University of Tulsa first-year head coach Angie Nelp announced today the appointment of Jackie Stiles, Dodie Dunson II and Sydni Means to the women’s basketball coaching staff.
“I am thrilled to have Jackie, Dodie, and Sydni join our TU family,” Nelp said. “All three are amazing individuals who embody the values and mission of our program and The University of Tulsa. They are genuinely passionate about the development of our young women for success both on and off the court. I am excited to work alongside such gifted coaches as we serve our student-athletes, university and community.”
Stiles comes to Tulsa from Oklahoma, Dunson from UAB and Means previously coached at Mercer.
Jackie Stiles
“Jackie’s experience as a coach and a professional player will be invaluable to the development of our players,” Nelp said. “Jackie is not just an accomplished and successful player at the highest level, but she is an experienced coach that will help take our program to new heights. She is a relentless worker and an incredibly giving person. I look forward to everything she will bring to our program as a coach, recruiter and mentor.”
Stiles comes to Tulsa after serving as an assistant coach at Oklahoma for two seasons (2019-21), helping the Sooners earn 24 wins.
Prior to OU, Stiles was an assistant coach and strength and conditioning coach at her alma mater, Missouri State, for six seasons (2013-19), helping the Bears make six consecutive postseason appearances, including berths in the NCAA Tournament in 2016 and 2019. Stiles was a part of Missouri State’s pair of upset wins in the 2019 NCAA Tournament over No. 6 seed DePaul and No. 3 seed Iowa State. The Bears finished with a 25-10 overall record in 2018-19 and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2001. Stiles also helped the Bears win the Missouri Valley Tournament Championship in 2016 and 2019.
Previously, Stiles worked as an assistant coach at Loyola Marymount during the 2012-13 season.
One of the most prolific players in collegiate history, Stiles ranks third all-time with 3,393 career points. She was the top scorer all-time in NCAA Division I women’s basketball from 2001-17 and helped Missouri State reach the 2001 Final Four. As a senior, Stiles scored an NCAA-record 1,062 points during the 2000-01 season and was awarded the 2001 Wade Trophy and the 2001 Honda Awards Player of the Year.
She finished her collegiate career as an Associated Press, Kodak and United States Basketball Writers Association first-team All-American, as well as a four-time Missouri Valley Conference first-team selection and a three-time MVC Player of the Year. The first-ever Missouri State player selected in the WNBA Draft, Stiles was picked No. 4 overall by the Portland Fire in 2001 and earned the league’s Rookie of the Year award that season.
Stiles was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 2016, and has memberships in the Missouri State, MVC, Springfield Area, Missouri Sports and National High School halls of fame.
She also is the owner of J.Stiles Total Training (2007-present) and Jackie Stiles Basketball Camps and Clinics (2001-present).
Stiles earned her bachelor’s degree in fitness promotion from Missouri State in 2002.
Dodie Dunson II
“Dodie is another outstanding addition to our staff,” Nelp said. “His great energy and work ethic are infectious. He is truly a teacher of the game and easily connects with people. He has a proven track record in player development at every position on the floor. He will have an immediate impact on the success of our team and be instrumental in our recruiting efforts.”
Dunson comes to TU after serving as an assistant coach at UAB for three years (2018-21). He helped the Blazers record 56 wins, including back-to-back 20+ win seasons in his first two years. In the 2018-19 season, UAB posted a 26-7 overall record, marking the second-most wins in program history, including a second-best 12-4 Conference USA record, and advanced to the WNIT Second Round. UAB had six all-conference honorees during his time with the Blazers.
Prior to UAB, Dunson was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at SIU-Edwardsville for two years (2016-18). He helped the Cougars earn 31 wins, make back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference tournament appearances and play in the 2018 Women’s Basketball Invitational. Dunson was also instrumental in coaching three all-conference selections.
Previously. Dunson served as the director of basketball operations for both the men’s and women’s teams at Western Illinois (2014-16), as the associate head coach at Wabash Valley College (2013-14), as the Bloomington High School boys varsity coach (2011-13) and as Team Illinois Educational AAU U16 boys associate director (2009-13).
Dunson played his freshman season at Iowa State (2006-07), where he played in all 31 games and averaged 5.2 points, scored 30 three-pointers, the fourth most for a Cyclone rookie, and shot 81.6-percent from the free throw line. Dunson transferred to Vincennes University for one season, helping the Trailblazers to a 28-6 record, and was named as the MVP of the National Junior College Association of American (NJCAA) District 3 Tournament.
Dunson finished his career at Bradley, playing the 2008-09 and 2010-11 seasons, after missing all but two games of the 2009-10 season due to injury. He tallied 692 points in 68 games for 10.1 points per game and was named a 2011 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award winner.
Dunson graduated from Bradley with a degree in social work in 2011 and earned his master’s degree in physical education and coaching pedagogy from SIUE in 2017.
Dunson established the Dodie Dunson II Foundation in 2019, which was created to inspire, motivate and provide resources for people in at risk youth communities.
Dunson married his wife, Tameka, in 2015.
Sydni Means
“Sydni is a rising star in the coaching community,” Nelp said. “She is simply a winner and a leader. I have no doubt that she will be able to impart that to our team. She is a great teacher on the floor and brings an unmatched enthusiasm for investing in and developing our student-athletes.”
Means comes to Tulsa after serving as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Mercer, for three seasons (2018-21). She helped the Bears record 52 wins in three seasons, including a 19-7 mark in 2020-21 and a Southern Conference tournament championship and NCAA First Round appearance in 2019.
As a student-athlete, Means guided the Bears to 99 wins, three Southern Conference regular season titles, one Southern Conference tournament championship, and four postseason berths. She concluded her career ranked second in assists (686) and steals (246), and fifth in free throw percentage (.779). Her 264 assists as a senior ranked second for a single season in school history.
Means earned her bachelor’s degree in communication in 2018 and her master’s degree in higher education leadership in 2020, both from Mercer.
