Coleman named head coach following successful interim season
MORRISTOWN, TN – Jasmin Coleman had something to prove when she took over as the interim head women's basketball coach at Walters State for the 2020-21 season.
Coleman was replacing longtime coach Dave Kragel and was doing so under difficult circumstances as COVID-19 put a hold on offseason workouts and delayed the season to the start of 2021.
Coleman also knew that it was now-or-never as a successful season would all but guarantee that she would be able to strip the interim in her job title.
And now, following a successful season that saw Walters State return to the NJCAA Tournament, Coleman accomplished what she set out to achieve.
On Wednesday, Coleman was officially named the head coach of the Walters State women's basketball team.
"I am grateful to Walters State, Dr. Tony Miksa, Dr. Angi Smith and Derek Creech for the opportunity to continue to lead this great women's basketball program," Coleman said. "The core values of the program are family, compete, discipline, accountability, commitment and communication. We will work each day to uphold these values.
"My staff and I are here to change these young women's lives and give them the best college experience possible. I'm excited for the future here and I think this year's team has the opportunity to be really special."
Coleman is very familiar to the program as she played for Kragel from 2006-08, earning a scholarship to Jacksonville University. Coleman was a starter and captain during her sophomore season at Walters State and is among the top-15 in 3-pointers made and 3-point percentage in school history.
From there, Coleman returned to Walters State in 2011-12 as an assistant under Kragel as the Lady Senators won nine straight TCCAA regular season titles as well as eight Region VII tournament titles which led to eight NJCAA tournament appearances. 28 players signed to Division I colleges with Coleman as an assistant.
During her time at Walters State, Coleman also coached the volleyball program from 2012-2016. She won three region championships in her four seasons.
With the hiring, Coleman becomes the first full-time African American head coach at Walters State. Coleman was the first African American head coach in school history when she took over the volleyball program, a part time job at the time.
"It is an honor to become the first full time black head coach in the school sports history," Coleman said. "I appreciate the encouragement from my mom, family and friends. Also, I cannot go on without thanking Dr. Foster Chason and Coach Kragel for giving me my start out of college. I am forever grateful for them."
The 2020-21 season was wildly successful for Coleman and the Lady Senators. Walters State finished the year at 13-4, won the TCCAA/NJCAA Region VII Championship and made their 17th appearance in the NJCAA National Tournament.
Coleman was named Co-Coach of the Year in the conference while also coaching Blayre Shultz to TCCAA Most Valuable Player honors and a spot on the NJCAA All-American second team. Coleman also coached Madison Mccoy to conference Freshman of the Year honors as well as Quentarra Mitchell to a first team All-TCCAA selection. Four of her players made the All-TCCAA Academic teams with two of them making the NJCAA Academic All-American team as well.
Those accolades were more than enough to earn Coleman the permanent head coaching job.
"We are proud to officially name coach Jasmin Coleman as our head women's basketball coach," Walters State Athletic Director Derek Creech said. "Coach Coleman has a background of producing winners on and off the court as an assistant and interim head coach. We are excited about the future of our women's basketball program at Walters State."
Coleman is currently in the process of completing her master's degree in Sports Management from Liberty University.
Rob Harvey
Walters State Community College
Sports Information Director
Cell: (423) 779-8880
Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu
Website: www.ws.edu/athletics