June 5, 2006

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.- Marist head women's basketball coach Brian Giorgis announced Monday that Jada Pierce has been added to the coaching staff. Pierce joins the staff after two seasons as head coach at Cheyney University.

"We are excited to have Jada as a member of the women's basketball staff and the Marist community," said Giorgis. "Jada brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience that will help us continue the level of excellence that we have achieved these past few seasons."

Prior to her stint at Cheyney, Pierce spent three seasons as first assistant with the University of Massachusetts at Lowell where she was the recruiting coordinator and assisted in scouting and coaching the guards.  During her tenure at UML, the River Hawks compiled a 51-36 record, appearing in the Northeast-10 Conference all three seasons and securing an appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2003.

A native of Philadelphia, Pierce is a 1997 graduate of West Chester University.  Prior to her stint at UML, she was an assistant coach at the University of Delaware (1999-2001) and Saint Michael's College (1997-1999).  During her tenure at Delaware, Pierce teamed with Head Coach Tina Martin in leading the Fighting Blue Hens to an outstanding two-year mark of 46-14, which included the America East Conference regular season and tournament championships as well as bid to the 2001 NCAA Tournament.  In her first year, UD compiled a 21-8 overall record which included a 13-5 record in the America East.  In 2000-01, UD posted a 26-5 record (18-1 league mark) earning a 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament.  The Blue Hens fell to fourth-seeded NC State 76-57 in the first round. 

Previously, Pierce was a two-year assistant at St. Michael's and helped guide the Purple Knights to the 1999 Northeast -10 Conference Playoffs. 

Pierce, a four-year player at West Chester University, helped guide the team to a 22-7 mark during her senior season, a year where she was co-captain of the squad. She started all 29 games en route to being crowned champion of the Eastern Division of the PSAC and securing a bid to the NCAA Tournament.  

Pierce played her high school basketball at Central High School in Philadelphia.  She was captain of the team during her senior season and was named First Team Philadelphia All Public League (1992) and a Philadelphia Public League All-Star (1990-91).  Averaging 21 points per game as a senior, she became Central's all-time leading scorer.  In addition, she was an All-PPL high jumper as a junior - her only season as a member of the track and field squad.