Mississippi State women’s basketball announced two additions to the coaching staff Tuesday afternoon.
Tamisha Augustin will serve as the team’s new recruiting coordinator, while Wesley Brooks will be an assistant coach, head coach Nikki McCray-Penson announced. Augustin and Brooks have nine years of coaching experience at Power 5 programs.
“Tamisha and Wesley have been successful at developing players and helping programs win everywhere they have been, and I am really excited to have them in our program,” McCray-Penson said in a news release.
Augustin was an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator for Arizona the past two seasons, helping lead the Wildcats to their first-ever national championship game appearance. She was named the assistant coach of the year by World Exposure Report.
“Tamisha has a championship pedigree,” McCray-Penson said. “It doesn’t get much better than coaching in the Final Four, and that experience is what we need. She is a tenacious recruiter, and she really relates to players. She knows what the expectations are, and I like the mentality that she brings.”
Arizona went 45-13 in Augustin’s two seasons with the team.
“I am excited to be joining the Bulldog family,” Augustin said. “I am looking forward to further building the championship culture here at Mississippi State University. I’ve admired Coach McCray’s work ethic and dedication to women’s basketball on all levels, and I look forward to growing and learning from one of the best in the sport. I have a passion for defense and playing an up-tempo style of offense. I am truly humbled and grateful for this opportunity. I am ready to hit the ground running.”
Meanwhile, Brooks coached at Michigan the last four years, helping to lead the Wolverines to three straight NCAA tournament appearances.
“Wesley has been around some great coaches and programs that have been successful. He excels in recruiting and player development. He’s recruited and coached some of the best players in the country. He just helped lead Michigan to its first Sweet Sixteen.”
Last season, Michigan finished with the highest ranking in program history (No. 11) after making the school’s first ever Sweet Sixteen appearance.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for me. Mississippi State has tradition and a legacy, and I am happy to join Coach McCray-Penson’s staff,” Brooks said. “I am looking forward to getting started and contributing. I want to help her get to the Elite Eight and Final Four. I am going to bring energy every day and build relationships with players and in the community. I love skill development and offense. I want to help bring new ideas and energy to the table. Our goal is to make Final Fours and win national championships.”
MSU is coming off a 10-9 season where it was left out of the 64-team NCAA tournament field for the first time since the 2013-14 season. After bringing in a plethora of transfers, McCray-Penson hopes to right the ship in her second season.
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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