Goestenkors names Malone and Williams to Women's Basketball staff
AUSTIN, Texas -- University of Texas women's basketball head coach Gail Goestenkors announced Friday the hiring of two new members to her Longhorns coaching staff. Joining the UT women's basketball program are assistant coach LaKale Malone, who comes to UT from the University of Nebraska where she served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator; and Shaeeta Williams, who joins the staff as special assistant. Williams, a former four-year basketball letterwinner at Duke from 1993-98, served with Goestenkors at Duke as basketball administrative assistant for the last six years. Malone and Williams are the second and third members of Goestenkors' UT staff, joining assistant coach Gale Valley. Valley was appointed to her position on April 30. Goestenkors has yet to announce her third assistant coach, as that position remains open. LaKale (Luh-KALE) Malone brings a wide range of coaching experiences to the Texas staff. Malone spent the last five years at Nebraska, joining Coach Connie Yori's staff in 2003 after spending two seasons at Bradley University. Malone spent the last three years as the Huskers' recruiting coordinator. This past season, Nebraska completed one of its finest seasons in history with a 22-10 record, advancing to the NCAA Championship where it lost to Temple (64-61) in the first round. NU was making its fourth consecutive postseason appearance (with three WNIT berths prior to the 2007 NCAA showing). The Huskers were fourth (at 10-6) in the 2007 Big 12 regular season standings, their best league finish since 1999-2000. "LaKale is a great addition to our coaching staff," noted Goestenkors. "She has had a tremendous mentor in Connie Yori while at Nebraska. LaKale understands the Big 12 Conference, understands all aspects of recruiting and what it takes to build a program. LaKale has great knowledge of the game, a tremendous work ethic and great passion -- all those traits which will be essential for us in our quest to win championships." Regarding the hiring of Williams, Goestenkors said, "I am so fortunate to have `Sha' come with me to Texas. In addition to assisting me in day-to-day program responsibilities, she will direct our summer camps, will conduct our video work, and will serve as our program's liaison for community relations activities which are coordinated through our student services and marketing areas. Shaeeta has great passion for our game, and her work ethic is second none. She will bring great enthusiasm and energy to our program." Malone played an integral role in the 2005-06 Nebraska signing class which included WBCA High School All-America guard Yvonne Turner and Iowa Female Athlete of the Year Kala Kuhlmann. She also was instrumental in the recruitment of NU's five signees this past November, most notably French National Team 6-4 standout Jessica Periago, Canadian Junior National Team member Kaitlyn Burke and Mansfield (Texas) Timberview High School standout Catheryn Redmon. Prior to coming to Nebraska, Malone served as assistant coach at both Bradley University (2001-03) and Wagner College in Staten Island, NY (2000-01). Malone was a team member of Sports Reach, an organization that competes internationally. She competed in Israel in the summer of 2000 and toured with the team in Tunsia, Africa prior to her arrival at Bradley. A native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Malone was a four-year letterwinner at Indiana University from 1996-99. She graduated from Indiana in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in accounting and marketing. After graduation, she spent one year as an accountant/auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Nashville, Tenn., before returning to basketball as an assistant coach at Wagner. "I've had an exceptional experience working with Connie and with the student-athletes at Nebraska, and I sincerely appreciate the opportunity that I was given to be a part of the building years at NU," commented Malone. "I am excited to join the coaching staff at Texas and become part of one of the richest traditions in women's basketball. I am also thrilled with the opportunity to work with, and learn from Gail, who is one of the finest head coaches in the country. I look forward to our challenge of returning Texas women's basketball to the top of the Big 12 and to national prominence." While at Duke, Williams had duties in marketing, promotions, community relations, academic support, video editing and recruiting and directed the summer basketball camps. Shaeeta (Shah-EE-tah) is a native of Brusly, La., and received her bachelor of arts degree in mathematics from Duke in 1998. She was a member of Goestenkors' first Blue Devil recruiting class and played in 80 career games. Williams was the recipient of the Blue Devil Club Student-Athlete of the Year honor, awarded to the rising senior who best exemplifies excellence, academic achievement, sportsmanship and leadership. "I am thrilled to continue to work with Gail and am excited about this new career challenge," Williams said. "This is the next chapter for me professionally, and I look forward as we build on the traditions here at Texas and help bring championships to UT." Upon graduation, Williams served as girls basketball coach at her high school alma mater (Brusly High School) for two years before entering the collegiate coaching ranks as an assistant coach at DePaul University (1998-99) and at Duke (2001-02). Williams will relocate to Austin with her husband, Barnell, and their 13-month-old son, Seth.
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