The University of Akron Athletics
Assistant Coach Brianna Sanders Named To WBCA 30 Under 30 List
March 06 | Women's Basketball
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ATLANTA, Ga. -- Akron women's basketball assistant coach Brianna Sanders was named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association 2019 Thirty Under 30 list presented by Marriott Bonvoy, the WBCA announced on Wednesday.Â
Sanders joined the Akron coaching staff in 2017 and is amidst her second season with the Zips. Sanders works primarily with the Akron guards and handles all equipment needs for the team.Â
"This is a great honor for a great coach and person. Coach Bri is loyal, driven, and makes our program better in many ways," said head coach Melissa Jackson. "I feel very fortunate to have her on my staff. She has a very bright future in this profession."
"The WBCA is pleased to recognize up and coming talent in our coaching family. The 30 coaches who have been named to receive the Thirty Under 30 Award are deserving of this recognition, and the WBCA congratulates them for distinguishing themselves early in their careers," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "These coaches have demonstrated eagerness, effectiveness, loyalty, love of the game, and a commitment to the student-athlete. We celebrate their effort on the basketball court as teachers and equally applaud the extensive role they play in impacting the lives of their student-athletes."
"Marriott is committed to supporting the career growth of women and we are extremely proud to celebrate 30 amazing female coaches who are strong representatives for the sport and their communities," said Kieran Donahue, vice president, brand, marketing and digital, Marriott International, Americas. "In our third year as the Official Hotel Partner of NCAA, we are thrilled to support the accomplishments of these extraordinary women."
Previously, Sanders served as director of operations for the women's basketball program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for three seasons under head coach Jim Foster, a 2013 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinee.
Prior to her time in Tennessee, Sanders was an assistant coach for the Reynoldsburg High School girls' varsity basketball team in Columbus, Ohio. The team finished with a 23-5 record and won the Ohio Capital Conference (OCC) title and went on to claim the district title and advance to the regional final.
A 2014 graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in African and African-American Studies, Sanders played for the Buckeyes and Foster from 2009-11. An ACL tear for a third time ended her playing career after her sophomore year. She went on to become a student coach for the remainder of her time as a Buckeye.
Ohio State earned the Big Ten Conference regular-season title once in her time in Columbus and twice won the Big Ten Tournament title.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Sanders graduated from Princeton High School in 2009.
