CSUN interim women’s basketball coach Lindsey Foster has announced the hiring of Sheila Boykin as an assistant coach.
“I am very excited to join Coach Foster at CSUN,” Boykin said. “After speaking to her about her mission and goals for the program, I couldn’t help but want to be part of it. My father played at CSUN, and the school has great things to offer student-athletes. At the end of the day, I want to give back what was once given to me.”
Boykin, whose father, Shelton played for the Matadors’ men’s basketball team from 1990-92, comes to CSUN from San Diego State where he served as a graduate assistant on the Aztec women’s basketball staff from 2018-20. In her role with the Aztecs, she oversaw opponent practice coverage, the team photoshoot, and coordinated alumni relations and parent outreach. She also served as the team’s liaison for academics and helped run San Diego State’s Summer camps. Boykin worked towards her master’s degree in homeland security from SDSU.
Boykin was one of the nation’s top high school recruits coming out of Long Beach Poly High School in 2011. She led Poly to three Moore League titles and was named Moore League MVP and CIF-SS Division I-AA Player of the Year as a senior.
After choosing to play collegiately at LSU, Boykin went on to play in 113 games over four years for the Tigers, making 42 starts. As a senior, she averaged 5.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. In 2014, she received the Eye of the Tiger Award, which is given out annually to an LSU student-athlete who overcomes adversity in their life to succeed both in the classroom and in competition.
Upon graduating from LSU with a degree in interdisciplinary studies, she embarked on a professional career overseas, playing for Panathlitikos (Greece) and Bayrakli (Turkey).
She began her coaching career in 2017 when she helped lead Warren High School in Downey, Calif. to a CIF Southern Section Championship as an assistant coach. Boykin also served as a head coach for the West Coast Premier Basketball Club and the program’s Premier Gold club from 2017-18.
“It is always my goal to surround our student-athletes with exceptional people,” Foster said. “Sheila brings to our program a growth mindset, high energy, the ability to build great relationships, and valuable communication skills that will help to empower and serve our young women well. Her playing experience at Louisiana State University in the SEC – a “Power 5″ conference – and professionally across Europe will be a huge asset in player development for our current young women. It will also be a factor in recruiting high performing future prospects who have the competitive desire to be their very best. I am very excited about the addition of Sheila to our program.”
