Elderkin's previous stops were at LSU, St. Johns, Virginia and others.
BOONE, N.C. -- Angel Elderkin, a longtime assistant coach in the Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference and Big East, has been named the eighth head coach in Appalachian State women’s basketball history, interim director of athletics Rick Beasley announced on Wednesday.
“Angel Elderkin is the perfect person to lead Appalachian State’s proud women’s basketball program,” Beasley said. “Her resume speaks for itself as to her ability as a coach and recruiter but she is also an ultra-prepared, caring person with great energy and integrity that will be a positive influence to young ladies in our women’s basketball program on and off the court.”
Elderkin comes to Appalachian State from LSU, where she spent two of the previous three seasons (2013-14 -- assistant coach; 2011-12 -- director of video operations). She has also served on the staffs at St. John’s (2012-13), Virginia (2007-11), Tennessee (2005-07), Siena (2001-05) and East Tennessee State (1999-2001).
“I’m extremely grateful and humbled to join the Appalachian State family,” Elderkin said. “I learned a lesson in life that you win with people and it is the people at Appalachian State that makes this the right opportunity for me at this time. I am truly excited for the opportunity to inject my spirit in the terrific women in our program and inspire them to succeed on and off the court.”
Welcome new WBB head coach Angel Elderkin! Press conference at 4:30 on the second floor of the Athletic Center. pic.twitter.com/gz02VAScoi
— App State Athletics (@appstate_sports) October 1, 2014
In her 12 seasons as an assistant coach, video coordinator and graduate assistant, Elderkin’s teams have advanced to postseason play 10 times and won five conference championships. As an assistant coach, she has worked directly with two all-Americans and four student-athletes that have gone on to play in the WNBA. She has also been responsible for landing four classes ranked among the nation’s top 20 as a recruiting coordinator.
Most recently, Elderkin helped LSU get to the Sweet 16 of the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
In between her two one-year stints at LSU, Elderkin was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at St. John’s. In her lone season at St. John’s, the Red Storm went 18-13 overall, 11-5 in Big East play and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Prior to going to LSU, Elderkin spent four seasons (2007-11) on the staff of Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer Debbie Ryan at Virginia. As an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Virginia, Elderkin helped lead the Cavaliers to four consecutive postseason berths (NCAA in 2008, 2009 and 2010, WNIT in 2011) and oversaw the signing of four consecutive recruiting classes that were ranked among the top 20 nationally, including top-10 classes in 2010 and 2011.
Elderkin’s first taste of the SEC came from 2005-07 when she served as a graduate assistant (2005-06) and video coordinator for legendary coach Pat Summit at Tennessee. In her two seasons with the Vols, UT won the 2007 national championship and advanced to the Elite 8 of the 2006 NCAA Tournament.
Her first job as an assistant coach came at Siena, where she also served as recruiting coordinator from 2001-05. In her four seasons at Siena, the Saints won three Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular-season titles (2002, 2003 and 2004) and played in two WNITs (2002 and 2003).
Elderkin began her career as a special assistant to the head coach while earning a master’s degree at nearby East Tennessee State (1999-2001).
