Head Coach Adia Barnes has announced the addition of three graduate assistants to her Arizona Women’s Basketball staff ahead of the 2022-23 season. Anika Collins, Brady Haggerty and Emily Esposito will begin their graduate degrees at the University of Arizona while working with the program.
ANIKA COLLINS
Collins is a 2022 graduate of Stephen F. Austin where she spent three seasons as the head team manager for the Ladyjacks’ basketball program. She was a part Mark Kellogg’s staff in Nacogdoches during a historically successful tenure that included an average of 25 wins per season, back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, two regular season conference championships and a Southland Tournament championship. The Frisco, Texas native earned her bachelor’s degree from SFA in Sports Business.
“We are so excited to welcome Anika. She is smart, ambitious, organized and a tremendous worker with a great sense of service. She is everything that you want in a graduate assist with high-level experience and success in college basketball. There is no doubt in my mind that she will be a tremendous director of operations in her very bright future.”
-Head Coach Adia Barnes
BRADY HAGGERTY
After already earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona, Haggerty will continue his studies in graduate school while assisting the team. He graduated summa cum laude from Arizona in May and spent three seasons as a practice player for Coach Barnes and the program.
“Brady is the type of person that you love to have around. He rarely missed a practice and showcased a great work ethic as a practice player. An important part of our program during a very successful stretch, Brady helped everyone in the program get better everyday and wasn’t afraid to be competitive and talk a little smack. He will continue to be a great asset to our program.”
-Head Coach Adia Barnes
EMILY ESPOSITO
Esposito played college basketball at Villanova and Boston University and graduated from BU with a degree in Public Relations and a minor in Sociology. She appeared in 34 games, including 24 starts, for the Terriers in her final two seasons as a student-athlete. A standout prep player at Gorham High School where she was the 2017 Maine Gatorade Player of the Year and Miss Maine Basketball while earning SMAA Player of the Year honors twice.
“I knew immediately after meeting with Emily that she was a perfect fit for our program. She adds to our culture of greatness and understands student athletes and their challenges. Emily has an excellent basketball mind that truly understands firsthand every aspect of what it is like. She has a great work ethic, hunger to learn and desire to be great. Emily has developed a great recipe for success already and joining out program is the perfect starting point for a very successful coaching career.”
-Head Coach Adia Barnes
