Rene Haynes has been named the 12th head coach in the 54-year history of Long Island University women’s basketball, Director of Athletics Debbie DeJong announced Monday. Haynes comes to Brooklyn after spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach at Duke University.
LIU will hold an introductory press conference at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23 in the Steinberg Wellness Center. Members of the media and community are welcome to attend as the University welcomes Coach Rene Haynes. The press conference will also be aired live on NEC Front Row.
“It is an honor to be the head coach of the Long Island University women’s basketball program,” Haynes said. “With the support of LIU President Kimberly Cline and all of the administration, I believe that we will build a championship program. Special thanks to Dr. Kevin White and Nina King at Duke University for all of their support and leadership through the years. Coach P has been my coach, mentor and philosopher since I was 16 years old. She gave me the opportunity to be a coach and role model to many, and it is so appreciated. I am excited to start this new chapter, and I am excited to continue my journey of empowering strong women.”
A promising young coach who has played and coached at the highest levels of NCAA Division I women’s basketball, Haynes has worked at schools in the ACC, SEC and Mid-American Conference, as well as playing in the Big Ten and professionally overseas.
“We are extremely excited to be welcoming Coach Haynes to our LIU family,” DeJong said. “Her experience as a coach and player will guide our women’s basketball program to unprecedented academic and athletic success. The future of LIU women’s basketball is bright.”
“Coach Haynes is exactly who we were looking for to take LIU women’s basketball to the next level,” Dr. Cline said. “She’s a proven winner who’s played for and worked with some of the best programs in the nation.”
“Since Barclays Center has opened in 2012, LIU has been a great partner,” CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment Brett Yormark said. “We are looking forward to seeing Coach Rene Haynes on the sidelines for LIU women’s basketball at Barclays Center next season.”
Haynes has spent the last five seasons as an assistant coach for the Duke Blue Devils, under three time ACC coach of the year Joanne P. McCallie (Coach P). She reunited with McCallie after playing for Coach P from 2003-07 with Michigan State.
In her first year with the Blue Devils, Haynes helped land the No. 1 rated recruiting class in the nation with the signing of Angela Salvadores, Kyra Lambert, Crystal Primm, Haley Gorecki and Faith Suggs. She helped add McDonald’s All-America Leaonna Odom in 2017 as well.
Prior to her time with the Blue Devils, she spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Western Michigan. There, Haynes assisted in recruiting, player development, equipment liaison and was the summer camps coordinator for the Broncos. She supported in all areas of recruiting, including unofficial and official visit scheduling and preparation. Haynes worked with the point guards, implementing individual and team workouts, to improve guard production.
After her collegiate career, Haynes played professionally overseas for Pro Build Lions in Amsterdam, Netherlands (2007-08). Her team was Netherlands Cup Champions, while averaging 18.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game. In 2008-09, Haynes played for the Catz of Lappeenranta, Finland, where her squad finished as League Champions (21-1 record) and tournament runner-up. In 2009-10, Haynes played for FoA in Forssa, Finland, where she was the third leading scorer in the country, averaging 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals.
During her time at Michigan State, she made the Big Ten All-Freshman team (2004). Under Coach P in 2005, her team was Big Ten Champions, Big Ten Tournament Champions and advanced to the NCAA Final Four. She was Big Ten Honorable mention in 2005 and in 2006 as the Spartans went to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
Haynes was also part of the Big Ten Foreign Tour Team in 2006, where she played with fellow Big Ten players against teams in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. As a senior, Haynes made second team All-Big Ten and All-Big Ten Defensive team (2007). Haynes capped her career ranking third at Michigan State in steals (245), 16th in scoring (1000-point club), 10th in three-point field goals made and 13th in assists. As a captain, she was a member of the winningest senior class in school history with 103 victories.
A Columbus, Ohio, native, Haynes attended The Wellington School for high school. Haynes tallied 2,222 points and 430 steals in her high school career. She currently holds a bachelor in political science from Michigan State University and a master’s in sport management from Western Michigan University.
Haynes is a 2017 inductee into the Greater Columbus Basketball Legends Hall of Fame.
https://liuathletics.com/news/2019/4/22/rene-haynes-named-head-coach-of-liu-womens-basketball.aspx
