Queens University of Charlotte Women's Basketball

Jen Brown is entering her fifth season as the head coach of the women's basketball program. Coach Brown led the team to a record breaking 101 points game, which became the most points the DI program has ever scored in the 2023-2024 home opener.  Under Brown, forward Jordyn Weaver became the first Queens WBB player to receive ASUN Player of the Week honors after recording a career-high 33 points against ASUN competition in the 2023-2024 season. Weaver ended the season at the top of the ASUN, averaging the most rebounds in the entire conference with 8.4 rebounds per game. In Brown’s first season as a head coach at the Division I level, she helped coach Weaver, who averaged 8.9 points and led the team in rebounds per game with 6.8, to the All-Freshman team as well as Adia Brisker to the ASUN All-Academic Team. Forward Amari Davis was named to the South Atlantic Conference All-Freshman Team for the 2020-21 season. Guard Kalaya Hall was named to the South Atlantic Conference All-Conference Third-Team for the 2021-22 season. Hall averaged 19.9 points per game, which landed her second in the entire conference that season.   Before joining the Royals Brown spent the last four of her 12 seasons as a coach as the top assistant at Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech accumulated an 86-49 record and made three WNIT appearances after posting four-consecutive 20-plus win seasons with Brown on the coaching staff. As the recruiting coordinator, she helped rebuild the program which had only one winning season from 2008-2016 bringing in some of the top recruits in the nation. After bringing in two top-25 nationally ranked recruiting classes, the Hokies were able to post the most Atlantic Coast Conference wins in 12 seasons as they finished 2019-20 at 11-7 in league play. Additionally, Brown recruited and coached eight ACC All-Conference Team selections, one ACC Rookie of the Year and one Sixth Player of the Year.   Prior to joining the Hokies, Brown spent six seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater, James Madison University. In that time, the Dukes had a .797 winning percentage (165-42) which included six-consecutive 25-plus win seasons. They also won four CAA Regular Season Championships and four CAA Tournament Championships while also making four NCAA Championship appearances. The 2013-14 season was their most successful as they recorded 29 wins to tie a school record, and defeated a sixth-ranked Gonzaga team for their first NCAA tournament win since 1991.   With the Dukes, Brown recruited and coached 28 CAA All-Conference Team selections, four Players of the Year, two Rookies of the Year, and two Defensive Players of the Year. Additionally, two of Brown’s recruits went on to be WNBA draft picks.   Prior to joining the Colgate University coaching staff for two seasons straight out of college, Brown played for the Dukes from 2005-08 helping lead JMU to a 75-23 (.761) record. During Brown’s junior season, JMU compiled a 27-6 record, was runner-up in the CAA Tournament, and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. That same season, the Dukes were ranked as high as No. 22 in the AP Poll and No. 25 in the USA Today Poll. In her senior season, JMU put together a 24-10 record, advancing to the Round of 16 of the WNIT after receiving votes during the season in both major media polls. Brown, a Brooklyn, New York native, holds a bachelor’s degree in justice and a master’s degree in Kinesiology, both from JMU.

Assistant Coach Toia Giggetts will enter her second season at Queens University in 2024-25 after officially starting on July 8, 2024. Giggetts will also serve as the lead forward/post coach, lead travel coordinator, and an academic mentor as she assists Coach Brown with the day-to-day operations of the women’s basketball program. Before joining the Royals in July 2024, Giggetts spent last year as an assistant coach at Hampton University. While at Hampton, Giggetts assisted with recruiting, scouting, team travel, player development of both posts and guards. A native of Norfolk, VA Giggetts played her scholastic basketball at Lake Taylor High where she played for Coach Sandra Sawyer. She earned a host of honors including second-team All-Tidewater Region (2010, 2011), first-team All-Eastern District (2010, 2011) and was the team MVP (2010, 2011). She scored 1,119 points in her scholastic career with 891 rebounds. She helped lead the Titans to the AAA State Championship in 2010 and state runners-up in 2011. She also AAU basketball for Basketball Hall of Famer Boo Williams on his Boo Williams elite AAU team (2009-11). She played her collegiate basketball at James Madison for JMU Hall of Famer Coach Kenny Brooks and helped lead the Lady Dukes to the 2014 and 2015 CAA championships while scoring 1,162 career points. She was named to the CAA’s All-Rookie team. The forward/center was named conference player of the week on two occasions and earned second-team All-CAA recognition in 2014. She earned second-team recognition by the Richmond Times-Dispatch and was named to the JMU Invitational All-Tournament team. She also excelled in the classroom where she earned the CAA Commissioners Academic Award, JMU Athletic Director’s Scholar-Athlete honors and Dean’s List and was a two-time Academic Excellence Award recipient. Giggetts also played professionally in Switzerland for two years with Lancey Plo (2015-16) and Geneva Elite (2016-17) where she was the top scorer in Geneva. Giggetts graduated with honors from James Madison in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality.

