Averett University Director of Athletics Meg Stevens named Aby Diop as head coach of the women’s basketball program on Wednesday.
Diop comes to Averett following three years as an assistant coach at Shenandoah University, where she helped guide the Hornets to the 2019 Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament title and an NCAA appearance.
“I am very thankful and excited to be the next women’s basketball coach at Averett University,” Diop said. “I’d like to thank Averett President Dr. Tiffany M. Franks and Director of Athletics Meg Stevens for this opportunity to take the next step in my coaching career. I am looking forward to working with the wonderful student-athletes and athletics department at Averett, and continuing to build on the winning environment within the Averett women’s basketball program.”
Diop takes over an Averett women’s basketball program that has won a program-record 18 games in each of the last three seasons, including a program-best 13 conference wins the last two years. In 2018-19, Averett won the USA South Conference East Division regular season crown for the first time in program history.
“We are excited to welcome Aby Diop to the Averett community as our new women’s basketball head coach,” Stevens said. “Aby has proven experience as an assistant coach and is ready to be a head coach. In addition to her knowledge of the region, she understands the Division III philosophy and the value of the student-athlete experience. Aby will be a great fit within our department.”
A native of Queens, New York, Diop played collegiately at the University of Mary Washington, where she was a two-year team captain. During her four seasons, Mary Washington went 88-22 overall, won the 2012 Capital Athletic Conference championship and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
After graduating from Mary Washington in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Diop worked with the NFL’s Washington Redskins from 2014 to 2016 as an account executive and later as a ticket operations coordinator. She returned to her basketball roots in August 2016 when she was hired as an assistant coach at Shenandoah.
In addition to her college coaching experience, Diop has extensive camp and AAU basketball coaching experience. She also served as an assistant coach with the NoVA Heat AAU team.
“It’s an exciting day for Averett University as we welcome Coach Diop to the family,” Franks said. “She will be a tremendous mentor to our student-athletes as well as an asset to the university.”
