Memphis women’s basketball announced Friday the addition of Shalon Pillow as chief of staff.
“With the addition of Shalon, our staff just got better. She has a plethora of experience at all levels and knowledge that will lead our program in the right direction,” said head coach Alex Simmons. “She comes with an undeniable passion for women’s basketball and will be a great mentor and leader for our coaching staff.
Pillow brings with her nearly two decades of coaching and leadership experience, most recently as assistant director of athletics and head varsity girls basketball coach at Saint Andrew’s in Boca Raton, Fla. She was the head coach of Florida A&M from 2021-2023 and spent six years as an assistant coach at MTSU under Hall of Fame coach Rick Insell.
Pillow helped guide the Lady Raiders to 24 wins and the WNIT quarterfinals during her first season in 2014-15, developing forward Cheyenne Parker, who was selected No. 5 overall to the Chiago Sky in the 2015 WNBA Draft.
Prior to her time with the Blue Raiders, Pillow spent five seasons at Kentucky as an assistant coach from 2009-2014. The Wildcats made five NCAA tournament appearances – including three trips to the Elite Eight – and were SEC regular season champions in 2012.
Pillow also spent a season at Hofstra University and three seasons at South Florida. Before beginning her coaching career, she was Camp Director and Event Operator for the Ohio Girls Basketball Report.
A high-level basketball player in her own right, Pillow was a four-year letterwinner at Tennessee under head coach Pat Summitt from 1998-2002. She totaled 108 career games for the Lady Vols, taking part in two Final Fours and winning four SEC Championships with a cumulative record of 125-12. She graduated from UT in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in general psychology and a minor in communications.
After graduating, Pillow was an inaugural member of the Tennessee Fury of the Women’s National Basketball League in 2003, along with Nikki McCray and Becky Hammond.
https://gotigersgo.com/news/2025/6/6/womens-basketball-announces-shalon-pillow-as-chief-of-staff
