Head coach Wendell Hudson announced the addition of Tim Miller and Donnie Quinn to the women’s basketball coaching staff on Wednesday. Miller and Quinn were both standouts coaches from the high school level.
In addition, former standout guard Ericka Russell has been named Director of Player Development. Miller recently served as the girls head coach at Bob Jones High School in Madison, Ala., while Quinn led the girls program at Hoover High School in Hoover, Ala.
“We are completing our coaching staff with two coaches that bring a lot of experience to the program,” Hudson said in a statement. “I am real excited about both of them being added to our staff. In their positions as high school coaches, they have had to do a lot of teaching basketball, which is going to bring a different dynamic to our staff. They’ll certainly have a fresh look for us. We are also excited about the addition of Ericka as she has always stood out and was the consummate student-athlete throughout her playing days. We think she is going to be a great fit.”
In five seasons at Bob Jones, Miller compiled a 168-18 record while winning three state championships in 2008, 2009 and 2011. Prior to his stint in Madison, he spent seven seasons as the head girls coach at Jefferson Davis High School in Montgomery, Ala., where he finished with a 203-39 record. Under Miller’s guidance, the Volunteers won a state championship in 2006, advanced to three final fours and were region champions twice. His success has drawn Miller several individual accolades including being named the National Federation Southeast Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2012 and the National Coaches Association for Women’s Basketball Southern Region Coach of the Year in the same seasons. In addition, Miller is a five-time Alabama Sports Writers Coach of the Year, three-time Montgomery Advertiser Coach of the Year and a three-time Huntsville Times Coach of the Year.
“I am very excited and very much looking forward to becoming part of this coaching staff,” Miller said. “I bleed Crimson. I am also excited about transitioning from high school to the college ranks, as it is something I’ve wanted to do.”
Quinn took over the Lady Buccaneers basketball program in 2007 and was named the Birmingham Tip-Off Club’s Coach of the Year in his first season at Hoover. The Lady Bucs played in four-straight championship games, winning the state crown in 2010 and 2012. Throughout his tenure at Hoover, Quinn compiled a 157-16 record, bringing his career total to 474-89. Prior to his position with the Lady Bucs, he was at West Monroe High School in Louisiana where Quinn won a state championship in three years. He also has experience at the collegiate level, having served as associate head coach at Louisiana Monroe from 1995-2000. During his five seasons in Monroe, he helped the Warhawks turn from a 5-21 team to a 19-9 team, moving ULM from next to last in the Southland Conference to tied for first in two years.
“The main thing I am excited about is being part of Alabama,” Quinn said. “I’m from another state, but Alabama has always been one of those very impressive schools. I am blessed to be part of the program. I am also looking forward to testing my coaching abilities at this level having recently come from high school.”
Russell, who lettered for the Tide from 2008-12, started in all but 11 games throughout her career and became the 23rd member of Alabama’s 1,000 Point Club on November 12, 2011. The Tuscaloosa native earned Most Valuable Player honors at the 2011 Paradise Jam after averaging 17.7 points per game, including a season-high 29 against Old Dominion. She finished her career as one of the best three-point shooters in program history, ranking fourth in three-point field goals made (212) as well as three-point field goals attempted (709).
“I am excited about this opportunity as I transition from where I was recently as a player to where I want to be on a coaching staff,” Russell said. “I am eager to get started in my new role and look forward to gaining the experience.”
