UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- When a spot came open on staff for Penn State women's basketball head coach Coquese Washington, she knew just what she was looking for; an experienced, proven winner at every level of the game. She found exactly that in Tamika Williams-Jeter, who was announced as the Lady Lions newest assistant coach today (May 24).
"Tamika Williams-Jeter is a tremendous addition to our coaching staff and to our women's basketball program, said Washington. "Her accomplishments and experiences on both the college and professional level are truly impressive. In addition, her tireless work ethic and her commitment to excellence in the area of community service make her an excellent fit for our program and the Penn State community overall."
A two-time national champion and a seven-year veteran of the WNBA, Williams-Jeter began her collegiate coaching career while still playing professionally. She lands in Happy Valley with 10 years of experience on the sideline, and will be responsible for coaching the Lady Lion post players.
"The combination of the Big Ten Conference, Penn State University, Coquese Washington and her staff, along with student-athletes that the University attracts is a formula for success," said Williams-Jeter. "I am thrilled to accept a position to work at such a prestigious institution within an athletic department that thrives on enriching the lives of student-athletes. I am thankful to Sandy Barbour and Coquese Washington for the opportunity they have provided me and my family. I cannot wait to get to campus and begin building upon an already strong foundation."
Her coaching resume includes six seasons at Ohio State (2003-08), two at Kansas (2009-10) and, most recently, two years at Kentucky (2015-16), all as an assistant coach.
In her 10 years on the bench, Williams-Jeter has not missed the postseason, helping the Buckeyes to six straight NCAA Tournament appearances, aiding the Wildcats to a pair of NCAA berths, and assisting the Jayhawks to two WNIT appearances, including the 2009 WNIT championship game.
Williams-Jeter's impact on the University of Kentucky program was felt during her two seasons in the Bluegrass State. During her time in Lexington, the Wildcats finished in the AP Top-25 twice, reached the NCAA Tournament both seasons and advance to the Sweet 16 in 2016.
Williams-Jeter's impact on the University of Kentucky program was felt during her two seasons in the Bluegrass State. During her time in Lexington, the Wildcats finished in the AP Top-25 twice, reached the NCAA Tournament both seasons and advance to the Sweet 16 in 2016.
Kentucky's play was vastly improved under her tutelage, with freshman Alexis Jennings earning SEC All-Freshman Team honors in 2015 and junior Evelyn Akhator garnering 2016 Second Team All-SEC laurels. After three solid seasons, Azia Bishop posted career-highs in a number of categories during the 2014-15 campaign. She led the team with a 54.3 percent shooting clip and 53 blocked shots, while she added 5.5 rebounds and 6.3 points per game - all career-highs.
She also helped mold Linnae Harper, Maci Morris and Jenn O'Neill into all-conference performers. Harper garnered SEC All-Defensive Team honors in 2015, while Morris was a SEC All-Freshman Team pick in 2016, starting every game for the Wildcats and averaging 8.6 points per game. Morris also hit at least one 3-pointer in 21 of Kentucky's 27 games in 2015-15.
O'Neill thrived under Williams-Jeter's watch, averaging 14.0 points per game in 2014-15 to lead the team. She earned SEC 6th Player of the Year -- becoming the only player in SEC history to win the honor twice -- and was a Second Team All-SEC pick by the coaches and a Honorable Mention All-SEC selection by the Associated Press. She became the 30th member of the UK 1,000-point club, ending her career ranked No. 12 on the Wildcats career scoring charts.
During her time in Lawrence, Kansas, Williams-Jeter tutored Krysten Boogaard and Carolyn Davis to All-Big XII honors, with both student-athletes ending their careers as members of the KU 1,000-point club.
Boogaard enjoyed two solid seasons at center for the Jayhawks. In her career, she swatted 105 shots, secured 584 rebounds and tallied 1,051 points.
Davis excelled under the guidance of Williams-Jeter, earning 2010 Big XII All-Rookie honors. The foundation laid during her rookie season helped Davis to a breakout sophomore season, when she ranked second nationally in field goal percentage (.660), while averaging 19.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
In six seasons at Ohio State, Williams-Jeter helped the Buckeyes program return to prominence. She spent one season as a graduate assistant (2002-03) before moving into a full time role from 2004-08. The Buckeyes made six straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, won four consecutive Big Ten Championships and Williams-Jeter saw four of her student-athletes selected in the WNBA Draft. Courtney Coleman (2003), Jessica Davenport (2007), Jantell Lavender (2011) and Debbie Merrill (2006) all heard their names called on draft night.
