Tennessee State University Women's Basketball

Karin Nicholls joined Tennessee State University as an assistant women’s basketball coach in the summer of 2026, bringing more than three decades of coaching experience and a decorated playing career to Candice Dupree’s staff. Nicholls has accumulated 34 years of coaching experience at the NCAA Division I and Division II levels, including 10 seasons as a collegiate head coach. She compiled a 111-161 career record while leading programs at Truman State, Texas Rio Grande Valley and Mercyhurst. Her most successful collegiate stint came at Truman State, where she posted a 71-64 record over five seasons, highlighted by a 22-win campaign in 1998-99. Prior to joining Tennessee State, Nicholls served as head girls basketball coach at Windsor High School in Colorado. During her four-year tenure, Windsor reached the state championship game in each of her first three seasons, and she was named Colorado 4A Coach of the Year in 2022. Nicholls is also the founder and owner of Colorado Soar Basketball, one of the state’s premier girls basketball development programs, which fields teams competing at the local, regional and national levels. As a student-athlete at Bradley University, Nicholls established herself as one of the most accomplished players in program history. A four-year standout, she scored 1,461 career points and collected 726 rebounds, ranking among the program’s all-time leaders in both categories. She earned All-Gateway Conference honors three times and was named the league’s Newcomer of the Year in 1987. Nicholls helped lead Bradley to the first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history and was recognized as the university’s Athlete of the Year in 1990. Her accomplishments have earned numerous honors, including induction into the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2021. A native of Illinois, Nicholls earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication with a minor in psychology from Bradley University and later received a master’s degree in sports administration and management from the University of Illinois.

Mariah Chandler enters her second season with the Tennessee State University women’s basketball program in 2026, serving as Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development. A former NCAA Division I national champion and experienced collegiate, professional, and international coach, Chandler brings a detail-oriented and player-centered approach to program development. Chandler joined TSU in October 2024 and initially served as the program’s video coordinator, overseeing all aspects of film operations including opponent scouting edits, game preparation breakdowns, and performance analysis. In that role, she played a critical part in supporting game planning and strategic preparation. She now leads the program’s player development efforts, designing individual and small-group skill workouts while driving holistic growth for student-athletes on and off the court. Prior to Tennessee State, Chandler served as Lead Assistant Coach at the University of Windsor, where she directed player development, scouting, and operational logistics while also earning the department’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award for her leadership and impact. Her professional experience includes work with the Memphis Hustle and the Memphis Grizzlies organization, where she served as an assistant coach and advance scout for the Hustle and supported basketball operations and video analysis for the Grizzlies’ front office. Chandler also held coaching and operational roles at the University of California, Berkeley and North Greenville University, in addition to extensive grassroots and international basketball experience. A native of Georgia, Chandler earned her Bachelor of Arts in Film and Digital Media from Baylor University, where she was part of the 2012 NCAA National Championship and Big 12 Tournament Championship teams. She later earned a Master of Business Administration from North Greenville University.

Jacob Coltrane joined Tennessee State University as an assistant women’s basketball coach in the summer of 2026, bringing a diverse background in coaching, analytics and player development from championship-caliber programs and Power Four institutions to Candice Dupree’s staff. Coltrane arrives in Nashville after spending four seasons at the University of Houston. He joined the Cougars as Director of Video & Analytics in 2022 before being elevated to assistant coach, where he contributed to player development, scouting, recruiting and game preparation while continuing to utilize advanced analytics and video breakdown to support the program’s success. Prior to Houston, Coltrane spent two seasons at the University of Virginia as Director of Video & Analytics. In that role, he coordinated film exchange, opponent scouting, statistical analysis and game-planning resources for the Cavaliers’ coaching staff. Before his time at Virginia, Coltrane served as a graduate assistant under Hall of Fame head coach Dawn Staley at the University of South Carolina from 2018-20. He assisted with daily practice operations, scouting reports, game plans and team travel coordination while helping support one of the nation’s premier women’s basketball programs. He also played a role in assembling South Carolina’s top-ranked recruiting class in 2019. In addition to his collegiate experience, Coltrane worked with USA Basketball during multiple Women’s World Cup training camps hosted in Columbia, South Carolina, gaining valuable experience alongside some of the sport’s top players and coaches. Coltrane earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management at South Carolina in 2018. He later received a master’s degree in Health Information Technology from the university’s College of Engineering and Computing in 2020.

Jermaine Brown enters his third season on the Tennessee State University women’s basketball staff in 2026, bringing more than a decade of Division I and collegiate coaching experience, along with a proven track record of player development, recruiting, and program building at the highest levels. Brown joined TSU following a successful six-year tenure as an assistant coach at Hampton University, where he also served as Recruiting Coordinator. In addition to his on-court responsibilities working primarily with guards and post players, Brown was instrumental in scheduling, recruiting evaluation, game planning, and player development. During the 2019–20 season, Hampton finished tied for third in the Big South Conference with an 18–11 overall record. Ashley Bates earned Big South Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading the league in steals, while three players earned All-Conference recognition. Bates and Laren VanArsdale also earned national recognition from BoxToRow, highlighting the program’s continued success under Brown’s tenure. In the program’s first year in the Big South (2018–19), Hampton posted a 16–14 record and a 12–6 conference mark. Ashley Bates made history as the first player in league history to earn both Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors, while Laren VanArsdale was named Rookie of the Year after a standout freshman campaign. The season also featured a strong postseason awards presence and continued national recognition for the program. Brown also played a key role in Hampton’s 2017–18 season, when the Lady Pirates advanced to the MEAC Tournament final and finished 18–14 overall. That run included multiple All-MEAC and All-Tournament selections and further established the foundation for sustained success. Prior to Hampton, Brown served as Video Coordinator and Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Minnesota, where the program accumulated 43 wins and earned berths to both the NCAA Tournament and WNIT. During his time with the Golden Gophers, he worked with several WNBA draft selections, including Amanda Zahui B., Shae Kelley, and Rachel Banham. Brown’s coaching career also includes stops as Director of Basketball Operations at Furman University, as well as assistant coaching roles at Southern Wesleyan University and Columbia College (S.C.), where he developed experience in player development, operations, and program management across multiple levels of collegiate basketball. A native of Florence, South Carolina, Brown earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Economics from South Carolina State University and a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Southern Wesleyan University. He also holds a Master of Science in Sports Administration from Hampton University.

Tina Fox was appointed as the Community Engagement Coordinator for Women’s Basketball at Tennessee State University by head coach Candice Dupree in 2025. In this role, she leads efforts to strengthen community partnerships, enhance fan engagement, and support initiatives that elevate the student-athlete experience. A dedicated TSU alumna, Fox brings a lifelong commitment to service and a passion for connecting the university with the broader community. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Fox has built a distinguished career rooted in public service, leadership, and advocacy. She retired from Tennessee State Government after more than 30 years of service, culminating in her historic appointment as the first African American State Director of Victim Services for the Tennessee Board of Parole from 2012 to 2019. Her impactful work in victim advocacy earned national recognition in 2018 when she received the National Crime Victims’ Rights Award from the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. A proud and active member of the TSU community, Fox is a lifetime member of both the National and Nashville Alumni Chapters. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from TSU in 1989 and later completed her Master’s in Public Studies with a concentration in Strategic Leadership in 2015. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Executive Leadership. Fox has further enhanced her leadership expertise through programs including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Leadership Academy, the University of Tennessee Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership, and a Leadership Certificate in Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging from Cornell University’s eCornell program. Her career and continued service reflect a deep dedication to empowering others and advancing opportunities within her community.