This is a story of change – a change of home, a change by choice and a change of destiny. First, though, we must acknowledge that change in and of itself is not always a force embraced by all. Many people shun change and the uncertainties that go along with it, regardless of whether the results are positive or negative. Others seem to seek change, accept the unknown and are inspired by what could be.
Ellen Canale '09 (in picture, at right) is one of those people inspired by what could be. Born a Hoosier, Canale moved countless times during her youth – first to California, then to Michigan before finding her collegiate stomping grounds as an EIU women's basketball player and Cum Laude graduate in Public Relations with a minor in Business Administration.
“Growing up, I was lucky to have had the experiences and relationships from the different places I lived. My dad is an engineer, and mom a nurse, and they could pick up and move when the opportunity presented itself. Really, just moving to move.
“The friends I made were so different. People in northwest Indiana are quite different from Southern California, or the Detroit suburbs, or Charleston – and since I grew up that way, it gave me the courage to go out (after college) and do it on my own,” Canale shared.
Canale currently works as the Deputy Chief of Staff of Grunwald Communications in Washington D.C., alongside the infamous Mandy Grunwald, advertising director for the 1992 Bill Clinton campaign and head of media relations for the 2008 Hillary Clinton campaign. Following next week's elections, Canale will embark on a permanent position as the National Press Assistant with the Democratic National Committee.
“After graduating from Eastern, I didn't really know what was next. My parents encouraged me to start by picking where I wanted to go. I have a cousin in D.C. and landed a great internship with the Democratic National Committee. The experience with the DNC was a lot like playing on the women's basketball team at Eastern – the staff is so close and supportive of each other that it's easy to get excited about what we're doing.”
Her profession focuses day-in and day-out on communicating change-oriented messages that Democratic candidates wish to enact. “I've always felt (growing up) that I've wanted to do something in public service. Being in politics, you have that opportunity,” Canale said. “A lot of people have a bad view of Washington, but I've learned firsthand that there are a lot of people that are trying very hard to do the right things. I hope the changes I affect make an impact some way, somehow, sometime, somewhere down the road.”
While Canale's future changes are unwritten, her past achievements are clear. As a member of the EIU Women's Basketball team during the 2005-08 seasons, Canale and her teammates built a tradition of excellence that generations of student-athletes and fans can benefit from.
It all started with a change.
Canale first crossed paths with Coach Brady Sallee while he was the recruiting coordinator for East Carolina University. “I instantly connected with Brady. I remember asking myself if I could get along with him, if I liked him as a coach. The answer kept coming up as 'yes.' Then, Brady stopped calling. After a while, I sent him an e-mail and he told me that he'd taken a job at Eastern Illinois University and that he wanted me to visit.
“My first visit to Eastern was hilarious. It was 105 degrees and my dad, Brady and I rode around campus for a tour in a golf cart. Everyone was trying to be in a good mood but when it's that hot everyone is cranky. Finally, he took us to his office which, since he'd just gotten there, consisted of a desk and a few chairs. There were no pictures or any semblances of tradition or school spirit but what Brady did offer was the ability to be a part of a dynasty change and the start of a program that was going to grow into something truly special,” recalls Canale.
“When I first came to Eastern, I knew we had to change the culture of the women's basketball program,” said Coach Sallee. “In order to change the culture, I needed “my type” of kids and Ellen was definitely what I was looking for. She wasn't afraid to buy into the vision and be a part of talking about it during her time as a Panther. I call players like her 'chemistry-magnets.' She knew how to push her teammates and really rally the group. Her intensity, competitiveness and lack of fear to take on a challenge were exactly what we needed to bring the program success.”
The plan worked. From the team's 10-19 (9-11 OVC) record during Ellen's 2005-06 freshman year, to the 24-9 (15-5 OVC) record with a league championship game appearance her 2008-09 senior year, a legacy was born.
That legacy, and the paths she has taken because of the game, emerged when she was a Banyan Elementary School Bulldog. Throwing elbows and driving the lane as a young girl amongst the boys on the playground fostered the gusto that carried her through Coach Sallee's tiresome – to say the least – workouts, and now in her co-ed recreational leagues in D.C.
“Brady wore these jumpsuits – the swishy kind – and seemed to have one of every color in the rainbow. But when he wore his red one, it meant trouble. We knew that no matter what we did, no matter how hard we worked, it wasn't going to be good enough.
“All the girls were in the arena for the first practice after the holiday break waiting for Brady. That practice was notorious for being tough anyway: Coach always seemed to know that we ate a few too many sweets, and too much ham, and that he had to run it off us. During that practice of my sophomore year, Brady walked across the balcony to the stairs that led to the arena wearing that red jumpsuit. We knew it from the very start. We were toast. And about four hours later, when the practice finally ended, we basically crawled off the court.” *
Efforts of this magnitude paid off as the win column increased as the loss column depleted. Buzz spread: the women's basketball program was good. People came to watch the ladies' physical, intense style of game and the energy during games in Lantz Arena blossomed. “During my freshman year, I don't think people on campus knew that we had a women's basketball team. But by the time I was a senior, professors asked us to put our games on the boards of the lecture halls so everyone would know when the tipoff was,” Canale remembers.
“The Panther Club members were amazing. They changed the way the community looked at us and, even more, changed the way we looked at ourselves. Their support – screaming in the stands, traveling to away games – made us even better than we thought we could be as a team.”
As Canale told her story of change, she paused and laughed a lot – perhaps to reflect on all that came together to bring a bunch of women playing a game into a legacy. Maybe the laughter was due to the countless stories of late-night political debate with her teammates; or, maybe it was the red jumpsuit.
No matter the source, Canale made a change – a change that affected everyone who witnessed the rebirth of EIU women's basketball. Now, her path has taken her to a place where she is “excited about any and all opportunities that come my way. I am able to work alongside a great group of people that are all committed to making things better for the public that we serve.”
Change. What a familiar experience for Canale.
*Footnote: Coach Brady Sallee would like to go on record with the following statement: “I have no recollection of four-hour practices and, yes, while I did have a red jumpsuit, I can no longer find it.”