Among her pupils in Columbus, Davenport became the only three-time unanimous Big Ten Player of the Year selection (2005, 2006 & 2007) and was the Buckeyes first three-time All-American honoree. She ended her career at Ohio State having amassed 2,303 points, 1,094 rebounds and 384 blocks -- the first Big Ten player to reach 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 300 blocks in a career. Davenport also ended her career as the top shooter in school history, connecting on 60.4 percent of her shots from the field.
Remarkably, Lavender one-upped Davenport by earning Big Ten Player of the Year honors all four seasons, winning the award outright in 2009 and 2010, while earning Co-Player of the Year honors in 2008 and 2011. She was the first Big Ten freshman -- male or female -- to win player of the year honors and earned honorable mention Associated Press All-American. She ranked second in the NCAA in freshman scoring (17.6 ppg) and third in rebounds (9.9 rpg), recoding 13 double-doubles in 2007-08. Lavender set OSU rookie records for field goals made (232) and rebounds (306) in a season and her 17.6 points per game are No. 2 on the freshman charts.
Of the Buckeyes six NCAA Tournament appearances during her time there, William-Jeter was instrumental in helping the team advance past the first round on four occasions, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2005. OSU received a six seed or better in five of her six trips to the NCAA Tournaments, including a No. 1 seed in the 2005 tourney.
Between coaching at Kansas and accepting her post at Kentucky, Williams-Jeter moved to Texas and began working in the private sector. She continues to own a Nationwide Insurance agency. During her break from coaching she also served as an analyst for ESPN's women's basketball coverage. Other off-court activities include serving as an ambassador for Women & Girls Against HIV/AIDS, a U.S. State Department Sports Ambassador and traveling internationally with NBA Global, promoting the game of basketball.
Williams-Jeter excelled on the professional hardwood after being selected with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx. She spent seven seasons among the professional ranks -- retiring in 2008 -- earning WNBA All-Rookie team honors in 2002 and helping her team reach the playoffs on three occasions. She netted 1,404 points, secured 1,166 rebounds, handed out 221 assists and added 183 steals in her professional career.
As a student-athlete at the University of Connecticut, Williams-Jeter won a pair of national titles and was a two-time All-American for the Huskies. Her 2000 and 2002 NCAA championship teams are both a members of the Huskies of Honor program, which is used by the University of Connecticut's basketball programs in lieu of a traditional hall of fame.
She was the Sporting News National Freshman of the Year, 1999 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year and ECAC Rookie of the Year honors in 1999. Her sophomore season included being named the Most Outstanding Performer of the 2000 Big East Tournament and the 2000 NCAA championship. As a junior, she became the 19th player in UConn history to eclipse 1,000 points, and her senior season was capped off by another NCAA Championship and an undefeated 35-0 record. She received AP All-America Honorable Mention honors and was a Naismith Player of the Year candidate during the 2001-02 season.
She completed her collegiate career with averages of 10.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. She owns the NCAA record in field goal percentage at .703 percent (560-for-797) and ended her career ranked No. 14 on UConn's all-time scoring list with 1,402 points.
A Dean's List student, she served as the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee while earning a bachelor of arts communications in interpersonal communications from the University of Connecticut.
After being heavily recruited by almost every major college basketball program in the country, she chose to play at Connecticut, where she and her classmates (Asjha Jones, Swin Cash and Sue Bird) were tabbed by Sports Illustrated the "best recruiting class of 1998."
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Williams-Jeter was the No. 1-ranked player in the nation coming out of Chaminade-Julienne High School. A prep standout, she scored 2,015 points in her career and was the consensus High School Player of the Year in 1998. She was a two-time Ohio Player of the Year (1997, 1998) and earned Ohio Miss Basketball and WBCA All-America honors as a senior in 1998. She helped the Eagles to the first appearance in the OHSAA Division I Final Four, where CJHS finished runner-up to USA Today National Champion Pickerington Central.
Williams-Jeter is married to former NBA player Richard Jeter. The couple has one son, R.J., born in 2015.