Nicole Burford is in her second season as assistant coach of the Eagles. She joins the team after serving as an assistant coach at Oakland University from 2016-19.
Prior to her time at Oakland University, Burford served as the head coach of Olivet College’s women’s basketball program after being promoted from assistant in 2010. As head coach, she earned the best conference record and overall record in program history during the 2013-14 season. The team went 14-2 in conference play and posted a 22-4 overall record. They finished 2nd in the conference, also a program best. In 2015 she became the most winningest coach in Olivet College’s women’s basketball history.
While at Olivet, Burford also served as an assistant coach to the track and field team and was an instructor of health and human performance. Burford’s coaching career began in 2005 when she accepted a role as the assistant women’s basketball coach at Kalamazoo College.
Burford earned her bachelor’s degree in economics from Oberlin College, where she played basketball and ran track and field. In 2003 she was named ‘Most Improved Player’ and in 2005, went on to win the ‘Best Defensive Player and Hustle Award’ for the North Coast Athletic Conference. She was also a member of the 2005 All-Conference 4 x1 relay team.
Coach Semeka Randall Lay said, "I am thrilled that Coach B will remain on staff. She is a veteran coach that brings 15 + years of coaching experience to Winthrop University. Coach B played an instrumental role on the team last season, coming in and hitting the ground running. The countless hours she spent behind the scenes with player development with our guards will pay dividends for our program. Not only is she a great teacher, she is a great person."
