UCLA Announces Hiring Of New Women's Basketball Staff
May 20, 2011
UCLA head coach Cori Close announced today the hiring of Shannon Perry, Tony Newnan, and Jenny Roulier-Huth as assistant women's basketball coaches. In addition, Pam Walker continues in her role as the Director of Operations for women's basketball.
"I had three priorities when hiring a coaching staff," said Close. "I needed people who knew how to relate with and invest in the lives of our student-athletes. I needed people who could break down and truly teach the game and develop players. And I needed three people who can recruit. It's rare to find one person who possesses all three characteristics, but I found three, all of whom could be associate head coaches or head coaches at other programs. All three passionately bought into the unique program we are creating at UCLA. I've been watching assistants and planning for my first staff for years, and I got my three lottery picks."
She continued, "Parents will know their kids are being invested in and cared for, as well as being developed on the court. Players can know that they will be pushed and challenged in order to help them grow in ways they didn't even know they could. Their dreams can come true under this staff, and they will be equipped and prepared for a pro career as well as life beyond basketball."
Perry returns to Los Angeles after coaching at Duke for five seasons (2004-09). She was also an assistant at USC from 2000-04 and Iowa from 1999-2000. At Duke, she helped bring in the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation in 2005, which included National High School Player of the Year Abby Waner. She also helped recruit the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation in 2007 with WBCA All-Americans Jasmine Thomas, Krystal Thomas and Karima Christmas, as well as the No. 5 class in 2008. Her duties on the Duke coaching staff included recruiting, practice instruction, scouting and coaching guards. Perry coached five All-Americans at Duke, including future WNBA players Waner, Lindsey Harding, Alison Bales, Monique Currie, and Chante Black. She coached in the NCAA Tournament all five years at Duke, with the Blue Devils advancing to the Championship game in 2006.
While at USC, Perry's responsibilities were national recruiting, practice instruction and academic liaison. She helped USC sign a Top 10 recruiting class in 2004. At Iowa, she was involved with daily practice instruction, coaching the post players, scouting, recruiting and monitoring academic progress of student-athletes.
Perry graduated in 1998 from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and communication studies, where she graduated with honors. She was a four-year letterwinner at Iowa from 1995-98 and was regarded as the team's leading defensive player throughout that time. She led the Hawkeyes to the 1997 Big Ten Tournament title and 1996 and 1998 regular season titles. Additionally, she was a three-time All-Big Ten Academic selection and received the 1998 Robin Roberts/WBCA Sports Communication Scholarship award and the 1998 NCAA Women's Enhancement Post-Graduate Scholarship award.
A Southern California native, Perry played basketball and volleyball at Cerritos HS.
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Newnan is a 20-year coaching veteran, with Pac-10 experience, known for his defense, who has worked with numerous players drafted by the WNBA over the years. He has been a women's basketball assistant coach for the past eight seasons at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. The Warriors have earned national NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) rankings and advanced to the NAIA Tournament in four of the past five seasons. In 2009, Westmont posted a school record 22 wins and has won at least 20 games in three of the past four seasons.
From 2000-01, Newnan worked as an assistant women's basketball coach at Oregon State University. The Beavers entered post-season play (National Women's Invitation Tournament) for the first time in six seasons during that year and were led by the play of guard Felicia Ragland, who was named the Pac-10 Conference Player of the Year in 2001. Ragland, who went on to be selected by the Seattle Storm in the 2002 WNBA draft, also earned District VIII Kodak All-America honors in both 2001 and 2002.
Newnan, who was the Associate Head coach at UC Santa Barbara in 1999-2000, served as the Gauchos' assistant from 1993-2000. The Gauchos captured six Big West conference titles during his tenure, set a school record with 30 wins in 2000 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000. A 1992 graduate of UCSB, Newnan embarked on his coaching career as a student assistant coach for the Gaucho women's team in 1990-93. He was then hired full-time the following season. During his years at UCSB, Newnan helped coach such future WNBA draft selections as Kayte Christensen, Erin Buescher and Stacy Clinesmith.
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Roulier-Huth, a highly decorated player who has represented her country in international play and has five years of Division I coaching experience. She comes to UCLA after working in private business and as a high school coach the past two seasons following her marriage in 2010. Prior to that, she worked as an assistant women's basketball coach at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan from 2007-09. The Summit League team posted 20-win seasons in both years and a school-record 26 wins in 2008-09. Roulier-Huth was responsible for recruiting, scheduling, scouting, camps, academics and public outreach, in addition to her on-court duties.
From 2005-07, Roulier-Huth served a three-year stint as a graduate assistant coach at Florida State University. The Seminoles put together three-straight 20-win seasons for the first time in school history and made three trips to the NCAA Tournament while she was on staff. She also worked with guard Roneeka Hodges, who went on to become the 15th pick in the 2005 WNBA draft. Roulier-Huth helped with the Seminole guards, coached the scout team and coordinated the program's efforts with the Courtside Kids program. She earned her Master's degree in Recreation and Leisure Services Administration from FSU in 2007.
