GLEN DALE - Amy Gamble's athletic resume is one that anyone would envy.
She's represented her country in the Summer Olympics and the Pan American Games and played basketball for the University of Tennessee, West Virginia University and the University of Arizona.
But the role she's relishing the most is the one she has this winter, as an assistant coach for the John Marshall High School girls' basketball team.
Article Photos
Former John Marshall standout Amy Gamble joined the Monarchs coaching staff this season.
Photo by Rick Thorp
For Gamble, she's come full circle.
''I can't say enough about what doing this means to me,'' she said. ''It's really special.''
Gamble will be one of the former John Marshall girls' standouts participating in an alumni game this morning at the John Marshall Field House.
The contest will be a part of a full slate of games that will include Monarchs' junior varsity and varsity games against Martins Ferry.
The alumni game begins at 11 a.m., with the junior varsity and varsity contests to follow.
Funds generated will benefit breast cancer research.
''We had about 30-35 former players RSVP,'' Gamble said. ''Some people are coming in from out of town and we have some players back from as far back as 1981.''
Gamble, a 1982 graduate, will be one of the participants.
''I might have to hobble a little bit,'' she said laughing.
Gamble is one of the Ohio Valley's most-decorated athletes. She excelled in three sports - basketball, track and field and women's handball.
One of the charter members of the OVAC Hall of Fame, Gamble, was selected as the West Virginia Women's Basketball Player of the Year in 1982 after leading the Monarchs to the Class AAA state championship.
She was the first John Marshall girls' basketball player to score more than 1,000 points and the first athlete at the school to have a jersey retired.
After high school, she went to the University of Tennessee and was a member of the Vols' squad that advanced to the 1983 NCAA Championship Game against Southern Cal.
Gamble transferred to West Virginia University the next season, but left school to pursue team handball. She went on to be a member of the women's handball squad that competed in the 1988 summer games in Seoul, South Korea.
After her athletic career ended, Gamble said she was always looking for an opportunity to coach. That offer came this season from her former coach, Stan Blankenship.
''The players have really been receptive of me from Day 1,'' Gamble said. ''They are a talented group of players, but they are also good young people.''
Gamble has been advising post players, as well as performing general practice duties. She has also been helping Dave Gaudino with his Marshall County AAU squad.
''It's gone really well,'' she said. ''I enjoy it so much.
''The fun part is being able to give back. It's very inspirational to me to watch the players take what you teach them and implement it into their game.''