UNCW Head Women’s Basketball Coach Karen Barefoot has announced the addition of Asia Williams to her coaching staff as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the 2021-22 season.
Williams joins the Seahawks after spending the last two seasons as recruiting coordinator at Colonial Athletic Association rival Charleston. She helped the Cougars post a 19-26 overall record, including a 13-17 mark in 2019-20.
“I am extremely excited to join Coach Barefoot and the UNCW women’s basketball program,” Williams said. “I love the state of North Carolina and I am so excited to be back. I am truly blessed and thankful to God, all of my mentors and everyone who gave me an opportunity throughout my career.
“Coach Barefoot is a coach I have always admired. I have always been impressed with the passion she has for her teams on and off the court and I am very excited about the opportunity to coach and learn under her leadership. I look forward to serving the university, the women’s basketball program and the Wilmington community.”
During her time in the Lowcountry, Williams worked with a pair of Third-Team All-CAA selections in addition to Arynn Eady, who garnered a spot on the 2020-21 CAA All-Defensive Team. She also mentored Taylor Williams, a member of the 2020-21 CAA All-Rookie Team.
Prior to joining the staff at Charleston, the Durham, N.C., native spent one season as the recruiting coordinator at Western Carolina, working primarily with the guards in practice.
Williams served as an assistant coach at UNCG for two seasons before her stint with the Catamounts, helping the Spartans to the first 20-win season in a decade during the 2016-17 campaign. In addition, UNCG made an appearance in the Women’s Basketball Invitational Championship Game and reached the semifinals of the 2018 Southern Conference Championship.
Williams was also responsible for the individual skill development of SoCon Freshman of the Year Nadine Soliman, along with four All-SoCon selections and two All-Freshman Team picks.
Williams coached at LIU-Brooklyn during the 2015-16 campaign after spending two seasons at Appalachian State to open her coaching career.
A 2013 graduate of Wake Forest, Williams played in 109 career games, including 36 starts for the Demon Deacons, who earned a pair of WNIT appearances. She paced the squad with 145 assists during her senior year, ranking fourth on the team with a 10.4 scoring average.
Williams earned North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year honors in 2009 as a senior at Hillside High School and was a two-time PAC-6 Conference Player of the Year recipient.
“We welcome Asia and her fiancé, Greg Testa, to our women’s basketball program,” Barefoot said. “Asia has strong North Carolina connections as her roots run deep in the Tar Heel State. Her recruiting success not only spans the state and the country, but the world as well.
“Asia is renowned for being a very successful recruiter and has signed top recruiting classes in her role as an assistant coach. Her recruiting experience in multiple Division I programs and her passion for the state of North Carolina will make her an excellent recruiting coordinator for our program.”
https://uncwsports.com/news/2021/5/19/womens-basketball-williams-joins-womens-hoops-staff.aspx
