Jaida Williams Added To Coaching Staff

June 30, 2005

University of Iowa head women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder today announced the hiring of Jaida Williams as Director of Basketball Operations. Williams fills the position that was vacated by Shannon Gage, who accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of Michigan earlier this month.

“We are glad to welcome Jaida to our staff,” said Bluder. “Jaida comes from a highly successful Division II program, where she was a student athlete and also spent the last year as an assistant coach. Jaida is eager to become a Hawkeye and will bring energy and some fresh ideas to our program.”

Prior to joining the Hawkeye staff, Williams was a scholarship athlete on the women’s basketball team at Barry University (2000-02) and California State Polytechnic University at Ponoma (2002-04). While competing for Barry University, she was named to the 2001 Sunshine State Conference All-Freshman Team and was honored on the first all-conference team in 2002. Williams was also recognized on the Kodak second all-Region team and was a Kodak all-American honorable mention in 2002. After transferring to California State Polytechnic University at Ponoma, she helped lift the Broncos to a 23-7 record her senior year.

Last season, Williams served as an assistant coach at California State Polytechnic University at Ponoma, where she was responsible for team academics, scouting, recruiting and assisting in game preparation.

Williams graduated from California State Polytechnic University at Ponoma in March 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.