Jana graduated from Lawrence Co. High School in Lawrence, TN. She played volleyball, basketball and softball as a high school athlete. During the 1979-1982 seasons she was All-District in all three sports. After high school, she went on to excel as a member of the University of North Alabama Lady Lions basketball team. She was a member of the 1984-1985 Gulf South Conference Championship Team and was selected to the 

GSC All-Tournament Team that same year. After graduation from college, she spent two years as a graduate assistant for the University before taking over the basketball program at Deshler High School for the last 19 years. In addition to basketball she has coached softball, volleyball, tennis ans swimming. She has led the Lady Tigers to numerous county, area and regional championships. Lady Tiger basketball teams have won 4 state championships under her leadership and she has been State 4-A Basketball Coach of the Year 3 times and Alabama Basketball Foundation Coach