William & Mary head women’s basketball head coach Erin Dickerson Davis has announced the addition of two new members to her coaches’ staff Tuesday afternoon. Dickerson Davis has added Dane Sparrow and Ta’Shauna “Sugar” Rodgers in the role of assistant coaches.
Dane Sparrow, Assistant Coach
Sparrow joins the Tribe after seven successful seasons at Wake Forest, where he served multiple roles – assistant coach (2016-22), director of basketball operations (2014-16), and video coordinator (2013).
Highlighting Sparrow’s tenure in Winston-Salem was a trip to the 2021 NCAA Tournament, as he helped lead the ninth-seeded Demon Deacons to the program’s first tournament bid in 31 years.
Wake Forest returned to the postseason again last season with an NIT appearance.
In addition to the team’s success, Sparrow was instrumental in the development of numerous players, which included four All-ACC standouts. Among those who benefited from Sparrow’s tutelage were Ivan Raca and Jewel Spear. Wake Forest’s all-time leading scorer (1,482) and an All-ACC standout, Raca was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2021 WNBA Draft. Spear led the ACC in scoring last season (18.3) en route to earning first-team all-conference honors.
One of the country’s top long-range shooters, she ranked second in the ACC in 3-pointers made (90), which ranked second on Wake Forest’s single-season list. Wake Forest student-athletes also excelled in the classroom during his tenure, as four standouts garnered Academic All-ACC Team distinction.
Prior to his time with the Demon Deacons, Sparrow began his professional career as the video coordinator at UNCG in 2011-12. Sparrow played collegiate basketball at Lander University, in Greenwood, South Carolina. A four-year starter, Sparrow played in 111 games for the Bearcats and finished with the fourth-most three-pointers made in school history with 197. Sparrow was named the team’s MVP in 2009-10 after averaging 10.9 points per game, shooting better than 41 percent from beyond the arc.
After his career at Lander, Sparrow transferred to UNCG to finish his degree, graduating in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dane to our Tribe Family. His experience coaching in the ACC, his passion for the development of student-athletes, and his connections in recruiting are unparallel. His work ethic, loyalty, and dedication to success will be a massive asset to the future of the program.” – Erin Dickerson Davis, William & Mary Women’s Basketball Head Coach
Sugar RodgersAssistant Coach
WNBA All-Star Sugar Rodgers enters her first season as an assistant with the William & Mary women’s basketball coaching staff. Following an outstanding eight-year professional playing career in the WNBA, Rodgers retired in 2020 and began her coaching career with the Las Vegas Aces as an assistant in 2021 before joining the staff at her alma mater, Georgetown University, last season.
A second-round selection by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2013 WNBA Draft, Rodgers helped the franchise win a WNBA title. She also spent five years with the New York Liberty, as her best season came in 2016 when she averaged 14.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 41.3 percent from beyond the arc.
In 2017 Rodgers continued her reign with an All-Star-worthy campaign, averaging 10.5 points, a career-high 3.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, and was named the WNBA 6th Woman of the Year. The most decorated player in Georgetown women’s basketball history, Rodgers was a three-time Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American and a four-time First Team All-BIG EAST honoree.
Rodgers is the Hoyas’ all-time leading scorer (2,518) making her the first women’s player to surpass the 2,000-point mark, as well as the first player in Georgetown history to go over 2,500 points. Rodgers also owns the program’s career records for steals (326) and 3-pointers (346). Additionally, she holds the program’s single-season records for points (711).
Rodgers is also a celebrated author after publishing her memoir titled, They Better Call Me Sugar: My Journey from the Hood to the Hardwood.
“I am beyond excited to have Sugar join the Tribe. I believe her wealth of experience and commitment to the game will take our program to the next level. Her success on and off the court is inspirational and I am grateful to have her on this journey.”– Erin Dickerson Davis, William & Mary Women’s Basketball Head Coach
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