Virginia Tech head women’s basketball coach Dennis Wolff announces the addition of LaTanya Collins as Assistant to the Head Coach and Director of Student-Athlete Development to round out the staff for the 2014-15 season.
“We are pleased to add LaTanya to our staff,” said Wolff. “She is a veteran coach with extensive ties to the Richmond-Hampton Roads area. LaTanya will be an excellent mentor for our student-athletes.”
Prior to Virginia Tech, Collins served as the head girls basketball coach at Saint Gertrude High School (2013-14) in Richmond, Virginia where she guided the team to its first state tournament appearance in 14 years as well as a ranking of seventh in the state. Collins also coached at Atlee High School (2011-13) in Hanover, Virginia, leading the team to its first regional tournament appearance in five seasons. In addition, Collins coached with the Boo Williams Summer League since 2010.
Collins is no stranger to the New River Valley, having served as an assistant coach at Radford during the 2009-10 season where she assisted with recruiting efforts, directed post players and guards and facilitated all camps.
Collins, who was a scout for the Carolina Scouting Report prior to Radford, also brings past head coaching experience to the Hokies from Saint Augustine’s College and Southern Vermont College.
While at St. Augustine’s, Collins turned the program around in just one season. Inheriting a squad that posted a 6-22 record in 2006-07, Collins directed the Lady Falcons to an 18-10 mark. Off the court, her team recorded the second-highest GPA in the CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association).
Prior to St. Augustine, Collins directed Southern Vermont’s women’s hoops program along with acting as the athletic department’s senior women’s administrator. She took over the winless program in December of 2005 and guided the Mountaineers to the program’s biggest turnaround.
Collins has also served as an assistant at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., St. Augustine’s and her alma mater, Virginia State. Collins’ responsibilities as an assistant included recruiting, planning team travel, academic advisement and guard development.
Before entering the collegiate coaching ranks, Collins made her coaching debut on high school level from 2000-2004. She was the head girls’ varsity basketball coach and head boys’ junior varsity coach at Charles City (Va.) High School and an assistant girls’ basketball coach at Highland Springs (Va.) High School.
A 2000 graduate of Virginia State, Collins earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. She also holds a certificate with the NCAA Coaches Academy.
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