Texas A&M University-Commerce named Nicole Anderson as the new women’s basketball coach in a press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Anderson was officially presented by university President Dr. Dan Jones and Athletic Director Carlton Cooper. She is replacing Denny Downing, who departed over the summer to become the head women’s coach at the University of Texas-Pan American.”We have concluded a national search, and it was a search that produced a lot of top candidates,” Jones said. “We have an individual who is excited about being here and working with all of us at the university to help this program realize the potential that we know it has.”
Both Jones and Cooper said the search for a women’s basketball coach was very extensive, and even included applicants from overseas.
“We feel very good about the decision we’ve made,” Cooper said. “We had close to one hundred applicants for this job, and it came down to one.”
Anderson enters the head coach position with a wealth of experience. She was last at Division I school Long Beach State University as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. In fact, her recruiting expertise is one of the main reasons she was brought in.”She is an excellent recruiter,” Jones said. “She is well networked; she knows the players, knows the coaches, knows where the talent is and knows that we have a lot of talent right here within a hundred miles of where we’re sitting.”
Recruiting is one thing the women’s program needs now that star player Britney Jordan has graduated. She left for the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, the same team Anderson played on a developmental team for back in her playing days. Anderson has heard of Jordan, and knows replacing her will be a challenge.
“Britney Jordan had a tremendous impact on A&M-Commerce women’s basketball,” Anderson said. “In going out and recruiting we will definitely continue to use her name in that process. In replacing a player like Britney, one of the things we’re really going to focus on is the team and understanding that it is going to take more than one player. So, we’re replacing not only Britney, but we’re establishing a team that will have an opportunity to play as a whole. It is my job to get out there and find another Britney and bring her in.”
Anderson promises exciting, high-energy basketball from her team. She also desires dedication from her players.
“One thing I learned as a player is the type of commitment it takes to be successful,” she said. “Whether you are on the court or off the court, you have to work hard at achieving your goals.”
Anderson also said she was excited about the players she has at A&M-Commerce, and is looking forward to working with them.
“We have some talent on the floor and young ladies who are willing to learn,” she said. “They are excited about learning; they are excited about being taught the game. I’m confident in knowing that you all will be extremely pleased with the product that we put on the floor every single night.”
Anderson attended UCLA where she played until 1993, and she was named one of the fifteen greatest players in UCLA women’s basketball history. She also is the founder and CEO of Hoop School in Long Beach, Calif., which is a community basketball program for young players.