Email: spurcell@athletics.gatech.edu
Sam Purcell enters his sixth season on the Georgia Tech staff. During his tenure at Georgia Tech, Purcell is the current scouting coordinator and helped build one of the most impressive editing systems and film rooms in the country. He has also had a major role in assisting with recruiting all top 25 classes the last five years, including helping ink one of the nation[apos]s top-five recruiting classes in 2012.
In each of his previous five seasons, Purcell has played a large part in helping the Yellow Jackets elevate the status of the program, as Tech has won at least 20 games and made the NCAA Tournament each season. The Yellow Jackets earned their sixth straight NCAA Tournament berth, a school highest four seed, and defeated Georgetown in the second round to advance to their first Sweet 16. Georgia Tech finished the 2011-12 season with a program-best No. 10 national ranking in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
Purcell has worked closely with several guards who have achieved All-ACC honors and WNBA recognition. In 2011, Alex Montgomery was named second team All-ACC and to the ACC[apos]s All-Defensive Team. Montgomery was named the State of Georgia[apos]s College Player of the Year and went on to be the first ACC player selected in the 2011 WNBA Draft when she was chosen 10th overall by the New York Liberty.
Current Yellow Jackets Tyaunna Marshall and Sydney Wallace have each garnered recognition from the ACC. As a freshman in 2011, Marshall was selected to the third team All-ACC, ACC All-Freshman team and to the ACC All-Tournament second team. In her sophomore campaign, Marshall was named to the second team All-ACC and ACC All-Tournament first team. Marshall[apos]s 503 points in 2011-12 were the second-most by a Tech sophomore all time.
Wallace was selected to the ACC All-Freshman Team and set various Georgia Tech NCAA Tournament records. In the opening round, Wallace set a Tech tournament record with 28 points against Sacred Heart and became the first Yellow Jacket to score at least 20 points in her first two NCAA Tournament games when she tossed in 23 against Georgetown. Wallace bested her own record when she poured in 32 points against No. 1 Baylor in the Sweet 16 on the strength of eight 3-pointers, which tied the GT record in all games for threes in a game and set the Tech record for threes in an NCAA Tournament game.
Prior to Georgia Tech, Purcell was an assistant coach for the University of Tulsa women[apos]s basketball team and served as the scouting coordinator, position coach for the post players and assisted with recruiting. During his first season at Tulsa, Purcell played an integral role in helping forward Jillian Robbins attain honorable mention All-America honors, Conference USA Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year merits. His contributions helped Tulsa capture their first Conference USA regular season and tournament titles.
Purcell arrived at Tulsa from Auburn University, where he spent two seasons as a video coordinator/administrative assistant and was a member of the Tigers[apos] 2004 NCAA Tournament second round squad. From October 2000 through June 2003, he worked for the Tigers as a student coach and was a staff member of Auburn[apos]s WNIT championship team in 2003. While there he had the opportunity to work under 2005 Women[apos]s Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee Joe Ciampi and 1996 USA Women[apos]s Basketball Coach Nell Fortner.
Purcell earned his bachelor[apos]s degree in education from Auburn in May 2003. A native of Dalton, Ga., Purcell played two years of men[apos]s basketball at Southern Union State Community College (1998-2000).
Purcell and his wife, Meghan, live in Smyrna, Ga., with their two-year-old, Reese. Purcell is also very involved in speaking conventions and had the opportunity to participate in this year[apos]s WBCA Assistant Coaches Roundtable.
