Assistant Coach

Bio

Jalen Callender enters her first season as an Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Gillette College.

A native of Caldwell, Idaho, Callender was a standout athlete at Caldwell High School. She earned 4A SIC Player of the Year, First Team All-State, and Idaho All-Star Team honors during her career. As a freshman, she helped lead the Cougars to their first state tournament appearance since 2001, beginning a run that saw the program qualify for the state tournament in three of her four seasons. After missing her sophomore season with an ACL injury, she returned to help Caldwell reach new heights, culminating in her senior year when she guided the Cougars to the Idaho 4A State Championship game, the program’s first appearance in the title game since 2001.

Callender continued her basketball career at the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) from 2019–2022. Despite suffering another ACL injury in her second season, she returned to help the Golden Eagles to back-to-back conference championships and consecutive NJCAA National Tournament appearances in her final two seasons. Her resilience and leadership assisted in CSI’s sustained success during her time with the program.

She then transferred to Montana State University–Northern (MSUN), where she competed in the Frontier Conference. At MSUN, Callender earned Frontier Conference Player of the Week honors and established herself as a versatile contributor and team leader. Following the completion of her playing career, she transitioned into coaching, serving as a student assistant coach for the Skylights while finishing her degree in Integrated Health Science.

Now at Gillette College, Callender brings her playing experience, competitive drive, and player-first approach to the Pronghorns. She is dedicated to mentoring student-athletes, fostering growth both on and off the court, and helping continue the tradition of excellence within Gillette College women’s basketball.