Redus Announces Women’s Basketball Staff Additions
Apr 01 | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers women's basketball head coach Gary Redus II announced the addition of several members to his staff, officially welcoming assistant coaches Daphne Mitchell, Manisha Redus, Preston Beverly, LaDazhia Williams and Lauren Hansen. Redus also added a key staff member with the appointment of Matthew Brune as general manager, while retaining Alejandro Ramirez as director of operations.
"I'm excited to officially welcome this group to Rutgers," Redus said. "Each one of them brings a unique perspective, strong work ethic and passion for developing student-athletes in all areas. Together, they help to form a staff that understands what it takes to compete at the highest level and represent this program the right way. I'm confident they will make an immediate impact on our culture and success."
DAPHNE MITCHELL
A highly respected post player coach, Daphne Mitchell joins Redus at Rutgers after sharing the sidelines together at LSU. Mitchell spent five seasons with the Tigers, including four as an assistant coach with Redus.
Mitchell played a key role in LSU's recruiting success, helping secure two top-ranked classes alongside Redus and was instrumental in the Tigers' 2023 national championship run. She worked closely with the post unit, developing a dominant frontcourt that shined on both ends of the floor.
"I've had the opportunity to see up close the impact Daph has made, and it is undeniable," said Redus. "She's someone who is deeply respected, not only as a coach, but as a person. She brings a high level of expertise and an even higher level of character. Our players will have someone they can go to, learn from and trust to help them grow both on and off the court. Most importantly, she understands what it takes to win and that experience will be critical as we build Rutgers into a championship program."
Mitchell has helped develop elite post players, including Angel Reese and Aneesah Morrow, both top seven WNBA Draft selections. Under her guidance, both rank among LSU's top 10 all-time rebounders.
Mitchell previously spent six seasons under Kim Mulkey at Baylor, contributing to recruiting, scouting, social media, film breakdown and game preparation.
Prior to her time in Waco, Mitchell served two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Murray State. Mitchell also held assistant coaching roles at Jacksonville and Tennessee Tech.
Mitchell played collegiately at Georgia Tech from 2004-08. During her career with the Yellow Jackets, Mitchell played in 108 games. In 2006, Mitchell was honored by the ACC with a Top Six for Service award for her commitment to the Atlanta community, where she worked with the Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta Fight Against Breast Cancer, Hosea's Feed the Hungry program and volunteered at local elementary and middle schools as well as Habitat for Humanity.
Mitchell, who earned her bachelor's degree in business management from Georgia Tech in 2008 and her master's degree in sports management from LSU in 2025, played professionally overseas in Ecuador, Finland, Spain and Portugal.
MANISHA REDUS
Manisha Redus arrives at Rutgers with more than 15 years of playing and coaching experience across the NCAA Division I and Division II levels. She most recently spent the 2025-26 season as an assistant coach at Florida Atlantic.
She also served as the Owls recruiting coordinator, leading the charge to sign the program's first top 100 class.
Prior to her time in Boca Raton, Redus served as the head coach at Palm Beach Atlantic from 2018-25, taking over a Sailfish program in its first year as a full member of the Sunshine State Conference.
"Manisha and I have had the opportunity to work together before, and I have so much respect and reverence for who she is and how she approaches the game," added Redus. "She has one of the greatest basketball minds I've ever been around, and she played a huge role in showing me the ropes of coaching, from recruiting to scouting and everything in between. Beyond that, she's a true relationship-driven coach who connects with people in a meaningful way. I'm excited for more people to see what I've been fortunate to experience firsthand."
Under her leadership, Palm Beach Atlantic returned to the SSC Tournament in 2024-25, highlighted by six SSC weekly honors and two All-SSC selections. Anabell Ellison led the conference in steals, while Kash Ayuso ranked second in scoring.
The Sailfish posted their best season under Redus in 2023-24, featuring the conference's leading scorer (Ayuso, 19.7 ppg) and leading rebounder (Mariyah Fletcher, 10.7 rpg).
In 2022-23, Redus guided the program to its first double-digit win season since 2015-16 when the team joined the Sunshine State Conference. During the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 campaign, she led the Sailfish to their first SSC Tournament appearance, advancing to the finals. That season also saw Shekinah Guthrie named SSC Defensive Player of the Year, the first in program history.
