Augustin was an assistant for the Grand Rapids Gold, a Denver Nuggets affiliate, during the 2021-22 season.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida women’s basketball head coach Kelly Rae Finley has announced the addition of Tamisha Augustin to the staff as an assistant coach for the 2022-23 season.
“Tamisha is one of the best in the game,” Finley said. “Her authentic care for people, combined with her work ethic and knowledge, make her the total package. We are excited for Tamisha to join our team and look forward to all that we will strive to accomplish together.”
Augustin will be heading to Gainesville after spending the 2021-22 campaign in the NBA G-League, serving as an assistant coach on Jason Terry’s staff for the Grand Rapids Gold, the G-League affiliate for the Denver Nuggets.
“I am elated to join the Gators family and look forward to building on the foundation that Coach Finley has created,” Augustin said. “Kelly is a rising star in our women’s basketball profession and I admire her work ethic, compassion and dedication to this game. Through my faith, love and passion for the game, I will strive every day to build a championship culture for our UF student-athletes. I am grateful for this opportunity. Thank you, Gator Nation!”
No stranger to the Southeastern Conference, Augustin recorded a brief stint as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Mississippi State beginning in April 2021 before accepting a position with the Grand Rapids Gold.
Prior to her time at Mississippi State, Augustin, who was named the 2021 World Exposure Report Assistant Coach of the Year, spent two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Arizona. While in Tucson, Augustin helped guide the Wildcats to the program’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA championship game in 2021. Arizona defeated its foes in the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight and Final four by double digit points during the run, including an impressive 69-59 victory over No. 1 UConn in the Final Four.
In addition to making their first appearance in the national title game, Arizona recorded a 45-13 mark during Augustin’s time with the program, including seven victories against top-10 opponents. Focusing on her work with post players, she was instrumental in the development of Cate Reese, a two-time All-PAC-12 honoree and Naismith Trophy candidate. Augustin is also a proven elite recruiter, helping to sign three top-100 players and a duo of top transfers. Her efforts helped lay the foundation for the sixth-best recruiting class in the nation last spring.
During her first season with the program, the Wildcats finished 24-7, a tie for the second-most wins in Arizona history, which included three wins over top-10 opponents and their first-ever top-five victory when they defeated No. 4 Stanford in overtime. Arizona’s win in Corvallis over No. 9 Oregon State also marked the first time they beat a top-10 team on the road.
On the recruiting front, Augustin helped Arizona sign five-star prospect, two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year and Jordan Brand Classic selection, Lauren Ware, in 2020. She also played a key role in the signing of transfers Bendu Yeaney and 2020 ACC Sixth Player of the Year, Trinity Baptiste, both of whom started on the national runner-up team.
Before her time in Tucson, Augustin had one-year stints at Cincinnati (2017-18) and Minnesota (2016-17). As a Bearcat, Augustin helped Cincinnati to a 19-win season, the most victories since the 2002-03 season in addition to securing their first postseason bid since the 2012 campaign with an invite to the WNIT. Working with Iimar’i Thomas, she helped the freshman to AAC Freshman of the Year honors.
In the summer of 2016, Augustin was one of seven assistant coaches from around the country chosen to participate in Advocates for Athletic Equity’s (AAE) annual “Achieving Coaching Excellence” (ACE) Professional Development Program. The program is recognized as helping to boost the careers of some of the top minority coaches in the college game.
The 2022-23 season will not mark Augustin’s first coaching position in the state of Florida, as she was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for UCF from 2014-16. Under her watch, Zykira Lewis earned all-league second team honors, set the UCF single season record with 86 triples and averaged 18.9 points per game in 2014-15.
At the collegiate level, Augustin’s career began at South Carolina State where she was an assistant coach from 2010-12.
Augustin played collegiately at Alabama A&M from 2002-06 and was a two-time All-SWAC shooting guard and a four-time captain.
Augustin graduated from Alabama A&M with a bachelor’s degree in biology in 2005. She earned a master’s degree in microbiology there in 2007 and obtained a master’s in education from Regent University in 2010.
What They’re Saying About Tamisha
“Coach T is more than a great coach, she’s a great person. Her passion for people, her knowledge of the game, and her presence on the court is undeniable. Wishing her nothing but success at Florida.”
– Jason Terry
Head Coach, Grand Rapids Gold
“Tamisha Augustin was an integral part of building our team in its first year. She had an amazing ability to connect with every member of our team and staff. She is a winner in every sense of the word, and she will be a big reason why the Gators will build a championship program.”
– Scott Howard
Director of Player Personnel, Denver Nuggets | GM, Grand Rapids Gold
“Coach Tamisha is the definition of a players coach! She’s one of the most prepared coaches I’ve ever been around on any level. In our short time together, she helped me with on-court adjustments and film breakdown. She has earned the respect from all the players and that says a lot about who she is and what she is about. My time with coach was amazing and I can’t thank her enough for my development in a short time being together. One of the best in the game!”
Isaiah Thomas, Charlotte Hornets
– #GoGators –