Assistant Coach Taylor Todd-Williams will enter her first season at Queens University in 2025-26 after officially starting on July 2, 2025. Todd-Williams joins Queens after a successful tenure at Cape Fear Community College, where she most recently served as head women's basketball coach. In her first season leading the Sea Devils, Todd-Williams orchestrated the best start in program history (16-0) and guided the team to a 25-4 overall record. Under her leadership, Cape Fear earned the top seed in Region 10, finished as conference runner-up, and saw multiple players transfer to four-year institutions, including Longwood University, Shaw University, and Winston-Salem State University. Her ability to develop individual talent was highlighted by mentoring a Region 10 Player of the Year and a NJCAA All-American. Before taking over as head coach, Todd-Williams served as Cape Fear's assistant coach from 2021 to 2023, helping the program capture a Region 10 Championship and make an NJCAA Tournament appearance. Todd-Williams was heavily involved in scouting, defensive strategy, and recruiting during her time as an assistant. A former team captain and standout player for Cape Fear, Todd-Williams helped lead the Sea Devils to two Region 10 titles and two NJCAA Tournament berths. After graduating with her associate degree, she transferred to East Carolina University and earned a bachelor's degree in Interpersonal Communications. Originally from Los Angeles and raised in Jacksonville, N.C., Todd-Williams starred at Jacksonville High School and competed for Flight 22 Basketball in Wilmington. In addition to her coaching background, Todd-Williams also served as Student Life Coordinator at Cape Fear, helping foster leadership and engagement across campus.

Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Kenny Blake will enter his second season at Queens University in 2024-25 after officially starting on June 3, 2024. Blake will also serve as the lead scout coordinator, a guard/forward coach, and an academic mentor as he assists Coach Brown with the day-to-day operations of the women’s basketball program. Before joining the Royals in June 2024 Blake spent last year as an assistant coach at Defiance College. During his time at Defiance, he led the Yellow Jackets player development program and also served as the lead recruiter for multiple states. Helping to bring in one of the largest recruiting classes in school history. Additionally, Blake also assisted with the school’s transition from Division 3 to NAIA. Prior to joining the Yellow Jackets, Blake served six years as lead assistant at Anne Arundel Community College. In that time Coach Blake helped revamp the Riverhawks to a nationally known program. He helped lead them to a NJCAA District G Championship and an appearance in the 2019 NJCAA National Championship. During the 2021-2022 season Anne Arundel reached their highest national ranking spending multiple weeks in the top 10. Additionally, during his tenure Coach Blake helped develop two All-American selections, four All-Maryland selections, four NJCAA All-Academic selections and a NJCAA All- Academic team. Coach Blake has also served in various basketball roles bringing extensive experience to the Royals. He has served as the Basketball Sports Coordinator for I-9 Sports, the Basketball Technical Director for Assist Basketball Network and as a Jr. NBA coach for the Washington Wizards/Washington Mystics. Blake also spent time as a high school varsity boys’ coach and Athletic Director at Lanham Christian School. Blake, a Clinton, Maryland native holds a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Liberty University and is completing a master’s degree in Sports Management from Southern New Hampshire University.