Xavier University of Louisiana announced Thursday the hiring of Tarniesha Scott as assistant women’s basketball coach. Scott, who has experience as an NAIA head coach and an NCAA Division I assistant coach, began her XU duties Monday (Aug. 1, 2016).
“I am very appreciative of the Xavier administration for giving me the opportunity to advance my coaching career with the Gold Nuggets,” Scott said. “I’m excited to be a part of such a great university and successful women’s basketball program. I’m ready to assist the program in achieving our desired goals and help further our success.”
Scott was on the women’s basketball staff at Talladega College for two seasons (2012-14). She led the Lady Tornadoes to a 10-3 record as interim head coach to close the 2013-14 season, the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship (by a half-game over Xavier), a berth in the NAIA Division I National Championship and a No. 25 ranking in the postseason coaches poll.
Scott was an assistant coach at NCAA DI Prairie View A&M during the 2014-15 season. She helped the Lady Panthers tie for third place in the SWAC and win non-conference road games against Houston and Sam Houston State.
Scott also was a volunteer assistant coach at UT Dallas, her alma mater, during the 2011-12 season. She played at UTD from 2007-11 and ranks second there in career rebounds and sixth in career points. Scott led the American Southwest Conference her senior year with 17.4 points per game and was first-team All-ASC and was honorable-mention All-America on teams chosen by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and Women’s D-III News. Scott was Academic All-ASC three consecutive seasons.
“Tarniesha Scott has great passion for basketball,” XU head coach Bo Browder said. “She has head-coaching experience. She has recruited at the NAIA and NCAA DI levels. Her communication skills are outstanding.
“But what I like most about Tarniesha is that she is a winner on and off the court. She possesses great integrity, and she’ll be a great role model for our student-athletes.”
Scott is an Arkansas native and a graduate of that state’s Jacksonville High School. She replaces Darrilyn Broussard, who resigned during the spring after 15 seasons at Xavier, the last 10 as associate head coach.
Xavier’s Gold Nuggets were 22-12 in 2015-16, won the GCAC Tournament for the sixth time in 11 seasons and qualified for the NAIA Division I National Championship for the 19th time in 22 seasons.
Photo Courtesy XULA Athletics
Tagged with: GCAC NAIA
