Duke University women’s basketball head coach Kara Lawson announced Thursday the addition of Aleah Goodman as the Director of Recruiting and Player Personnel effective immediately.
Goodman will assist the program with day-to-day operations and administrative duties, including coordinating community service and assisting with camps and clinics. Additionally, Goodman will prepare pregame scouting materials, aid in recruiting efforts and provide support for game day and equipment management.
“Kara once told me to keep a “Yes” list, meaning if an opportunity on that list arose, I would pursue it,” said Goodman. “Coaching with her was high on that list. She is someone who I have always admired, and I had the opportunity to get know her while playing 3×3 with Team USA. Coaching has always been a passion of mine and I knew it was the career I was interested in once I was done playing. When I learned of the possibility to join the women’s basketball staff at Duke and be surrounded by and gain knowledge from some of the most experienced and accomplished coaches, it was something that I had to pursue. What they are creating at Duke is something extremely special and I am honored and humbled to be starting my coaching career at such a prestigious university. I cannot wait to get into the gym with the team and learn from Kara and her incredible staff.”
A 2020 graduate of Oregon State, Goodman was a two-time captain with the Beavers and closed her career by being selected No. 30 overall by the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA in the 2021 draft. As a senior, Goodman was a WBCA All-America Honorable Mention, an All-Pac-12 selection and an All-Pac-12 Defensive Honorable Mention. She earned Pac-12 Player of the Week as well as ESPNW National Player of the Week honors on Feb. 22, and led the Beavers with 16.2 points and 4.9 assists per game on the year.
“Aleah is a basketball person,” said Lawson. “She loves the game and will be a great teacher. Our relationship goes back a couple of years. I loved coaching her and we would talk during our team meals about strategy and coaching. When the opportunity to bring her aboard as a part of our staff presented itself, it was a no brainer. She will be an asset to our program and I know our staff will be able to help her grow as a young coach. Having a former player now on our staff is very special because I’m passionate about helping them reach their goals.”
Goodman ended her senior year leading the Pac-12 and second in the nation in 3-point percentage at 49.0 percent. The guard was 16th in program history with 1,162 career points and third in Beavers’ history for career 3-pointers made. As a sophomore, Goodman earned Pac-12 Sixth Player of the Year.
Over the summer of 2019, Goodman teamed with Lawson and the USA Basketball 3×3 Women’s National Team and traveled to China, Italy, Canada, Russia and France.
Goodman completed her bachelor’s degree in human development and family science in 2020 while
pursuing a master’s in student service administration during the 2020-21 season. She was a two-time Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll member and earned Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention recognition in 2019. Goodman received the Tom Hansen Pac-12 Conference Medal winner for the 2020-21 campaign, which is awarded annually to each Pac-12 institution’s outstanding male and female student-athlete.
