East Texas A&M University Athletics

NicoleAnderson is in her first year as the head women's basketball coachat Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Anderson comes from an experienced background in both playing andcoaching basketball at multiple levels. She has spent the past sixyears as the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach at DivisionI member Long Beach State University, and at the Hoop School inLong Beach, Calif., where she is the founder and CEO.

From 2000-2004, she was as an assistant coach at the University ofSan Diego and San Diego State, and head coach at the University ofNew Haven. Anderson was heavily involved in the recruiting processat all universities, and contributed in compliance, admissions andacademics as well.

Prior to her college coaching career, Anderson was head coach atFrancis Parker High School in San Diego, Calif., and led the teamto three state CIF semifinals, a quarterfinal appearance and a No.3 state ranking.

Upon her hiring, Texas A&M University-Commerce President Dr.Dan Jones said “she brings some new ideas, some newstrategies, some enthusiasm, and a level of vision to this programthat we feel will propel it to the next level.”

Anderson earned her bachelor’s degree from UCLA in 1993,where she starred on the basketball team and was named one of the15 greatest players in UCLA women’s basketball history. Shewas a Naismith Award candidate as a senior, which is given to thetop player in the country, and still ranks in the top five in bothsteals and assists.

She also played for the United States in the 1991 William JonesCup in Taipei, Taiwan, winning a bronze medal and garneringall-tournament team honors. Anderson went on to play for the LosAngeles Sparks developmental team in 1997 before entering thecoaching ranks.