Coach Elise is a Kansas native who has played basketball from a young age. She began playing varsity in eighth grade and was a four year letter-winner in high school. Elise won the 3A State Championship in her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons at Olathe Christian. Coach Elise also won NACA National Tournament titles her junior and senior year, and was named to the NACA All Tournament team her senior year. Coach Elise attended Drake University on an academic scholarship and maintained a 3.5 GPA while she was there.