ROCK HILL, SC—Winthrop head women’s basketball coach Bud Childers has announced the hiring of former East Carolina head coach Dee Stokes, who served as head coach in 2004 of the Birmingham Power of the National Women’s Basketball League, as one of his two assistant coaches. Stokes joines Tuonisia Turner on Childers’ first staff. Her duties begin July 1.
“When I took the job here at Winthrop my first priority in selecting a staff was to bring people on board who knew me, the system we would employ, and had experience in the program building process. I believe we hit a home run with Tounisia and Dee joining the Lady Eagle program,” said Childers, who took over the program in April after stints as head coach at Murray State, Louisville, and James Madison and associate head coach at Southern Mississippi.
“I have known both of these coaches since their college playing days and have mentored them throughout their coaching careers. Both of them are very knowledgeable in the game of basketball, well organized, professional, and very personable. I consider them to be close friends. I am delighted to have them join me here at Winthrop. I know the players will enjoy working with them as much as me.”
Stokes, who served at East Carolina for from 1998 through 2002, played college basketball at Wake Forest for two seasons before transferring to UNC Charlotte from where she graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. Following graduation, Stokes entered the coaching profession and held assistant coaching positions at Alabama-Birmingham, Murray State, Texas A&M, and Nebraska until 1998 when she was hired at ECU. During her five years as an assistant, the schools at which she served made three NCAA tournament appearances, captured two conference tournament championships and one regular season title. Stokes led ECU to three consecutive winning seasons from 1998 to 2001 marking the first time in 14 years that feat had been accomplished.
In 2001, she was selected to serve as an assistant coach for the USA Basketball Team that captured the gold medal at the World University Games in Beijing, China.
“Dee brings a wealth of experience to the program here at Winthrop,” said Childers. “I coached against her when she played in college and competed against her team as a coach. She was always a fierce competitor and her teams played an aggressive tough, style. Her enthusiasm for the job should prove to be contagious. Dee will assist in our recruiting efforts, lead our community outreach programs, and assist in opponent scouting. It is a thrill to finally get to work with her.”
