Greensboro College President Lawrence D. Czarda and Director of Athletics Kim Strable have announced the hiring of Laquanda Dawkins Prince as the Pride’s new Head Women’s Basketball Coach. Coach Prince brings numerous years of coaching experience at the Division I and II levels to Greensboro, while also spending years as a mentor and educator. Her appointment brings her back to her home State of North Carolina.
” We are confident that Coach Prince will continue the decades long legacy of excellence by the Greensboro College women’s basketball program both on and off the court,” said President Czarda. “We are excited to have Coach Prince as a part of the Pride family and I know she will be an excellent addition to our campus.”
Coach Prince is well known in the State of North Carolina, having been a four-year letter winner for the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill from 1995-1999. During her time with the Tar Heels, UNC won three Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championships, was on the ACC Academic Honor Roll and was a recipient of the UNC Coaches’ Award. In addition, her jersey is retired at Crest Senior High School in Shelby, NC.
After graduating from UNC, Coach Prince began her coaching career at Gardner-Webb University as a graduate assistant, before becoming the Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Iowa from 2000-2003. In 2003, she served as an Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at Florida International University for three years and then spent four years (2006-2010) in the same position with Winthrop University.
Coach Prince received her first head coaching position at Southern Polytechnic State University (now known as Kennesaw State University) in 2010 and remained there until 2014, when she accepted an Assistant position at Tennessee Tech University. After her time in Tennessee, Coach Prince was named the Head Women’s Basketball at Division II and CIAA member Elizabeth City State University and eventually went on to join the staff at Jacksonville University in Florida.
“Coach Prince’s success in basketball, serving in a variety of roles, is reflective of her record-setting performances playing at Crest High School followed by contributing to three ACC championships and a pair of NCAA Sweet Sixteen’s at UNC-Chapel Hill. Playing under Hall of Fame coach Sylvia Hatchell gave her a great launching pad into coaching,” said Director of Athletics Kim Strable. ” We are looking forward to seeing her courtside in the months and years to come.”
Coach Prince comes to Greensboro from Jacksonville, FL, where she most recently served as the Head Girls Basketball at Yulee High School, while also serving as a mentor and educator for the last six years. During her career she has coached six All-Americans, one National Player of the Year, one National Player of the Week, 10 All-Academic Student-Athletes, 19 All-Conference Selections, two Defensive Players of the Year, two Newcomers of the Year, nine All-Tournament Teams and one State Farm All-American.
“First and foremost, we serve an awesome God, and through His grace and mercy He covers my life,” said Coach Prince. “My husband and I would like to thank President Czarda, Kim Strable and the search committee for believing in me. Greensboro College is a special place, and I look forward to cultivating special outcomes. Having the opportunity to visit campus, I knew it would be a pleasure to work alongside an amazing, passionate administration and staff. I don’t take for granted the opportunity at hand. Being back in my home state is an awesome feeling. I can’t wait to lead this program toward continued success while transforming the lives of the young women we develop, coach and inspire. I’m excited to embark on this new journey with The Pride Family and our women’s basketball program.”
The former Laquanda Dawkins, is married to Joseph Prince. The couple wedded on October 16, 2021.
