The New Orleans Privateers women’s basketball team will have two new faces on the sideline with the hiring of assistant coaches, Jordan Hines and Wyketha Harrell.
Hines stays in state after her last venture as an assistant at Louisiana-Lafayette. Hines started as director of basketball operations in 2013 and was moved to assistant coach ahead of last season. The Cajuns won the Women’s Basketball Invitational and recorded a 23-12 record.
While with the Cajuns, Hines was responsible for the development of Keke Veal who won the WBI Most Valuable Player Award. At New Orleans, Hines will oversee the progress of point guards and will coordinate all special events. Hines will also be responsible for academically monitoring the sophomore class.
“When hiring a coach, there’s a plethora of things that I take into consideration,” said Coach Keeshawn Davenport. “Jordan had me sold from our first phone conversation. She’s a very determined individual with an amazingly positive attitude. She brings a fresh energetic presence to our staff. She’s a young woman of character, who is able to relate to our student-athletes but is also mature enough to be a great role model for them.”
A native of Oklahoma, Hines has spent the bulk of her time in Louisiana. After starting her collegiate playing career at Independence CC in Kansas, Hines transferred to McNeese State where she finished her undergraduate degree in Psychology in 2012.
Coach Davenport went on to state, “Jordan knows what it feels like and what it takes to win a Southland Conference Championship, considering she won two at McNeese as a player. I expect her to use that knowledge to help our program get to the next level.”
“I chose UNO because I saw a perfect fit with the amazing coaching staff. I am super excited to be a part of Coach Davenport’s program as it will make strides to the top of the Southland conference,” said Hines. “I truly believe this program has the staff, talent, and determination to make success the standard and we’re ready to make it happen!”
Harrell joins the Privateers after a three year stint at Kent State as an assistant coach. While at Kent State, Harrell recruited and coached Cici Shannon who recently signed a contract to play with Reims Basket in France. Under the tutelage of Harrell, the 6’4 center earned Academic All-MAC honors and was a MAC All-Conference honoree (3rd team).
Harrell played a vital role in the academic success of the women’s basketball program at Kent State. Her daily contact with the student-athletes and the Athletic Academic Service staff helped the team to attain the highest team GPA in each of the last four seasons. During her time at Kent State the team had a perfect graduation rate.
“I’m really excited about Wyketha joining our staff. She’s a very passionate coach who brings a winning mentality to the program. She has successfully recruited in the mid-west and I am looking forward to her bringing that diversity to our staff. She has been a part of programs that have experienced success both on and off the court and she’s the kind of coach I want on my staff, said Davenport.”
Harrell also worked at Missouri-Kansas City as an assistant from 2007-12. In her final season as an assistant, UMKC made their first WNIT appearance in school history. That season, UMKC won 22 games, defeated three RPI Top 100 teams, and advanced to the Summit League Tournament Championship. Two players from Harrell’s tenure, Chazny Morris-Iceland and Alyssa Klein-Netherlands, went on to play professionally in Europe.
Harrell will monitor the freshmen academic progress. She is also in charge of the post players’ development. Additionally, Harrell will assist with game scheduling and will be the team’s community service liaison. As summer camps are welcomed back to the Lakefront Arena, she will be director of summer camps.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to be a part of Coach Davenport’s staff. She operates with a high level of integrity and we share the same vision and values. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the standards she has put in place for her student-athletes and staff,” said Harrell.
“New Orleans is a place with great opportunity and strong diversity, and Coach Davenport has done a great job building chemistry among the staff and student athletes which will lead to a great amount of success on the court, in the community, and in the classroom.”
http://www.unoprivateers.com/news/2015/9/22/WBB_0922152243.aspx
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