UNC Pembroke women’s basketball head coach John Haskins announced Thursday afternoon that former Western Carolina standout Kendra Samuels-Eaton has joined his staff as an assistant coach.
“I would first like to thank Coach Haskins and Mr. Christy for giving me this opportunity to be a part of the UNC Pembroke community,” Samuels-Eaton said. “When I first arrived on campus, I knew this was the place for me because I felt at home.”
Samuels-Eaton treks to Pembroke following a five-year stint on the sideline at North Carolina Central where she served as an assistant coach for three seasons before being promoted to associate head coach in September of 2015.
“We are extremely excited to have Coach Samuels-Eaton join our program at UNCP,” Haskins remarked. “She has a tremendous background in North Carolina as both a player and a coach at the Division I level.”
“Not only was UNCP a beautiful school, but everyone treated one another like family and showed passion about the women’s basketball program,” Samuels-Eaton added. “I look forward to learning and working with Coach Haskins as well as helping the student-athletes reach their fullest potential academically and athletically in pursuit of a Peach Belt Conference Championship.”
Prior to joining the Eagles’ staff, Samuels-Eaton spent one year as the coordinator of basketball operations at Wake Forest. In this capacity, she handled the day-to-day operations of the team, including coordinating team travel, supervising non-coaching personnel, arranging community service activities and assisting with on-campus recruiting. She also helped develop content for the Wake Forest women’s basketball recruiting website.
Samuels-Eaton previously served two years in the academic support office at her alma mater Western Carolina and worked as an intern in the women’s basketball office at the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the summer of 2009. While there, she helped facilitate the officiating camp and assisted with the ACC Tournament brochure.
Samuels-Eaton earned her bachelor’s degree in sport management with a concentration in athletic administration and professional sport with a minor in marketing and coaching from Western Carolina in 2009. She was a four-year letterwinner for the Catamounts’ women’s basketball squad and became the 22nd member of the 500-point club. She appeared in 117 games over four years and wrapped up her career with 721 points and 524 rebounds. In her senior season, Samuels-Eaton led the Catamounts to a SoCon Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth.
Samuels-Eaton earned a master’s degree in physical education and sport science from Central Missouri in 2011, where she specialized in athletics and sport business administration.
“Kendra is intelligent, hardworking, and an excellent people person,” Haskins added. “She is an outstanding addition to our staff and we are happy to have her on board.”
A Winston-Salem, North Carolina native, Samuels-Eaton tallied over 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds at Mount Tabor High School, where she was named the Metro 4A Player of the Year as a senior. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Inc., Pi Gamma Chapter. Eaton attended the 2014 NCAA Women’s Coaches Academy in Denver, Colorado and most recently was invited and attended the 2017 NCAA/Women’s Leaders in College Sports Women’s Leadership Symposium.
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