The University of Akron women’s basketball program will have a new member on its coaching staff this season as Brianna Sanders has been named an assistant coach Zips’ head women’s basketball coach Jodi Kest announced.
Her hiring is pending approval by the University’s Board of Trustees.
Sanders comes to Akron after serving as director of operations for the women’s basketball program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga the past three seasons under head coach Jim Foster, a 2013 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.
“I am incredibly excited to announce Brianna Sanders as our new assistant coach,” commented Kest. “Brianna is a slam-dunk hire for our program and we’re happy to welcome her to the Zips’ Family. She brings tremendous energy and passion and has been mentored by one of the best basketball minds in Jim Foster. Having competed at the highest level, she will be able to provide great insight to our players both in the classroom and on the court. Her extensive ties within Ohio will only strengthen our program.”
“I’m thankful for the opportunity Coach Kest has given me,” said Sanders. “I’m looking forward to being a part of and contributing to the success of this program and the University of Akron.”
The Lady Mocs captured the Southern Conference Tournament title this past season and earned the program’s fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth. The Lady Mocs posted a 21-11 ledger during the 2016-17 campaign and were 74-23 overall during Sander’s three seasons with Chattanooga.
Prior to her time in Tennessee, Sanders was an assistant coach for the Reynoldsburg High School girls’ varsity basketball team in Columbus, Ohio. The team finished with a 23-5 record and won the Ohio Capital Conference (OCC) title and went on to claim the district title and advance to the regional final.
A 2014 graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in African and African-American Studies, Saunders played for the Buckeyes and Foster from 2009-11. An ACL tear for a third time ended her playing career after her sophomore year. She went on to become a student coach for the remainder of her time as a Buckeye.
Ohio State earned the Big Ten Conference regular season title once in her time in Columbus and twice won the Big Ten Tournament title.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Sanders graduated from Princeton High School in 2009.
http://www.gozips.com/sports/wbkb/2016-17/releases/20170601hlq6sc
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