ROCHESTER, Mich. - The road to becoming one of Oakland basketball's Best defenders in program history wasn't easy for April Kidd. A cross-state hooper from Grand Rapids, Mich., Kidd's path to being a Golden Grizzly was one of many twists and turns, even post-playing career.

Coming out of Grand Rapids Central High School, Kidd was a four-year letter-winner and three year team-captain, averaging around 16 points, five rebounds, five assists, and four steals as a do-it-all guard for her team.

With offers from schools like Central Michigan and Kent State, Kidd yielded many offers her senior year of high school.

"It was a confusing process. It made me question a lot of things, but you can really tell when coaches really want to pour their effort into a student-athlete and really show that they are wanted," said Kidd. "Despite all the other offers I received, I chose Oakland after two visits. I fell in love with the coaches, the campus… everything just kind of wowed me".

Traveling across the state to be a Golden Grizzly, Kidd's college career didn't start with the glory she imagined. She described it as sort of "awkward" as Eileen Shea-Hilliard, the head coach who initially recruited Kidd, announced her intent to leave the program.

"I didn't really know what was going to happen next. Was I still on scholarship? Who's coming in now?" Kidd stated.

Head Coach Beckie Francis was re-introduced, answering some of Kidd's questions, but the unknowns about the journey ahead of her still remained.

While having to adapt to her basketball future, she also was in the midst of learning how to live on her own at 18 years old almost 130 miles away from home.

Kidd explained, "It was an adjustment being on my own, having to be completely independent and adapting academically… It was a big change. At the same time, my role in basketball changed too. Everyone is good coming into college, so I wasn't necessarily the best player on the team anymore. I went from playing point guard to off-guard and I had to really find where I fit in at".

Her freshman year Kidd played with limited minutes. While her role expanded as the season went on, Kidd didn't necessarily explode onto the scene.

In 2005-06, her freshman year, Oakland clinched their second Division I NCAA Tournament bid. Kidd said the experience taught her a lot. The team finished fifth in the Mid-American Conference, having moments of unsureness about how far they could go, but seeing a team come together and make a run showed Kidd what it took to succeed.

"It helped build my confidence that dreams come true, anything can happen, and you can achieve anything you work hard for and put your mind to," said Kidd.

She credited Anne Haefli, a senior on that team, who manifested and served as a team leader for that squad.

As her role steadily grew for Oakland, Kidd credited Team Sports Psychologist Kevin Wildenhaus for keeping her mentally ready and allowing her to stay mentally prepared.

"He really changed my thought process. I would sit on the bench and get my mental prepared for the game. When I realized I wasn't getting that much playing time, he was a huge reason why I stayed ready," said Kidd.

The feisty guard developed the nickname Cobra for her tenacious defensive intensity, and thus her playing career took off.

"He gave me the nickname 'Cobra' one day, and told me to imagine myself as a snake. I was always good at defense, but I was out of control. I had to figure out a way to do these things without fouling," she stated. "He told me that Cobras attack, they bite, but they only strike at a certain time. From that point on I took that and went to another level".

Kidd began to study her opponents. Everything from their patterns, their moves, and their tendencies. Through her long film sessions and nightly scouting reports, Kidd began to earn her playing time as a defensive stopper who was a menace for Oakland's point of attack defense.

Kidd went from starting just three games in her sophomore season in 2006-07, to becoming a full time starter in her final two seasons.

Her junior year she started 28 of her 29 games played, averaging 9.1 points per game, 5.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.6 steals, including three double-doubles. She only continued to level up her senior season, starting 30 of her 33 games played while increasing all her numbers averaging 10.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 3.2 steals per game. She finished off the season with a phenomenal performance in th eSummit League Championship Tournament, averaging 18 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 5.5 steals per game in th tournament.

Kidd ended her career as the all-time Oakland Women's Basketball leader in career steals (254) and steals in a single season (107) in 2008-09, two records that still stand today.

Post-playing career, Kidd's path wasn't a straight-line journey. A path with obstacles mirroring those that she came into college with, Kidd's career and passion were just beginning as her academic career ended.

As one of the premier players in the history of a Division I program, Kidd hopped around trying to reach her dream of playing professional basketball. She tried out overseas before eventually making the scout team for the Detroit Shock under Detroit Pistons legend Rick Mahorn.

While on the scout team for the Shock, the team made the move to Tulsa, Okla. where Kidd drove south on her own for an official tryout.

At the time the WNBA lost several teams and was in a sort of rebuilding state, prioritizing current players and acquiring overseas athletes as opposed to those trying out. Kidd made it to one of the final rounds before falling short of making the team.

"I got to see firsthand how things were in the WNBA, and it was tough.It was great to have that humbling experience," Kidd said.

The former Oakland star moved back home to Grand Rapids, Mich. where just like her offers coming out of high school, she was flooded with offers to now be a coach in her community.

She became the JV Coach at Creston High School while also working at a local Boys and Girls Club.

"At first I figured coaching wasn't for me, so I didn't pursue it right away," stated Kidd. "I'm known in my city for basketball. I have been around youth basketball so much and it's something I love and continue to work in."

Kidd left coaching for a few years to follow another passion of hers, working with children as a youth advocate specialist.

Finding another calling, Kidd stated, "It's been a blessing because I've built relationships with students that are less fortunate and who sometimes need that extra guidance and push. I was once in their position and just want to give them their voice. We know some of the things that these students are going through, a lot with trauma." 

Even with her players, Kidd uses her experiences to help young student-athletes figure out what they want to do post-high school, how to get scholarships and how to handle moving forward in life at such a young age.

"Having someone to give them that guidance is great, because even some parents don't know how to help them with these sorts of things. I know and I've been there, so I want to help them as much as I can."

Kidd setup clinics and ran individual training still, coaching AAU until she officially returned to coaching in 2015, taking a position as the Girls Varsity Coach at Union High School where she is headed into her ninth year as head coach, guiding the Red Hawks to  a 46-37 record in her time at the helm.

She also currently serves as the Dean of Students at Harrison Park Academy in Grand Rapids. 

Although unsure how long she will continue to coach, Kidd plans to continue her involvement in girl's basketball in hopes to continue its growth as she commits to helping the youth in as many ways as she can.