Kenya Kirkland has been hired onto the Jacksonville University’s women’s basketball staff as an assistant coach, Head Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin announced Monday. Kirkland joins the Dolphins after a brief stint as the Director of Basketball Operations with the Auburn women’s basketball team.
"We are lucky to be able to obtain a person like Kenya this late in the process," said McCuin. "Kenya has great experience as a player and coach. She is dynamic and will be great for our staff, team, and community."
As the Director of Basketball Operations of Auburn, Kirkland was charged with team travel, on-campus recruiting and monitoring players’ academic progress
Before Auburn, Kirkland’s prior experience included four seasons at her alma mater Georgetown. Hired immediately after graduation, the former Hoya guard and senior captain joined the staff in 2010 as a graduate assistant. She was later promoted to assistant coach and focused primarily on recruiting, defense and guard development.
In 2013, Kirkland helped recruit a top 9 freshman class which was the highest in program history. She also assisted in the development of the 2014 Big East Rookie of the Year, Natalie Butler, who received All- Big East Rookie Team and All- Big East Second Team honors and helped mature All- Big East Second Team member Andrea White and All- Big East Rookie Team member Faith Woodard (2014).
Prior to being named an assistant coach, she served as the assistant defensive coordinator where she coached the Hoyas into one of the best Big East defenses. The team earned top six rankings in 2011 and top three rankings in 2012 in categories including: scoring defense, FG percentage defense, 3 point FG defense, steals, and turnover margin.
Kirkland played for Georgetown from 2006-10 where she appeared in 109 games with 17 starts to her credit. In Kirkland’s four playing seasons, the Hoyas steadily improved, earning a pair of postseason berths including a trip to the WNIT and another to the NCAA Tournament.
Her junior year, Georgetown went to the WNIT and posted an impressive run to the quarterfinals. As a senior, Georgetown broke out onto the national scene posting a 16-game win streak, national rankings and a trip to the NCAA Tournament where the squad fell in the second round to Final Four-participant Baylor.
A native of Brooklyn, New York, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and then earned her master’s degree in social and public policy. She was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and participated in both the Leadership Academy and Grassroot Hoyas.
"I am extremely excited about joining the JU family," said Kirkland. "It is a privilege to work with a well-respected head coach and a committed staff. Coach McCuin has a vision for this team and I am excited to be a part of that process."
Stay with HoopDirt for the latest college basketball coaching news and rumors.
