Delaware State University Head Women’s Basketball Coach Barbara Burgess has announced the hiring of Kyle Adams and Felicia Kemp as assistant coaches for the Lady Hornets’ staff.
Adams and Kemp combine for more than 20 years of college coaching experience. They fill vacancies left by the resignations of DSU assistant coaches Beverly Lockett and Vanessa Watson.
Adams joins the Lady Hornet staff after one season as associate head women’s basketball coach and recruiting coordinator at Delaware State’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) rival North Carolina Central University. During the 2016-17 season, he helped lead the program to its most MEAC wins since joining the league in 2012.
Prior to his time at NC Central, Adams was head women’s basketball coach at his alma mater, Cheyney University (Pa.). He was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator his first two seasons before serving as head coach from 2013-16.
While at Cheyney, Adams recruited and coached the school’s all-time leader in made three-point field goals, a two-time All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference performer and 1,200-point scorer. He led Cheyney to its most notable victories in recent history by defeating defending CIAA champion Virginia State University and three regionally ranked conference opponents (Shippensburg University, Kutztown University and Bloomsburg University) during the 2015-16 season.
A total of 19 women’s basketball student-athletes and managers graduated from Cheyney in his three years as head coach.
I’ve known Kyle for some time and admired the job he did at Cheyney and more recently at NC Central,” said Burgess, who is entering her third season as head coach of the Lady Hornets. “He was one of the top coaches on my list when there were vacancies on my staff. His experience as a head coach and his ability to handle multiple responsibilities makes him an ideal fit for our program.”
In 2016, Adams was honored by the Cheyney University National Alumni Association as Mentor of the Year. The award was presented for his dedication to Cheyney University through his leadership, community engagement, fundraising initiatives, and tireless commitment to student engagement and success.
In June of 2014, Adams was chosen by the NCAA to participate in the prestigious ACE (Achieving Coaching Excellence) leadership development program at NCAA Headquarters in Indianapolis Indiana.
His college coaching experience also includes stints at Community College of Philadelphia (2000-02), Plattsburgh State University (2003-04), Eastern University (2004-05), Lincoln University of Pennsylvania (2008-09) and University of Rio Grande (2009-11).
A native of Philadelphia, Pa., Adams graduated from Cheyney University with a B.A. in Psychology in 1999. In 2011, Adams earned a Master of Education degree with a concentration in Athletic Coaching and Leadership from the University of Rio Grande. He is a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), Delaware Chapter of the Cheyney University National Alumni Association, the Cheyney University Athletic Hall of Fame Committee, and the Epsilon Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated.
“I’ve always had an interest in Delaware State University,” said Adams, who resides in Wilmington, Del. “As you look at the institution, DSU has reinvented itself and has been on an upward trajectory, not just in athletics but also as an institution, with sound leadership from (University President) Dr. Williams and moving his vision forward. “As a Delaware resident, I’ve have always kept an eye on the school and thought it would be great to get here. The way the coaching profession works, the opportunity presented itself, and I am very excited to join the DSU family.’
Adams’ role with the Lady Hornets will include developing the team’s young guards. Since joining the team he has been impressed during workouts with sophomore guard Lanayjha Ashe. “I think Lanayjha can be really special,” Adams said. “I’m just trying to help her with her IQ about the game. As she takes this next step, I want her to understand what she needs to be for her team, not just in her play, but in her leadership. We have the players here to take a positive step forward, and I am excited about working with this talented young team.”
Armed with almost 25 years of coaching experience, spanning from high school to the collegiate American Athletic Conference (AAC), Kemp comes to Delaware State after spending a year away from coaching.
Her last coaching stint was at Hampton (Va.) High School as an assistant during the 2015-2016 season.
Prior to Hampton High School, she spent two seasons at Temple University from 2013-15 as the administrative assistant /video coordinator for women’s basketball. Kemp returned to the college campus after coaching in the community for two seasons. She previously served as an assistant coach at Fordham from 2008-09. Prior to joining the Fordham staff, Kemp worked as the first assistant coach at Howard for four seasons (2004-08). Previously, she was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Morgan State from 1999-2003,serving as interim head coach during the 2002-03 season. The Bears’ best season during the span was in the 1999-2000 campaign, when the team finished as the MEAC regular-season runner-up. Kemp also had stints at Peninsula Christian School, where she was the head coach during the 1996-97 season, and served as an assistant coach at Christopher Newport University from 1995-99. While at Christopher Newport, the team earned four Dixie Conference regular-season championships as well as the 1998 Dixie Conference Tournament Championship, and made three NCAA appearances (1996-98). Before entering the coaching profession. Kemp enjoyed immense success as a student-athlete. She was a basketball standout at Christopher Newport from 1992-95, and led the 1993 and 1995 teams to NCAA Tournament appearances, as well as four Dixie Conference regular-season championships.
A native of Hampton, Va., Kemp received a bachelor’s degree in Recreation from Christopher Newport University in 1997 and earned a master’s in Psychology, specializing in Sports Performance, from the University of the Rockies in 2011.
The hiring of Kemp was an easy choice, according to Burgess.
“I’ve known Felicia since she joined the MEAC as a coach in the late 1990s,” Burgess said. “Her knowledge of basketball and the MEAC was a big reason for her hire. She has the coaching experience I need for the position and will fit right in with the transition that’s underway to take our program to another level.”
According to Kemp, Delaware State is the perfect place to resume her coaching career.
“I still have a passion to coach, when you watch games, you still have that same fight,” she said. “Being at Delaware State gives me the opportunity to learn, to teach, and to pass on my knowledge to the next generation.”
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