Women's Basketball Welcomes Timothy Eatman to Staff
Jul 23 | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers head women's basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer has announced the addition of Timothy Eatman to the Scarlet Knight staff as an assistant coach to replace Tasha Pointer, who stepped down to pursue other opportunities.
A veteran coach and renowned recruiter with over 20 years of experience, Eatman has had prior head coaching experience at University of Illinois at Chicago and his alma mater, Talladega College, and most recently served as the recruiting coordinator at Rhode Island. He is also reunited with Coach Stringer, having served with the hall of fame coach during her final season at Iowa in 1994-95, putting together the nation's top ranked recruiting class.
Over the course of his career, Eatman has played a major role in bringing in 11 top 30 recruiting classes and was recognized by Lindy's Magazine as the nation's top recruiter while he was at Iowa in 1994. Additionally, six of his former players have gone on to play at the next level in the WNBA and 13 have joined the coaching ranks.
"I think Tim is one of the best recruiters in the country. It's obvious with the kind of success he has had," said Stringer of the newest member of her staff. "Tim and I have had the opportunity to work at Iowa and I know from first hand experience that he's there first thing in the morning and there last thing at night. I think that his success has everything to do in his ability to relate to players and parents and his knack for recognizing talent that might not come up in the publications. I know that Tim will be a vital asset in helping to bring in student-athletes here to Rutgers that would serve the university and community well. He is a proven winner, a team player as a staff member and someone that gives me great comfort in having on the sidelines with our team."
Following his collegiate playing days, Eatman began his coaching career as the head women's coach at Talladega College, instantly turning around his alma mater's program. After posting an 0-26 record prior to his appointment, Eatman guided the Tornadoes to a 20-9 ledger in 1989-90.
Eatman made the move to the Division I level as an assistant coach at Mississippi State from 1990-92 and University of Houston from 1992-93. With the Cougars, he put together the No. 4 rated recruiting class in the country.
Joining Stringer at Iowa for the 1994-95 campaign, Eatman helped to construct the top-ranked recruiting class that featured the nation's top point guard, Nadine Domond, 1995 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Tiffany Gooden, and 1998 Big Ten Player of the Year, Tangela Smith.
Eatman had two stints at Kansas, serving as an assistant from 1996-98 and again from 2002-04. He helped the Jayhawks win the Big 12 title in 1997, reach the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1998 and was the position coach for Kodak All-American and first round WNBA pick, Tamecka Dixon, during the 1996-97 season.
In between his two turns as a member of the Jayhawks' staff, Eatman was at the helm of the Illinois-Chicago program. During his four seasons with the Flames, he brought in two top 20 recruiting classes and recorded the program's highest win total in seven seasons.
Eatman's career continued at Louisville from 2004-07, where he helped the Cardinals reach three-straight NCAA Tournaments and was involved in the recruitment of eventual BIG EAST Player of the Year Angel McCoughtry. He also spent four seasons as the associate head coach at Arkansas from 2007-2011. While with the Razorbacks, Eatman was the team's defensive coordinator as they set the school record for fewest points allowed in an SEC contest - 42 against Mississippi State.
Making the move to the Northeast, Eatman spent one season at Boston College, being elevated to interim head coach for the end of the 2011-12 season. He then joined head coach Daynia La-Force's staff at Northeastern in 2013 and followed her when she took over the top position at Rhode Island in 2014.
Eatman also has international experience. In 2010, he was the head coach for the Jamaican Senior Women's Team. The team got by Trinidad & Tobago to qualify for the 2010 FIBA-Americas Championship for Women and the Pan-American Games.
Eatman has served as a member of the programs planning committee of the Black Coaches Association in 2008 and is a participant in the BCA's ACE Program for Women's Basketball Coaches.
A 1988 graduate of Talledega College with a B.A. in chemistry, Eatman completed his Master of Sacred Literature in Christian Education from Louisville Bible College in 2008.
"There are three reasons I decided to accept the challenge of my life by joining Coach C.Vivian Stringer as part of her staff at Rutgers University," said Eatman of joining the Scarlet Knight coaching ranks.
"First, it is an incredible opportunity to once again have the chance to work with a pioneer and hall of famer. Secondly, I embrace her vision to have a chance to win a national championship. Lastly, I will be reunited with Athletic Director Julie Hermann, who was my Senior Women's Administrator (SWA) at the University of Louisville. Julie was an amazing asset in assisting the staff in recruiting the core players that propelled Louisville to their first two Final Fours in the program's history. I am looking forward to competing in the Big Ten. It is an exciting day to be a part of the Scarlet Knight family."
Eatman joins fellow assistants Kelley Gibson and Ervin Monier, who were welcomed to the staff last month.
"I'm excited about this staff, which is very experienced and has had success. This is as close as I can get without having former players work for me and you can't ask for better," said Stringer of her new staff. "What is also important is that they have demonstrated over the years that they have always been interested in the Rutgers program. They are not strangers. These are people I've kept up with and appreciated and admired their work over the years. I'm excited because they'll bring new and fresh ideas, their experience in challenges they have faced and different views from other perspectives and programs. Our newest assistants are also proven recruiters in every aspect."
Pointer resigns from the staff following eight seasons "On The Banks" as a member of the coaching staff and having played under Stringer from 1997-2001.
"I want to thank Tasha for everything she has given to the program, both as a coach and a student-athlete, and I am truly blessed to have worked with her all these years," said Stringer. "Going forward, I know Tasha will have much success because I can attest to her determination, hard work and passion for the game . She helped the Scarlet Knights reach great heights and will continue that trend in the next steps of her coaching career."
"The past eight years have been very rewarding. I've enjoyed working with my alma mater - returning as an assistant coach after four years of participating as a student-athlete. The opportunities Coach Stringer and Rutgers University have presented me are priceless and I am deeply appreciative," said Pointer. "Leading the women who have played here, and facilitating in their transformation, is the reason why I coach. I wish the Rutgers Women's Basketball team all the best."
The Eatman File
Collegiate Playing Experience
1984 - 1988 - Talladega College
Coaching Chronology
2014-2015 - University of Rhode Island - Assistant Coach
2013-14 - Northeastern University - Assistant Coach
2011-12 - Boston College - Interim Head Coach/Assistant Coach
2007-11 - University of Arkansas - Associate Head Coach
2004-07 - University of Louisville - Assistant Coach
2002-04 - University of Kansas - Assistant Coach
1998-2002 - University of Illinois - Chicago - Head Coach
1996-98 - University of Kansas - Assistant Coach
1994-95 - University of Iowa - Assistant Coach
1992-93 - University of Houston - Assistant Coach
1990-92 - Mississippi State University - Assistant Coach
1988-90 - Talladega College - Head Coach
International:
2010 - Jamaican Senior Women's Team - Head Coach
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