May 15, 2006
ATLANTA–Georgia Tech women’s basketball head coach MaChelle Joseph has received a new three-year contract that runs through the 2008-09 season, Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich announced Monday.
Joseph, who just completed her third year as the Tech head coach, had one year remaining on her existing contract, which is replaced by the new three-year deal.
“MaChelle Joseph is the coach to continue building our women’s basketball program,” said Radakovich. “There is a solid foundation in place with the strong recruiting classes that MaChelle has assembled. We are enthusiastic about the future and the potential of the program.”
The Yellow Jackets return four starters and five of their top six scorers from this year’s squad that posted a 14-15 record while playing in the nation’s toughest conference. Top returnees include Chioma Nnamaka (12.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Stephanie Higgs (12.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Janie Mitchell (10.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and Jill Ingram (8.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg), all juniors next season.
Joseph, whose three-year record is 41-44, also welcomes four highly-regarded signees for next season, comprising a class that received honorable mention recognition for top recruiting class in the nation by the All-Star Girls Report. Headlining the class is 6-7 center Jasmine Duffey of Jonesboro, Ga., the highest rated signee in the history of the program as the No 18 prospect and No. 4 center in the nation.
“I’m really excited about what we’re building here at Georgia Tech,” said Joseph. “I’m very appreciative of the support that Dan Radakovich has shown me in his first months here and the continued support of the entire Tech administration.
“We’ve got a strong core coming back for next season with four returning starters, and the players that we’ve recruited will be great additions. We’re looking forward to a very bright future for Georgia Tech.”
Joseph, 36, is a 1992 graduate of Purdue University, where she was an all-American and one of the top players in Big Ten history. In addition to her three seasons as the Georgia Tech head coach, she has 11 years experience as an assistant coach, including two seasons with the Yellow Jackets as well as stints at Illinois, Purdue and Auburn.
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