing, continued to send me internships, job opportunities, and encouragement."
Choosing This Calling
The turning point came during her Pathways exit meeting. She had planned to take a gap year before law school — until she realized she wasn't ready to leave the program or the sport. "I wasn't ready to give up basketball," she said. "Through Pathways, I was given opportunities to serve, lead, and be around the team in a meaningful way, and that's when I knew this was something bigger than just a season of life."
When a full-time position opened with Tulsa Women's Basketball, her reputation spoke for itself. "My coaches knew my work ethic, energy, consistency, and my commitment to the program's culture. That's the power of relationships in Pathways."
Now, she encourages students who are considering the program to take the leap — no matter their background. "Pathways is for you," Pettaway said. "If you want to be an athletic trainer, pathways is for you. If you have coaching aspirations, you should be sprinting to the pathways sign up. Even if you don't have a sports background."
Her advice for anyone hoping to work in sports is simple: "Be you. Find a pathway that interests you and do your job well. Nothing goes unseen and the work you do is not in vain. Someone is always watching — and for all you know, that someone can be your next employer."
Every day, Pettaway brings intention and positivity into the program. "I love our players by serving them well and creating a positive, safe environment where they feel seen and valued," she said. "Being a student-athlete is not easy, and most of the time the girls are their biggest critics. My job is to make sure practice and the locker room are as positive and life-giving as possible."
She oversees social recruiting strategies, new recruit packets, and campus visits, while also assisting with day-to-day operations. Whether she's organizing materials, setting up for practice, or checking in on a player, Pettaway approaches each task with consistency and care. "I build trust by being consistent, reliable, and someone they can come to. I model work by bringing energy, effort, and intentionality to everything I do, whether that's practice, recruiting, or just a conversation in the locker room."
Finding Her Path
Pettaway's journey into coaching wasn't something she saw coming. "I didn't think I would ever be a coach," she said. "I thought you at least had to have played high school basketball — and I have not played a 40-minute game of basketball in my life."
That perspective changed when she entered the Pathway to Sports Academy. It wasn't a "what" that drew her in, but a "who." Her Pathways supervisor, Mikela Berza (known as Meeks), became a pivotal mentor. "Meeks taught me not only the ins and outs of a Women's Basketball manager, but she also allowed me to explore and touch almost every part of the women's program. She led by the 'Love. Trust. Work.' example and inspired me to do so as well."
Through Pathways, Pettaway learned just how complex and collaborative the world of sports really is. She built relationships across departments — from athletic training to donor relations to compliance — and saw firsthand how many people it takes to keep a program running smoothly. "My time in the program has opened my eyes up to all of the people and moving parts that make up not only a singular team, but an athletic department as a whole."
Serving with Excellence
The lessons from Pathways still shape her daily approach. "One lesson I use every single day is the importance of serving with excellence," Pettaway said. "How you do the little things matters. Small things build trust. Small things build culture. And small things add up to big impact."
She credits Tulsa head coach Angie Nelp for reinforcing those values. "One of Coach Angie's biggest foundational pillars is culture. Do we live our culture of Love, Trust, Work not only as players, but as coaches and staff? My parents raised me to love like Jesus, to serve with a servant's heart, and to be reliable. Coach Angie hires staff that reflect those same values."
Even after graduation, when job offers weren't coming easily, Pettaway leaned on the relationships she built. "After graduation, I heard a lot of no's and/or no responses at all. For someone like myself who didn't hear 'no' too often, it was very discouraging. But people like Amari Jackson, the Assistant Director of Student Engagement and Programing, continued to send me internships, job opportunities, and encouragement."
Choosing This Calling
The turning point came during her Pathways exit meeting. She had planned to take a gap year before law school — until she realized she wasn't ready to leave the program or the sport. "I wasn't ready to give up basketball," she said. "Through Pathways, I was given opportunities to serve, lead, and be around the team in a meaningful way, and that's when I knew this was something bigger than just a season of life."
When a full-time position opened with Tulsa Women's Basketball, her reputation spoke for itself. "My coaches knew my work ethic, energy, consistency, and my commitment to the program's culture. That's the power of relationships in Pathways."
Now, she encourages students who are considering the program to take the leap — no matter their background. "Pathways is for you," Pettaway said. "If you want to be an athletic trainer, pathways is for you. If you have coaching aspirations, you should be sprinting to the pathways sign up. Even if you don't have a sports background."
Her advice for anyone hoping to work in sports is simple: "Be you. Find a pathway that interests you and do your job well. Nothing goes unseen and the work you do is not in vain. Someone is always watching — and for all you know, that someone can be your next employer."
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