Kent State women’s basketball head coach Todd Starkey announced that Sheana Vega and Michaela Barnes have joined the Golden Flashes’ staff for the 2021-22 campaign. Vega will serve as the Director of Basketball Operations and Barnes is a graduate assistant.
“A big thank you to Randale Richmond and Greg Glaus for their leadership in getting these positions back,” Starkey said. “The opportunity to hire two great young women like Sheana and Michaela significantly enhances the women’s basketball program at Kent State. These are two bright young professionals who have great futures ahead of them. We’re happy to welcome them to the Kent State women’s basketball family.”
Vega arrives in Kent following three seasons on staff at Pitt, beginning as Director of Recruiting Operations in 2018-19 and being promoted to Director of Basketball Administration prior to last season. In this role, she added alumni and donor relations responsibilities and oversaw the team’s community service efforts while continuing to coordinate recruiting operations. Vega helped the Panthers ink the program’s first top-100 recruit since joining the ACC as part of their 2020 signing class.
A four-year letterwinner at Liberty, Vega helped the Flames to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2015 and 2018. She was nominated for the NCAA and Big South Conference Woman of the Year awards in 2018. Vega completed a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice in May 2017 and added a Master of Business Administration in August 2018.
“Sheana brings a high level of experience in the Director of Basketball Operations position coming from Pitt as a valued member of the women’s basketball staff,” Starkey noted. “She’ll provide great leadership in this administrative role.”
Barnes was an assistant coach at John Carroll during the 2020-21 season, helping the Blue Streaks capture Ohio Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships while going 13-2 overall.
After scoring a record 2,019 points and earning a pair of All-American honors during a remarkable career at Edinboro, she became the first female student-athlete player in school history to have her uniform number retired during a ceremony last October. Barnes also performed well in the classroom and was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team as a senior. She graduated in May 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education, majoring in human performance.
“Michaela brings a great deal of enthusiasm and high level of playing experience as a former Division II All-American,” added Starkey. “She will be a great young mentor for our players and has a bright future as a coach.”
