Courtesy of AAMU Athletics
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | Dawn Thornton, Alabama A&M University head women’s basketball coach solidified her staff on Thursday by welcoming HBCU coaching veterans Tim Valentine as the Associate Head Coach and Briona Brown as an Assistant Coach and Director of Recruiting.
Valentine, who brings more than 20 years of experience to Alabama A&M, spent the previous seasons as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Northeastern University.
“I think Tim Valentine is an unbelievable addition for our staff! He has had unparalleled success at every place he’s been a part of,” Thornton said. “No stranger to the HBCU family, Valentine helped lead Hampton to three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championships. I have known of Tim for a very long time, and I always watch his success from a far … I’m impressed. He has extensive experience at nearly every level of basketball, both in college and AAU. He fits in perfectly with the rest of the staff and I can’t wait for us to get started.”
While at Northeastern, Valentine assisted in providing leadership and staff support in planning, developing, and implementing an instructional program for women’s basketball. He assisted the academic coordinator with study hall times for women’s basketball, practice planning, organizing game plays, supervising individual and team development, scout opponents, and coordinating the offseason.
Valentine coached All-CAA First Team honoree Derin Erogen and CAA Sixth-Man Player of the Year, Deja Bristol. In addition, he was instrumental in the skill development of graduate student-athlete Jamiya Braxton as Northeastern won a share of the CAA regular season championship.
Valentine also coached at fellow HBCU Hampton University, where he was named the MEAC Assistant Coach of the Year after helping the Pirates capture a 19-win season during the 2014-15 season.
Brown comes to Alabama A&M after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant coach under Thornton at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
“I am thrilled to welcome Briona Brown to the Alabama A&M basketball family. Coach Bri has a lot of energy and work ethic that will be contagious to those around her,” Dawn Thornton said. “She has played major roles in helping to create winning cultures at every university she has been attached to. Having worked alongside me before, she understands the expectations and standards we set for our student-athletes. In addition, she is an excellent communicator, elite level recruiter and is passionate about creating ways to develop our young women. Our entire Bulldog Nation is going to fall in love with Briona and we welcome her to “The Hill”!
Brown played a part in the Golden Lions’ success over the past three seasons, as Coriah Beck and Maori Davenport received Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Second Team Honors. Maya Peat also earned All-SWAC Second Team recognition and became UAPB’s all-time leading rebounder. Zaay Green earned the SWAC’s Newcomer of the Year, Preseason Player of the Year, All-SWAC First Team, and became UAPB’s all-time leading scorer.
Prior to joining the UAPB staff, Brown was an assistant at Jacksonville University for three seasons. Brown helped the Dolphins to a four-game improvement, three in conference play, from year one to year two. Known for her on-floor leadership and versatility, she passed that along to the young frontcourt that she has tutored the last three seasons.
Valentine and Brown join Erika Sisk, who Dawn Thornton announced in early May as an Assistant Coach.