Before Palm Beach Atlantic, Redus spent three seasons as an assistant coach at West Georgia, helping the program increase its win total each year and reach the Gulf South Conference Tournament twice. She also served as an assistant coach at Montevallo.
A four-year standout at Alabama from 2000-04, Redus started every game of her junior and senior seasons. The Decatur, Alabama native earned her bachelor's degree in marketing in 2005.
PRESTON BEVERLY
Preston Beverly comes to Rutgers with 19 years of experience on the sideline, most recently serving two seasons as an assistant coach at Missouri from 2023-25.
During the 2024-25 season, Beverly played a pivotal role in the development of Grace Slaughter, who led the Tigers with 15.0 points per game and was named SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Under his guidance, Slaughter significantly improved her three-point shooting, connecting on 45.9 percent from beyond the arc, an 8.8 percent increase from her freshman to sophomore season.
Beverly also helped elevate Mama Dembele's performance, as the Tigers' point guard earned All-SEC Defensive Team honors while ranking among the top 10 nationally in both steals and assists.
During his first season with the Tigers, he helped Hayley Frank to new heights as she broke 2,000 career points and currently ranks fourth on the program's all-time scoring list.
"Preston has a great passion for the little things when it comes to coaching, evaluating and recruiting," Redus said. "He has a great reputation, and so many people I trust had nothing but great things to say about him. He brings a diverse background with experience as a JUCO head coach, AAU coach and Division III assistant, and he's had to grind every step of the way. That's exactly what we need in this program. I'm excited to watch him go to work and help us continue building this program the right way."
A veteran coach, Beverly joined Missouri after serving as head coach at Evangel for two seasons. He led the Valor to consecutive Heart Tournament Quarterfinal appearances and coached five all-conference selections during his tenure.
Prior to Evangel, Beverly worked extensively on the grassroots circuit. He served as a hub director with Nike Girls Missouri Phenom EYBL which has had several top finishes on the GEYBL circuit. He also coached and was program director for Nike Girls Exodus NYC EYBL middle school programs. During his work with the Exodus 17U EYBL squad they featured four ESPN Top 50 recruits.
Beverly transitioned to the women's sideline as an assistant coach at Hofstra during the 2019–20 season. Prior to that, he spent four years at Richard Bland College of William & Mary (2015–19) on the men's side, where he served as an assistant coach for three seasons before being elevated to head coach in 2018-19. During his time there, he coached seven all-region players and led the program to a Final Four appearance, two district championships and a Region X title.
His previous stops also include Lincoln College of New England, Nyack College, Bowdoin College and SUNY New Paltz with the men's programs. At Lincoln, Beverly built a highly successful program that averaged 20 wins per season, compiled a .727 winning percentage and earned its first-ever NJCAA National Tournament appearance. He was also named District Coach of the Year.
Beverly earned his degree in computer science, with minors in psychology and math, from Virginia Military Institute in 2006, where he reached the rank of S-6 Lieutenant.
Beverly has strong ties to New Jersey through his parents. His mother, Sharon Beverly, served as the head coach at FDU from 1988-1999 and was later inducted into the FDU Hall of Fame in 2012. His father, Randy Beverly Sr., enjoyed a standout NFL career as a cornerback and played a key role in helping the New York Jets capture their only Super Bowl in 1969.
He and his wife, Danielle, have four children.
MATTHEW BRUNE
Matthew Brune will serve as general manager for the program, driving strategy in recruiting, player analysis and Name, Image and Likeness (NIL).
Brune most recently served as a sportswriter for the Bengal Tiger On3, where he covered men's and women's basketball recruiting and provided in-depth team analysis. He also contributed to On3 National, focusing on recruiting evaluations.
"I had the opportunity to work very closely with Matthew at LSU, and he brings an extensive knowledge of both the current collegiate landscape and the recruiting world," stated Redus. "He's someone who works relentlessly, and I'm excited to see what he can do in this new role. We've built great chemistry, and he truly understands my vision for how I want the program to operate. That familiarity will allow him to thrive in NIL, roster construction and talent evaluation."
