UConn women’s basketball alum Tamika Williams Jeter named head coach at Wittenberg University
Another member of the Geno Auriemma coaching tree is a head coach.
Tamika Williams Jeter, a two-time national champion with the UConn women’s basketball team in 2000 and ′02, was named head coach at Division III Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, on Friday.
Williams Jeter — from Dayton, Ohio and a former two-time Ohio high school player of the year — heads to Wittenberg after spending the last two seasons at Ohio State as an assistant coach. She replaces interim coach Valerie Driscoll.
“Every bit of success that I have ever experienced is because of the people who have helped drive the vision,” Williams Jeter said in a statement. “President Frandsen and Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Brian Agler painted a picture of their vision of success at Wittenberg University that I couldn’t pass up. They have given me an opportunity to be a part of a vision that promotes a tradition of excellence both academically and athletically.
“I am extremely honored to continue to help young minds grow, to engage in my Dayton and Springfield community, and create a winning culture on the court. I want to do everything I can for Wittenberg University.”
Williams Jeter was part of a vaunted 2002 UConn starting lineup that included Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Asjha Jones and Diana Taurasi — arguably one of the best in women’s college basketball history. She was selected No. 6 overall by the Minnesota Lynx and played seven seasons in the WNBA.
Her first coaching stint at Ohio State, first as a graduate assistant and then full-time assistant, ran from 2002-08. Working primarily with post players, she then served at Kansas (2008-2010), Kentucky (2014-2016) and Penn State (2016-2019) prior to returning to the Buckeyes. She’s also previously worked as an ESPN women’s basketball analyst, an ambassador for Women & Girls Against HIV/AIDS, U.S. State Department Sports initiatives and NBA Global.
Williams Jeter joins former teammate Shea Ralph (Vanderbilt) and longtime UConn assistant Marisa Moseley (Wisconsin by way of Boston University) in earning head coaching jobs this offseason.
Wittenberg finished a COVID-19 disrupted 2020-21 season with a 5-3 record playing entirely North Coast Athletic Conference games. The program last appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2015.
Williams Jeter isn’t the only person with WNBA ties at Wittenberg. Agler, a two-time WNBA champion coach and alum of the university, was hired in January as the school’s athletic director.
“We are very excited about Tamika leading our women’s basketball program. I’ve known her for 20 years, and I’m looking forward to working with her. She is a proven winner, champion, and leader,” Agler said in a statement. “Her positive influence on our student-athletes, women’s basketball program, athletic department, and university will be significant. We will create an opportunity for her to make a big impact.”
Alexa Philippou can be reached at aphilippou@courant.com
