Wilson Announces Additions To WBB Coaching Staff

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Wilson Announces Additions To Coaching Staff
Jahsmin Player Joins as Assistant Coach; Danielle Edwards is Director of Player Personnel

DALLAS (SMU) – SMU women's basketball head coach Toyelle Wilson announced the addition of Jhasmin Player and Danielle Edwards to the coaching staff. Player will serve as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, while Edwards has been named the Director of Player Development.

Player spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Kansas. Prior to her time with the Jayhawks, she helped guide Loyola Marymount to the postseason for the first time since 2001 when the team earned a bid to the 2019 WNIT.

She also coached at the University of Maine, working for America East Coaches of the Year Richard Barron and then Amy Vachon. During her two seasons as a guard coach, the Black Bears played in the conference championship game twice, with a victory in 2018. Player helped guide the squad to a 23-9 record, earning a 15 seed in Maine's first NCAA Tournament since 2004. Four players earned all-conference accolades under her tutelage.

After her first stint at Maine from 2011-13, Player spent five seasons playing professionally in Europe. She averaged 39.9 points per game during the 2014 season, and spent time playing in Portugal, Spain and Poland. She also spent one season in the WNBA, playing for the Atlanta Dream.

Player earned her degree in speech communication from Baylor in 2009, where she played four seasons and served as a captain as a junior and senior. Baylor played in four NCAA tournaments during her career and won the Big 12 Tournament in 2009. Player earned all-conference accolades and was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team as a guard. Player is a native of Bay City, Texas.

"I am thrilled to have Jhasmin join the Mustang family. She is very knowledgeable, passionate, and exemplifies everything I look for in a high-character person and coach," Wilson stated. "She has established herself as one of the top international recruiters in this business and will be a great role model for these young women."

Edwards worked with Wilson at Michigan, spending the past two seasons as the Director of Player Personnel. She served as liaison with duties related to academics, assisted the recruiting coordinator with daily operations, and oversaw the day-to-day personal matters of student athletes. She joined the Wolverines' staff after finishing her playing career at Clemson, where she earned a bachelor's degree in sports communications and masters in athletic leadership. She finished her career ranked first in the program in starts (123), third in steals (291), and 14th in points (1,274). She is the first player in program history to be named to the ACC All-Academic Team all four seasons, and is a two-time all-defensive team selection.

During her playing career at Clemson, Edwards served as a team captain, and was also a representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. In 2019, she participated in the WBCA So You Want to Be a Coach program, and also had internships in the university communications department and the athletics communications department at Clemson. She is a native of Perry Hall, Md.

"Dani is perfect for this position; her hunger, drive, and work ethic is contagious," said Wilson. "She has a passion for the game, and the way she can relate to our young ladies will be very impactful. We are lucky to have someone as invested to SMU women's basketball as Dani."

[ritarivas89]

I like all the moves so far.

[dalpony]

I agree - appears to be an outstanding start in the hiring of assistant coaches