ROCK HILL, S.C. – Winthrop University head softball coach Mark Cooke is still reeling from the loss of his former player who he lovingly refers to as his daughter.
"She was once in a lifetime for a coach,” he said. “She was a tremendous young lady."
Janiva Willis, 33, was a standout on the Winthrop softball team. She was once named the NCAA South Carolina Woman of the year, and went on to play for the Canadian national team.
She was killed while biking across the country to raise money for the non-profit she founded, called “I Dream in Colors” to help mentor youth.
"She said this is what she wanted to do, was to raise awareness for, and mentor high school kids, help them get a chance to succeed in life,” Cooke said.
She and her crew were stopped for the day in Hudspeth County, Texas when the car she was riding in was struck by a tractor-trailer. She and the driver, Jeffrey Turner, were both killed.
But she died doing what she loved, and Cooke said she was successful at it.
"I've been fielding calls and text messages from conference coaches, players that she competed against, people all over Canada, her high school coach. She was well thought of by everyone."
Cooke says Winthrop gives out a leadership award every year, and it will renamed in honor of Janiva Willis.