The Alcorn State University women’s basketball program made an addition to its coaching staff as Coleman Bender was named assistant coach, announced by head coach Courtney G. Pruitt.
“Coach Bender will be a great asset to our team. He comes from a military background where he coached the All Army women’s basketball team as well as junior college experience. He is a native of Mississippi and is ready to bring in some home grown talent to Alcorn,” Pruitt said.
Bender, who will serve as a volunteer assistant coach, comes to Alcorn after working as an assistant coach at Colby Community College for two seasons. His duties included guard development, recruiting and scouting. He was also was involved with team travel, pre and post-game meal planning and managing the recruitment database of future student athletes.
“I’m really excited to be a part of the Lady Braves women’s basketball program. I want to thank Coach Pruitt for this outstanding opportunity and I look forward to working with her staff and the team. We all share the same vision of playing at a high level and winning a SWAC championship,” Bender said.
A native of Lawrence, Mississippi, Bender served honorably and retired from the United States Army after 20 years of service as an Armament Repairer and working in facility management. During his time of service, he was deployed three times to Bosnia (1996), Baghdad, Iraq (2004-2005), and Mosul, Iraq (2007-2009).
Bender was also an assistant for the All Army Women’s Basketball team. In 2014, he helped guide them to a gold medal in the Armed Forces tournament and was selected to be the assistant for the All Armed Forces tournament to represent Team USA in Angiers, France for the Military World Basketball Championships. He coached them to a bronze medal. Bender was also the assistant boys’ assistant at Fayetteville Christian School in Fayetteville, North Carolina and Petersburg, Virginia. In addition, his players have moved to play at the NJCAA and NCAA levels.
Bender earned a master’s degree in sports management in 2014 from Liberty University and a bachelor’s degree in technical management in 2013 from Devry University. He is a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and National Association of Basketball Coaches.
He has one daughter named Alexas.
Tagged with: Alcorn State SWAC
