Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Where Are They Now? - Breana Koné
2/9/2020 8:31:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – As a child, Breana Koné's parents told her she was capable of anything. And that mentality stuck with her.
"I feel like it's kind of a good thing to keep with you through life," said Koné, a former Florida Atlantic University basketball player. "You just don't know till you try, so why not?"
Koné displayed that mental toughness during the 2008–2009 basketball season. In the preceding months, she married Seydou Koné, a FAU basketball player; Koné also conceived their first daughter, Ameera. Then a senior, she could have graduated, gave birth, then transitioned into her career. But she wanted to keep playing – despite the challenges returning presented.
"It was something in me that was just killing me to get back on that court," Koné said.
Koné redshirted in 2008–09, hoping to play the following season and pursue her master's degree. She spent that year attending every practice, doing "whatever I could do" to help the team off the court until she could do so on it.
In 2009–10, Koné returned to game action – and stood out like she had never left. Appearing in all but one contest, she led FAU in blocks (21) and finished third in field-goal percentage (46%).
"It was one of the toughest things I've done, but it was so rewarding," said Koné, whose 105 career blocks are still the third most in FAU history. "I would never, ever do it any other way."
Koné began working in communications after her comeback season. She spent two seasons with the Miami Dolphins, interviewing opposing players and transcribing responses for reporters, and worked in production for a year with Great Healthworks. But she left the field to be closer to home, setting her on a career path she "never expected" to follow, becoming a teacher at Boca Community Middle School.
In 2014, Boca Middle asked Koné if she wanted to coach one of its sports teams. She was interested. But there was a catch: The school wanted her to coach boys lacrosse – a sport she never played. Koné hesitated, but eventually accepted the job. And the results proved better than anything she – or the school – could have expected: a first-year championship.
That experience inspired Koné to continue coaching. And in 2015, she was back in her element: coaching Boca Middle's girls basketball team.
"It's been great to be a part of coaching the next generation in the sport I love," said Koné, who's entering her sixth year as a basketball coach, "to ensure these young players get the proper coaching, develop the right skills, and to educate them on what it takes (if that's their goal) to get to the next level."
In addition to teaching and coaching at Boca Middle, Koné works – mostly on the business side – at SK Basketball, her husband's skill-development company. Girls on Koné's team and across South Florida train at SK – an opportunity unlike anything she had growing up but is happy to help provide now.
"It's unbelievable, for girls like me who wanted to play (at middle school age), but who could only play with the boys because there weren't many girls interested in playing basketball," Koné said. "There's definitely nothing wrong with that – it's great to play against the guys. But to see how far women's basketball has come, especially for this age group, in just a few short years – imagine what the future holds for this next generation of young female athletes. It's exciting.
"In regard to continuing growth in women's sports, I believe it's important to continue to push for what's right, necessary, and encourage the next generation to use their voice."
Koné always had talent – she broke Seabreeze High School's shot-blocking record and was a dominant interior defender at FAU – but her disciplined mindset set her apart.
That mindset helped her return to college basketball a year after giving birth. It pushed her through a half-marathon run at 29 weeks pregnant in 2013. That mindset allowed Koné to give a master's presentation from her labor bed -- 30 minutes before she gave birth to her youngest daughter, Jada, who's now six.
Now, through sports, Koné's translating the value of discipline to the next generation.
"Sports taught me the fun of playing, the more serious part of competing, and ultimately the importance of discipline," Koné said. "Basketball at FAU taught me that the focus was not the contest alone; over time it's taught me the ability to deal with disappointment and success with grace and maturity and to push towards any goal I set out to accomplish. Our goal is to translate these lessons to our children and our players so they may learn from them as well."
"I feel like it's kind of a good thing to keep with you through life," said Koné, a former Florida Atlantic University basketball player. "You just don't know till you try, so why not?"
Koné displayed that mental toughness during the 2008–2009 basketball season. In the preceding months, she married Seydou Koné, a FAU basketball player; Koné also conceived their first daughter, Ameera. Then a senior, she could have graduated, gave birth, then transitioned into her career. But she wanted to keep playing – despite the challenges returning presented.
"It was something in me that was just killing me to get back on that court," Koné said.
Koné redshirted in 2008–09, hoping to play the following season and pursue her master's degree. She spent that year attending every practice, doing "whatever I could do" to help the team off the court until she could do so on it.
In 2009–10, Koné returned to game action – and stood out like she had never left. Appearing in all but one contest, she led FAU in blocks (21) and finished third in field-goal percentage (46%).
"It was one of the toughest things I've done, but it was so rewarding," said Koné, whose 105 career blocks are still the third most in FAU history. "I would never, ever do it any other way."
Koné began working in communications after her comeback season. She spent two seasons with the Miami Dolphins, interviewing opposing players and transcribing responses for reporters, and worked in production for a year with Great Healthworks. But she left the field to be closer to home, setting her on a career path she "never expected" to follow, becoming a teacher at Boca Community Middle School.
In 2014, Boca Middle asked Koné if she wanted to coach one of its sports teams. She was interested. But there was a catch: The school wanted her to coach boys lacrosse – a sport she never played. Koné hesitated, but eventually accepted the job. And the results proved better than anything she – or the school – could have expected: a first-year championship.
That experience inspired Koné to continue coaching. And in 2015, she was back in her element: coaching Boca Middle's girls basketball team.
"It's been great to be a part of coaching the next generation in the sport I love," said Koné, who's entering her sixth year as a basketball coach, "to ensure these young players get the proper coaching, develop the right skills, and to educate them on what it takes (if that's their goal) to get to the next level."
In addition to teaching and coaching at Boca Middle, Koné works – mostly on the business side – at SK Basketball, her husband's skill-development company. Girls on Koné's team and across South Florida train at SK – an opportunity unlike anything she had growing up but is happy to help provide now.
"It's unbelievable, for girls like me who wanted to play (at middle school age), but who could only play with the boys because there weren't many girls interested in playing basketball," Koné said. "There's definitely nothing wrong with that – it's great to play against the guys. But to see how far women's basketball has come, especially for this age group, in just a few short years – imagine what the future holds for this next generation of young female athletes. It's exciting.
"In regard to continuing growth in women's sports, I believe it's important to continue to push for what's right, necessary, and encourage the next generation to use their voice."
Koné always had talent – she broke Seabreeze High School's shot-blocking record and was a dominant interior defender at FAU – but her disciplined mindset set her apart.
That mindset helped her return to college basketball a year after giving birth. It pushed her through a half-marathon run at 29 weeks pregnant in 2013. That mindset allowed Koné to give a master's presentation from her labor bed -- 30 minutes before she gave birth to her youngest daughter, Jada, who's now six.
Now, through sports, Koné's translating the value of discipline to the next generation.
"Sports taught me the fun of playing, the more serious part of competing, and ultimately the importance of discipline," Koné said. "Basketball at FAU taught me that the focus was not the contest alone; over time it's taught me the ability to deal with disappointment and success with grace and maturity and to push towards any goal I set out to accomplish. Our goal is to translate these lessons to our children and our players so they may learn from them as well."
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