A standout player for Colorado from 1998-02, Roulier-Huth was a three-time All-Big 12 Conference selection and helped guide the Buffaloes to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in her senior season. She finished her career among the all-time top 10 at CU in career scoring with 1,399 points, three-point shots with 203 and three-point shooting percentage at .407.
Roulier-Huth, whose cousin Rachelle Roulier played basketball at UCLA from 1988-91, was a member of Team USA's gold medal winning women's basketball team in the World University Games in 2001. After graduating from CU in 2002 with a degree in Communications, she played professionally for two seasons. She spent the 2002-03 season with Club Estudiantes, a First-Division team based in Madrid, Spain. In 2004, Roulier played for the Colorado Chill of the National Women's Basketball League. She has also been involved with Athletes in Action and was a member of the 2003 fall tour.
Walker, a 1985 UCLA graduate, will be in her 23rd season as a member of the Bruin women's basketball staff. She continues in the role as Director of Operations for the team, which she has held for the past three seasons. The previous 15 seasons, Walker worked as a full-time assistant coach in the program. During her years on staff, the Bruins have competed in the NCAA Tournament 11 times and won a Pac-10 regular season title (1999) and Pac-10 Tournament title (2006). She has coached two Pac-10 Players of the Year, four Pac-10 Freshmen of the Year and seven All-Americans.
Walker joined the Bruin staff prior to the 1989-90 season after four years as head girls' basketball coach at Hart High School (1986-89) in Newhall, CA. In her final season at Hart, she guided the school to the quarterfinals of the state championship tournament, the CIF 5-A Southern Section championship and the Foothill League title. She was also named CIF Coach of the Year that season.
What They're Saying:
"Shannon is a wonderful addition to the UCLA family. She is not only an excellent recruiter, but she has tremendous knowledge of the game. I have no doubt she will help land some of the best players in the country and help develop them to their fullest potential. Shannon is an incredibly warm and caring person who runs her life with great class and integrity, and she will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the UCLA program and community."
- Gail Goestenkors, former Duke head coach and current University of Texas head coach
"Shannon will be an excellent fit for UCLA Women's Basketball. On the court, she is an excellent communicator. She uses her years of coaching and playing experience to relate to her players and the coaching staff. Her knowledge of both the guard and post positions makes her versatile on the staff. Off the court, Shannon has the amazing ability of impacting others. Her positive spirit and motivating nature are contagious. She is a perfect addition to the UCLA women's basketball staff."
- Krystal Thomas, former Duke player and current WNBA player
On Tony Newnan
"What I remember most about Tony is that his energetic, excited style of coaching made you want to play even harder on the court. He teaches the game so well and explains everything so well. He helped me be a better player skill-wise and emotionally as well, helping instill a we-will-not-lose attitude. Tony definitely brought out the best of me. I would have done anything, including run through a wall, for him and the coaching staff."
- Stacy Clinesmith, former UCSB player and four-year WNBA player
"One of the great things about Tony is that he's a really good teacher. He has a unique and creative way of breaking down things so that it makes sense to each individual. I loved when coaches got in my face and pushed me. You can sense his passion and see how much he loves what he's doing. I've been away from UCSB for years, but I still call him once a year and thank him for my experience. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do to help us grow both on and off the court. Collegiate coaches bring players in as 17-18 year olds and adopt them as surrogate children, and I definitely feel like I grew so much with his help. I could not have been in the WNBA for seven years without him."
- Kayte Christensen, former UCSB player, seven-year WNBA player, current ESPN men's and women's basketball reporter/analyst
"I consider Tony Newnan to be one of the brightest basketball minds in women's basketball. His contributions to the success of our program at UCSB were immense. His `feel' for game strategy, scouting, and substitution patterns is unsurpassed. Additionally, Tony is one of the best teachers of individual skill development that I have ever worked with. His ability to break down skills and motivate athletes to grow and improve is legendary among UCSB, and undoubtedly Westmont, players. Tony is also one of the most competitive people I have had as an assistant coach. He hates to lose and spreads that passion for success to everyone around him. He has a great mind, is an excellent teacher with a great competitive heart, and one of the finest human beings I know! Congratulations to the Bruin women's basketball family - you are fortunate to have him!"
- Mark French, former UCSB head coach
"As a player, Jenny had this unique combination of talent, leadership and compassion for all of her teammates, but it was her infectious passion for the game that I admired so much. She is one of those players who was destined to be a coach. Jenny is not only great at one-on-one skill development, but she has the gift of encouraging and motivating everyone around her to be better. I had great respect for Jenny as my teammate, and I have no doubt that the players she coaches will not only reach their potential on the court, but they will leave UCLA better prepared for the bigger game of life."
- Ruth Riley, WNBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist
"Jenny will be a tremendous asset to Cori and to UCLA. Passion for the game and energy level are trademarks of all great recruiters, and Jenny has no shortage of either. Her enthusiasm for the game will be infectious during practices, games and skillwork sessions. I am particularly thrilled to see Jenny join the Pac 12 Conference."
- Ceal Barry, former Colorado head coach
"Jenny isn't just good, she is spectacular. She has a gift for connecting and motivating college students but is also a great teacher of the game. She will have a major impact on the rapid growth of UCLA women's basketball."
- Sue Semrau, Florida State head coach