Elizabeth City State University Women's Basketball

Coach Ebony Tanner brings over 19 years of coaching experience and a strong legacy of player development and program growth to the Elizabeth City State University womens basketball program. She was named head coach following a successful three-year tenure at St. Augustines University, where she led the Falcons to their first winning season since 201011 during the 202324 campaign. Under her leadership, the program improved each season, earning multiple All-CIAA and All-Rookie Team honors and achieving top-25 national rankings in turnovers forced. Before her time at St. Augustines, Coach Tanner served as the top assistant at Shaw University from 2017 to 2021her second stint with the Bears. In her earlier tenure at Shaw (20062009), she helped lead the team to a CIAA Championship and an NCAA Division II Tournament berth in 200708. Tanner also spent the 201617 season as an assistant at the University of Hartford, helping the Hawks reach the America East Semifinals. Her most extensive coaching experience came at her alma mater, the University of Richmond, where she was an assistant coach from 2008 to 2016. During her eight seasons with the Spiders, the program earned six WNIT appearances, three 20-win seasons, and a 2410 record in 201415its best mark in over two decades. A standout student-athlete herself, Tanner was a two-time All-Atlantic 10 selection at Richmond from 1999 to 2003. She finished her career with 1,215 points, 824 rebounds, and 114 blocks, ranking in the top 10 in several categories in program history, including field goal percentage (49.9%). Following her collegiate career, she played professionally in Israel and Greece. Tanner earned her Bachelor of Arts in Interpersonal Communication and Speech Rhetoric from Richmond in 2003. Her extensive background as both a player and coach positions her as a dynamic leader, dedicated to building a championship culture and developing well-rounded student athletes both on and off the court.

Maurice Sumter enters his second season as Associate Head Coach with the Elizabeth City State University women’s basketball program. A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Sumter brings more than a decade of coaching experience at the NCAA Division I, II, and III levels, as well as three years of professional playing experience overseas. Sumter plays a vital role in recruiting, scouting, player development, and fostering a positive team culture. Sumter most recently served as Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Young Harris College, where he directed recruiting efforts, coordinated both offensive and defensive schemes, oversaw player development programs, and managed day-to-day program operations. Prior to Young Harris, Sumter spent two seasons at Livingstone College, where he served as Assistant Coach and stepped in as Interim Head Coach in 2023, leading the Blue Bears to a CIAA Tournament semifinal appearance. He also held key roles at Virginia State University, where he helped guide the Trojans to a remarkable 55–9 record over two seasons, including two regular-season titles and the 2019 CIAA Championship. At the Division III powerhouse Christopher Newport University, Sumter contributed to a conference championship, NCAA Tournament appearances, and a Sweet 16 run in 2020 before the season was cut short by the pandemic. During his two-year stint at Virginia State University, Sumter contributed in a variety of roles, including recruiting, academic oversight, operations, and travel coordination. He also worked extensively with the Trojans’ frontcourt, developing a pair of All-Americans who went on to play professionally in Europe. VSU compiled an impressive 55–9 overall record and a 32–4 conference mark during his tenure, winning back-to-back regular season titles and capturing the 2019 CIAA Tournament championship. Sumter then spent the 2016–17 season as an assistant coach at Harcum College, where he helped guide the Bears to a 22–9 record, a Region 19 regular-season championship, and a tournament runner-up finish. That squad produced a NJCAA All-American guard, three eventual NCAA Division I signees, and numerous Division II players, and opened the season ranked 21st nationally. His responsibilities included academic support, scouting, travel operations, and player development. In 2015, Sumter volunteered with Old Dominion University, gaining valuable experience as the Monarchs went on to win the Conference USA championship. He also spent time as a volunteer at Shaw University, assisting with player development for two all-conference performers who later played professionally in Europe, while helping the Bears reach the CIAA semifinals. Sumter began his coaching career at Indian River High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, where he spent four seasons working with both the JV and varsity teams, with a focus on skill development. He also coached on the grassroots circuit with the Adidas Gauntlet powerhouse Team Loaded, assisting in the recruitment and development of several nationally ranked high school prospects. A product of T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, Sumter earned All-District Player of the Year, First Team All-Region, and All-Metropolitan honors while leading his team to a 25–4 record and a regional semifinal appearance. He went on to star at Longwood University, where he became the program’s first Division I men’s basketball player. A two-time All-Independent First Team selection and Male Athlete of the Year honoree, Sumter graduated ranked among the school’s top five all-time leaders in scoring (1,604), rebounds (667), assists (274), steals (209), and blocks (135). ESPN later recognized him as one of the “Top Five Greatest Players in Program History.” After college, Sumter played three professional seasons in Holland, Portugal, and Macedonia.  Off the court, Sumter brings extensive experience in counseling and athlete support, having worked in mental health services. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Longwood and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in sports psychology at Capella University.