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HBCU hires coach from conference rival for WBB gig

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (May. 14) – HBCU Elizabeth City State University Athletics announces Ebony Tanner as Interim Head Women’s Basketball Coach.

The Elizabeth City State job became vacant when Tynesha Lewis left her job to take over UNC Ashville last month.

The Garner, NC native has over 15 years in the collegiate ranks. She has recently joined ECSU after serving for three years at fellow CIAA HBCU St. Augustine’s University. There, she led the Falcons to their best conference record since 2012 and their best overall record since 2011, while helping them rank among the top 25 Division II teams in forced turnovers.

She has served as an assistant coach at her alma mater University of Richmond from 2009 to 2016. Tanner also had multiple stints with Shaw University and at the University of Hartford, as an assistant and associate head coach. During her time at Richmond, she reached the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) four out of seven seasons and posted multiple 20-win seasons, including a 24-10 record which was the most wins since 2009.

Ebony Tanner, SAU

Tanner has had a successful coaching career with achievements such as winning a CIAA Championship and a bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament while at Shaw University. Following her collegiate career at the University of Richmond where she was a two-time All-Atlantic 10 player while scoring over 1,000 points and recording 500 rebounds while ranking among the school’s top 10 all-time shot blockers, Tanner played professionally for both Ashdod, Israel, and Panserraikos, Greece. Tanner holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interpersonal Communication and Speech Rhetoric.

Director of Athletics, James DuBose, expressed his excitement about Tanner’s appointment.

“We are elated to have Coach Tanner join our team and we look forward to partnering with her to continue to showcase our women’s basketball program.”

“I am honored to be named Interim Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Elizabeth City State University. I want to express my sincere gratitude to Chancellor Dixon, AD DuBose, and Deputy AD Hillard-Gray for this incredible opportunity. I look forward to building on the legacy of success that ECSU basketball has established over the years,” Tanner said.  

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