Xavier University Athletics
Logging a new journal entry: Assistant Coach Emily Ben-Jumbo is welcomed to the coaching staff
11.21.25 | Women's Basketball
Writing "Xavier" repeatedly in her journal, Assistant Coach Emily Ben-Jumbo joined the Xavier Women's Basketball coaching staff this season after envisioning herself in the position four years earlier.
"I was writing in my journal, probably four years ago, I wrote Xavier on a piece of paper over and over and over again, because I wanted to be an assistant coach here…," Ben-Jumbo said. "I have the piece of paper, my journal entry, and everything, and now I'm here. I think God works in mysterious ways, and he has me here for a reason."
Rooted deeply in her faith, Ben-Jumbo has trusted each step of her coaching journey. Taking an early liking to Xavier after working under Xavier Alum April Phillips '09 while she coached at San Jose State University, Ben-Jumbo was advised to pursue the Musketeers if the opportunity arose.
"[Phillips told me] Xavier is like my college, Loyola Marymount University, but just in the Midwest," Ben-Jumbo said. "[Phillips is] like, 'If you ever get an opportunity to coach there, you have to coach there.' I had been following Head Coach Billi Chambers… I've heard amazing things about her character, about her work ethic, and her desire to be successful in this industry, and I wanted to work for her."
Before coaching, Ben-Jumbo began her playing career at Loyola Marymount University, then moved to England, earning her master's degree while continuing to play basketball. Advancing to professional ranks, Ben-Jumbo competed in Luxembourg and Argentina. Ben-Jumbo's overseas experience helps her recognize the challenges Xavier women's basketball's international players face.
"In those difficult moments when you're missing home or missing your family, you just remember your why and being able to connect with them about their why and why they chose to do this…" Ben-Jumbo said. "When you're an international student, there's something about their maturity and their level of discipline and consistency that I can connect with. They also understand when I communicate with them about the discipline and consistency that is needed to play this game."
After returning to the States, Ben-Jumbo started her coaching career as the Director of Operations at her alma mater, Loyola Marymount, before being promoted to Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. She later moved to rival Pepperdine University and eventually to San Jose State as Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator.
Throughout her career, she has emphasized helping players understand their value beyond the court.
"Student-athletes especially connect their success to their identity," Ben-Jumbo said. "If they fail, then that's who they are; if they succeed, then that's who they are. And I want young women to know that their identity is found apart from their successes and their failures."
In her short time at Xavier, Ben-Jumbo is excited about what she has seen from the team, specifically the relationships that the players are building.
"They're skilled," Ben-Jumbo said. "I also think that you can't win games without relationships. Our team genuinely likes each other on and off the court, and you don't see that everywhere. I love to see that the chemistry is being built."
Grateful for her new role, Ben-Jumbo credits the coaching staff for the support they have already provided her this season.
"I [want to] give a big thank you to Coach Chambers, to the staff that she has for being so welcoming to me in this journey," Ben-Jumbo said. "[The coaching staff] has been together for quite some time, and to allow someone to come in and to have an opinion, and to be able to join what they're doing is something extremely beautiful."
Ben-Jumbo's path to Xavier has been anything but conventional, yet every step along the way has shaped her as she settles into her first season with the Musketeers. And while she once wrote "Xavier" over and over in her journal, that repetition became a reality.
"I was writing in my journal, probably four years ago, I wrote Xavier on a piece of paper over and over and over again, because I wanted to be an assistant coach here…," Ben-Jumbo said. "I have the piece of paper, my journal entry, and everything, and now I'm here. I think God works in mysterious ways, and he has me here for a reason."
Rooted deeply in her faith, Ben-Jumbo has trusted each step of her coaching journey. Taking an early liking to Xavier after working under Xavier Alum April Phillips '09 while she coached at San Jose State University, Ben-Jumbo was advised to pursue the Musketeers if the opportunity arose.
"[Phillips told me] Xavier is like my college, Loyola Marymount University, but just in the Midwest," Ben-Jumbo said. "[Phillips is] like, 'If you ever get an opportunity to coach there, you have to coach there.' I had been following Head Coach Billi Chambers… I've heard amazing things about her character, about her work ethic, and her desire to be successful in this industry, and I wanted to work for her."
Before coaching, Ben-Jumbo began her playing career at Loyola Marymount University, then moved to England, earning her master's degree while continuing to play basketball. Advancing to professional ranks, Ben-Jumbo competed in Luxembourg and Argentina. Ben-Jumbo's overseas experience helps her recognize the challenges Xavier women's basketball's international players face.
"In those difficult moments when you're missing home or missing your family, you just remember your why and being able to connect with them about their why and why they chose to do this…" Ben-Jumbo said. "When you're an international student, there's something about their maturity and their level of discipline and consistency that I can connect with. They also understand when I communicate with them about the discipline and consistency that is needed to play this game."
After returning to the States, Ben-Jumbo started her coaching career as the Director of Operations at her alma mater, Loyola Marymount, before being promoted to Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. She later moved to rival Pepperdine University and eventually to San Jose State as Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator.
Throughout her career, she has emphasized helping players understand their value beyond the court.
"Student-athletes especially connect their success to their identity," Ben-Jumbo said. "If they fail, then that's who they are; if they succeed, then that's who they are. And I want young women to know that their identity is found apart from their successes and their failures."
In her short time at Xavier, Ben-Jumbo is excited about what she has seen from the team, specifically the relationships that the players are building.
"They're skilled," Ben-Jumbo said. "I also think that you can't win games without relationships. Our team genuinely likes each other on and off the court, and you don't see that everywhere. I love to see that the chemistry is being built."
Grateful for her new role, Ben-Jumbo credits the coaching staff for the support they have already provided her this season.
"I [want to] give a big thank you to Coach Chambers, to the staff that she has for being so welcoming to me in this journey," Ben-Jumbo said. "[The coaching staff] has been together for quite some time, and to allow someone to come in and to have an opinion, and to be able to join what they're doing is something extremely beautiful."
Ben-Jumbo's path to Xavier has been anything but conventional, yet every step along the way has shaped her as she settles into her first season with the Musketeers. And while she once wrote "Xavier" over and over in her journal, that repetition became a reality.
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