It’s been a busy first 30 days on the job for Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Semeka Randall. Coach Randall has talked to all of the players, monitored their progress in summer school, gotten them acclimated to her expectations and intensity during workouts and individuals, and met with coaches and Bulldog supporters in the Huntsville and Birmingham areas. She recently completed her coaching staff with the hiring of Elaine Powell and Terry Palmer.
Elaine Powell is no stranger to the SWAC. Coach Powell was an assistant coach at Grambling State University from 2008-2012. She joined Coach Randall’s staff at Ohio University as an assistant in 2012-2013. Prior to her coaching career, Powell spent almost a decade playing professionally with the ABL, WNBA, and the European League. She is a 3-time WNBA Champion with the Detroit Shock (2003, 2006, and 2008) and was drafted by the Orlando Miracle in 1999, the first player in the history of LSU Women’s Basketball to be drafted by a WNBA team.
"Coach Powell brings a wealth of experience to Bulldog Basketball," said Head Coach Semeka Randall. "Not only is she familiar with the SWAC; she has played and won at the highest level of basketball; she is a great recruiter and developer of talent; and she’s a player’s coach."
Powell is a 2002 graduate of LSU and was a 2-time All-SEC player while a member of the Lady Tigers Basketball from 1995-1997.
Terry Palmer has made his mark coaching women’s basketball at several SIAC schools. Coach Palmer is also quite familiar with Alabama A&M University because of the friendly battles he had when the Bulldogs were in the SIAC.
Coach Palmer has spent time at Tuskegee University, Lane College in Jackson, TN, and Paine College in Augusta, GA. Palmer spent nine successful seasons (2002-2010) as an assistant basketball coach, Head Softball Coach, and Interim Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Paine. The Paine Lions captured back-to-back SIAC Women’s Basketball Conference Championships in 2005 and 2006 and competed in the NCAA Division II basketball tournament during Coach Palmer’s tenure.
"Coach Palmer is a seasoned coach and balances the dynamics of my coaching staff," said Randall. "He is very familiar with the Tennessee Valley area in terms of recruiting and we’ll rely heavily on his contacts and ability to navigate the processes here at A&M."
Coach Palmer graduated from Paine College in 1994 and received his master’s from Tuskegee in 1999. He joins the Bulldogs from Benedict College in Columbia, SC, where he was an academic counselor and assistant women’s basketball coach.
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