Melvin joins the Greensboro Swarm. She’s one of just five women serving as an assistant coach in the NBA and G-League.
Add former N.C. State Lady Wolfpack star Chasity Melvin to the growing list of women in pro hoops making power moves, assuming leadership gigs and breaking barriers. The NBA announced on Friday that Melvin will be one of the assistant coaches for the G-League team, Greensboro Swarm.
NBA G League on Twitter
The @GreensboroSwarm announce the hiring of 4 assistant coaches: https://t.co/aetzzhq32p Among them is former @WNBA player Chasity Melvin, who rose through the @NBA Assistant Coaches Program, which prepares current & former NBA, WNBA and G League players for coaching careers.
Becky Hammon is the highest-ranked as the top assistant to Gregg Popovich for the San Antonio Spurs. WNBA All-Star Kristi Toliver was hired as an assistant coach for player development for the Washington Wizards this season. In July, the Dallas Mavericks made Jenny Boucek the first female Assistant Coach in franchise history.
Six years ago Natalie Nakase told former NBA point guard and Phoenix Suns coach Earl Watson that she wanted to coach in the NBA. Fast forward to 2018 and Nakase recently became the fourth woman to coach during the NBA regular season and the first in Los Angeles, joining veteran coach Doc Rivers on the Clippers’ bench.
Female Coaching Nwk on Twitter
ADVICE FROM THE TOP; Nancy Lieberman – Assistant Coach to NBA team Sacramento Kings #femalecoach https://t.co/DzcODTLwe3
During this year’s Big3 season hoops legend Nancy Lieberman became the first female head coach in a men’s pro league and she won the championship. She’s also a former assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings. So the woman are officially in the building and impacting men’s basketball at the coaching levels.
Melvin’s G-League gig makes her the fifth woman to be hired to the coaching staff of a men’s pro league team.
The Swarm is the NBA G-League affiliate of Michael Jordan’s Charlotte Hornets franchise. In addition to Mevin, the affiliate hired Dan Tacheny, Evan Harville, Dave Kenah, as the assistant coaches on the staff of recently named Head Coach Joe Wolf. Wolf, a former NBA player and star at UNC will work with Daniel Goose, Manager of Player Development & Basketball Operations. Hornets Assistant GM Buzz Peterson Will oversee all Swarm basketball-related matters
Melvin becomes the first woman coach in Hornets and Swarm history.
Chasity Melvin has a new role with the Greensboro Swarm!
@PackWomensBball great and @WNBA All-Star @chasitymelvin joined @TheSportsShop1 @WRALSportsFan this morning for a new weekly segment called “Courtside with Chasity Melvin.” This week, Chasity shared some exciting news about her new role with the @greensboroswarm!
Melvin’s hire comes through the NBA Assistant Coaches Program, which prepares current and former NBA, WNBA and G League players for coaching careers. Former program participants include James Posey (Cleveland Cavaliers), Jerry Stackhouse (Memphis Grizzlies) and Vin Baker (Milwaukee Bucks). There are more and more women entering the program.
Debbie Antonelli on Twitter
Walk into NBA Combine & run into some hard workers! Michelle VanGorp in NBA front office program Adrienne Goodson in NBA Assistant Coaches Program Becky Bonner, Executive in front office of Orlando Magic Lindsey Harding, NBA Front Office program All former players I’ve covered!
Melvin’s hire is another residual effect of Becky Hammon’s’ rise to Spurs top assistant. The opportunity and interest Hammon commanded in the offseason as a viable head coaching candidate for one of several vacant gigs, and her rise to Greg Popovich’s top assistant has opened more doors for women who want to share their basketball knowledge and carve a coaching career in the men’s game.
KSDK News on Twitter
Spurs promote Becky Hammon to top assistant coach post https://t.co/sg8jYra4G6
Melvin was a Kodak All-American and a beast in the paint for North Carolina State University from 1994 to 1998. She led the Wolfpack to a Final Four appearance in San Jose, California during her senior season. Melvin left college with a bang, setting an NCAA semifinal record by scoring 37 points in the Wolfpack’s loss to Louisiana Tech.
She was the No. 11 selection in the 1999 WNBA Draft. The 6-foot-3 Center/Forward averaged 9.7 points and 5.4 rebounds over 12 pro seasons with the Cleveland Rockers, Washington Mystics and Chicago Sky (1999-2010).
Chasity Melvin has a new role with the Greensboro Swarm!
@PackWomensBball great and @WNBA All-Star @chasitymelvin joined @TheSportsShop1 @WRALSportsFan this morning for a new weekly segment called “Courtside with Chasity Melvin.” This week, Chasity shared some exciting news about her new role with the @greensboroswarm!
Melvin is the consummate leader, who once had her eye socket knocked out in a game, went to the hospital, had it put back in and still returned to the arena to participate in fan appreciation night.
Good luck to Chasity on her game-changing promotion.
