First-year Boston University women’s basketball head coach Melissa Graves has completed her coaching staff, as Kourtni Williams and Ashley Walker have joined as assistant coaches.
Williams joins the Terriers after spending the previous seven years at the University of the Ozarks, where she served as an assistant coach, assistant director of enrollment management, and most recently as the head women’s basketball coach.
“Coach Kourtni brings a perspective to the staff that I believe is extremely valuable,” remarked Graves. “As a head coach, she was able to not only manage all aspects of her program, but also brought her team to a conference championship in her very first season. We are fortunate to have her with us and there is no doubt that the many ideas and experiences she brings to BU will help shape who we become.”
Williams was also a standout student-athlete during her playing career at Mid-America Christian University (Okla.), earning NAIA All-American honors as a senior after leading the conference in scoring (17.2) and ranking third in rebounding (8.2) during the 2012-13 season. The Fayetteville, Arkansas product additionally shined in the classroom as she was named to the Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete Team and graduated with a degree in marketing, and went on to complete her master’s degree in sport administration from Arkansas State.
Walker enters the coaching ranks after a successful professional playing career spanning over 10 years. Walker was a standout student-athlete at Cal and is the only player in program history to compile at least 1,000 points, 800 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 blocks. She was selected 12th overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2009 WNBA draft, becoming the first WNBA draft selection in Cal history, and spent time with the Tulsa Shock, Connecticut Sun, and LA Sparks. Walker also competed internationally in Israel, Romania, Italy and Turkey throughout her career.
“I am so excited to watch Coach Ashley become the next rising star in this profession,” exclaimed Graves. “Having just come off a long and successful professional playing career in the WNBA and overseas, she will be an incredible role model for our players and someone they can relate to right away. I look forward to seeing her mold our forwards and posts as she looks to pass on her fresh experiences to the next generation.”
The Modesto, California native graduated from Cal with a degree in American Studies in 2009 and obtained a master’s in education from Ashford University in 2015.
https://goterriers.com/news/2021/6/15/walker-williams-link-with-womens-basketball-staff.aspx