Throughout his career, Brune has built strong relationships with coaches and student-athletes nationwide while working with outlets such as Dave Campbell's Texas Basketball, 247Sports, the Denton Record-Chronicle and the North Texas Daily.
A graduate of North Texas, Brune earned his degree in journalism with a concentration in print and digital media.
LADAZHIA WILLIAMS
LaDazhia Williams brings extensive on-court experience and success to Piscataway after winning a national championship with the LSU Tigers in 2023.
"I was fortunate enough to coach LaDazhia and now I am so excited to have the opportunity to work with her," said Redus. "Her leadership on the 2023 championship team at LSU was invaluable, and that's something she'll be able to bring to this program right away. She has a calming presence but is also a fierce competitor. I think very highly of her and believe she has the potential for a long, successful career in this profession. She can still get out on the court and play, which will be a huge asset in developing our post players. I'm excited for her to begin her coaching journey with us."
Williams started all 34 games during LSU's title run, averaging 9.9 points and a career-high 6.0 rebounds per game in her final collegiate season. She elevated her play in the NCAA Tournament, posting 13.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game across LSU's six-game championship run.
Williams was selected in the second round of the 2023 WNBA Draft, 17th overall, by the Indiana Fever before going on to play professionally overseas in Israel, France, Mexico, Greece, Romania and Lebanon.
Williams spent her collegiate career in the SEC, beginning at South Carolina for two seasons. She transferred to Missouri where she played three seasons, before finishing her final year of eligibility with the Tigers. Prior to her collegiate career, Williams was ranked as the nation's No. 12 forward and the No. 48 overall prospect in the Class of 2017 by ESPNW. A native of Bradenton, Florida, she attended Lakewood Ranch High School.
LAUREN HANSEN
Lauren Hansen joins the coaching staff, bringing Big Ten playing experience to the Rutgers bench after concluding her collegiate career at Michigan in 2023-24, following three seasons at Missouri.
"Lauren has built strong relationships and is well regarded in this area which was an important piece to add to this staff," said Redus. "She came highly recommended by a lot of people in the region, which will be a huge asset for our program. She is a young coach who can both show you and tell you—someone who can truly teach the game, especially with our guards. She's incredibly smart and has a great feel for the game. I'm excited for her to come in, learn and continue to grow in the profession."
During her graduate season with the Wolverines, Hansen started all 34 games at point guard, averaging 11.9 points per game and scoring in double figures on 23 occasions. She earned All-Big Ten honorable mention recognition from both coaches and media while helping Michigan to a 20-14 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Across her time in the SEC, Hansen appeared in more than 100 games and averaged double figures in two seasons, while earning three SEC Academic Honor Roll selections.
After her time in Ann Arbor, Hansen played professionally in Poland and Croatia.
A native of Long Island, New York, Hansen graduated from Missouri with a degree in communications and sociology before earning her graduate degree from Michigan in sports management.
ALEJANDRO RAMIREZ
Alejandro Ramirez returns as Director of Operations for Rutgers women's basketball after serving in the role during the 2025-26 season.
Ramirez oversees day-to-day operations of the program, including team travel, game day organization, practice logistics and recruiting coordination.
He plays a key role in game day execution, managing schedules and coordinating shootarounds for both home and visiting teams. Ramirez works closely with multiple Rutgers departments, particularly equipment and facilities, to ensure seamless operations.
Additionally, he oversees the Scarlet Knights' student-manager program, including hiring, training and scheduling. He also organizes and directs Rutgers women's basketball summer camps.
"Having someone like Alejandro who is truly passionate about Rutgers and understands what this place is all about is a huge asset," Redus added. "He's been incredibly helpful from day one, not just to me but to our entire staff, and has already helped us better understand the University. His character made this an easy decision, and when you combine his work ethic, knowledge and potential, we're excited to have him here and to work with him."
Ramirez earned his undergraduate degree in sports management and media studies from Rutgers in 2022 before going onto obtain his master's in global sports business in 2024. This will be his sixth season with the program, having served as a student manager previously and the interim director of operations during the 2024-25 season.
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