HBU has hired former Husky standout Anna Strickland as assistant women’s basketball coach and will join the staff on Sept. 1 Head Coach Donna Finnie announced Thursday.
“Anna was my first signing as head coach at HBU, so it is pretty special that we are now hiring her as an assistant coach for our program,” Finnie said. “Watching her grow and realize that her passion for the game has gotten to where she wants to give back has been incredible. Who better to talk with recruits about playing at HBU than the young woman who led the nation in rebounding her senior year and set many records during her time representing the Huskies?”
Strickland led all NCAA Division I players with 14.2 rebounds per game, was a second-team All-Southland Conference selection, made the league’s all-defensive team and earned academic all-conference honors in 2015-16. She was also selected to the all-defensive team and academic all-conference team in 2014-15. In the Huskies’ 2016 Southland Conference Tournament first round matchup against Lamar, Strickland had 21 points, 31 rebounds, eight assists and seven blocked shots. Her 31 boards broke the Southland Conference record and were the most in any Division I women’s basketball game that season.
“HBU has always felt like home,” Strickland said. “I loved being part of the women’s basketball team as a player and I am eager to be part of it now as a coach. I am so grateful for this opportunity to share my love of the game, while helping continue the success of the women’s program. I am hoping I will be able to give back to this program what I gained from it.”
A native of The Woodlands, Texas, Strickland ranks 15th in HBU in scoring with 799 in her three seasons from 2013-2016. She also ranks sixth all-time with 861 rebounds, second with 9.5 rebounds per game, tied for 12th with 189 assists and third with 127 blocked shots. She broke the school single-season record with 411 rebounds as a senior and blocked 63 shots that year, which ranks third all-time.
Following her playing career, Strickland spent one season as the Huskies’ Director of Basketball Operations, before joining Price Waterhouse Cooper as an auditor. Her hiring rounds out HBU’s staff, as assistant coach Amber Moore and director of basketball operations Taylor Stahly joined the Huskies earlier this month.
“I have a special place in my heart for Anna and her family and I’m beyond proud to have her on staff, as she epitomizes what our program stands for,” Finnie said. “Anna and I have the same goal for this program, and I know it’s a huge reason behind her decision to join the coaching ranks. I expect Anna to have an immediate impact with our program and am excited for Anna, Amber (Moore) and Taylor (Stahly) to join myself and Becca (Allison) in preparing these Huskies the best we can this year.”
HBU opens the 2019-20 season at home against LSU Shreveport on Nov. 5 in Sharp Gym.
