A familiar face is returning to Coppin State as women’s basketball head coach Jermaine Woods announced that Taariq Cephas (’15) will join his staff as an assistant for the 2023-24 season. Cephas has spent the last four years at CCBC Essex as its women’s basketball associate head coach.
“I’m excited about the addition of Coach Taariq,” said Woods. “He is a very prideful alumni and understands what it means to wear the navy and gold. Taariq brings an understanding of what we want to accomplish defensively and he will help us tremendously in that area. He also specializes in player development which I believe to be an essential part of our program’s success. I look forward to having Taariq back on North Avenue, adding to our agile staff.
With his assistance, CCBC Essex enjoyed unprecedented success including a 2023 NJCAA National Championship. The season prior, Cephas helped the Knights to a MDJUCO Championship and a trip to the NJCAA Final Four. In his first season at Essex, Cephas helped the program to a 2020 Regional Title before the NJCAA Tournament, and the following campaign was canceled due to Covid.
Cephas played a pivotal role as a player development specialist and defensive coordinator during his time at CCBC Essex. He helped produce six JUCO All Americans and the Knights held their opponents to an average of 55 points per game on 31% shooting from the field.
A four-year starter at Coppin, Cephas earned Third Team All-MEAC accolades as a senior in 2015 after being named to the All-Rookie Team in 20212. Cephas was just the second player in CSU history to record at least 1,000 points and 400 assists. Cephas ranks second all-time at Coppin with 451 assists while sitting 19th in points (1,084), ninth in steals (149) and fifth in games played (124).
Now residing in Capitol Heights, Md., Cephas graduated Magna Cum Laude from Coppin in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration. Cephas is currently a sergeant for the Metropolitan Police Department (Washington, D.C.).
