Talladega College has announced the appointment of Andre Payne as the new head coach of its women’s basketball team. Payne, who brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in collegiate basketball coaching, is expected to lead the Lady Tornadoes to new heights.
“My primary goal is to re-establish the winning tradition of recent years of Talladega College women’s basketball,” stated Payne. “There has been a lot of success here in the last ten years and I want to re-establish that.”
Andre Payne’s coaching career spans over two decades, beginning as an assistant coach at Texas College in 1999. He quickly rose to head coach in 2001, becoming one of the youngest head coaches at a four-year institution. Over five years, he led Texas College to an 82-76 record.
In 2006, Payne took on dual roles at Wiley College as Director of Athletics and Head Men’s Basketball Coach. Over eight years, he guided the Wildcats to a 146-104 record, ending a 34-year NAIA Tournament drought and achieving three 20-win seasons.
Payne’s next challenge came in 2014 at Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU), where he served as Head Men’s Basketball Coach. He developed two All-SWAC performers, secured four SWAC Tournament appearances, and raised over three million dollars for the athletic department.
In 2019, Payne transitioned to women’s basketball, joining Alcorn State University as an assistant coach. His impact was immediate, helping the Lady Braves improve from four wins to fourteen in one season and becoming one of the top defensive teams in NCAA Division 1.
Loretta Martin, TC Athletic Director, expressed her enthusiasm about Payne’s appointment. “I am looking forward to an exciting, energetic, and motivating year with Coach Payne and our student-athletes. Coach Payne brings over 25 years of basketball experience to Talladega College. The overall goal is to WIN, but winning comes in the community, classroom, and completion of their degree.”
An Auburn, Alabama native, Payne holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Alabama A&M University and a master’s degree in Human Performance and Sports from New Mexico Highlands University. He is married to Nikki Payne, and they have two sons, Andre and Nicholas. Payne lives by the mantra, “Walk By Faith, Not By Sight.”
Coming back to his home state is something that Payne is looking forward to. He hopes to make impacts that leave a lasting legacy that Talladega College can be proud of and that he can be proud of on a personal level.
“What attracted me to the head coach position was being able to come back home to the state of Alabama. I’m from Auburn and it’s [Talladega] only twenty minutes from my wife’s hometown, Sylacauga,” said Payne.
Andre Payne’s appointment marks a new chapter for Talladega College Women’s Basketball, and the community eagerly anticipates the success and growth he will bring to the program.
“I see the program going in the direction of building back the winning tradition, and in order to build back the winning tradition, I have to put the athletes and staff in places where we can be on one accord and for us to understand it will take a lot of hard work and determination. However, I don’t want the young ladies to lose focus on their academics. I want them to understand that that is the number one focus,” Payne added.
Tagged with: NAIA
