BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University women's basketball head coach Aqua Franklin has announced the addition of three coaches to the staff. Rodney Hill, Charinee Mitchell, and Empress Davenport are set to join the coaching staff as assistant coaches for the Cardinals.  
 
"I am so excited to announce my staff, all are Texas natives, Charinee Mitchell, Rodney Hill and Empress Davenport," remarked head coach Aqua Franklin. "Their energy and work ethic is second to none. They all bring something different to the table and will be great assets to the program not only in recruiting and teaching on the court, but also investing in our young ladies and being great mentors for them. "

Rodney Hill – Assistant Coach
Hill joins the Lamar staff after spending time at Texas State, TCU and in the WNBA with the Dallas Wings. During his time at Texas State, he was responsible for coaching the forwards and post players as well as assisting with recruiting and scouting.

"Rodney was a no-brainer hire for me," stated Coach Franklin. "His big personality, grassroots background and Texas connections made it easy. His passion, love for the game and desire to inspire runs deep. Our young ladies will be motivated and impacted daily. I am excited to have Coach Hill join our staff and go to battle with him on my side in recruiting."

The 2016-17 season, Hill's first in San Marcos, saw the Bobcats finish 16-15 overall, including an 11-7 record in Sun Belt play, which garnered the No. 4 seed in the Sun Belt Championship and earned an at-large berth to the WBI. The Bobcats, which won 10 of 12 games during the heart of the Sun Belt schedule, were the only team in the league to defeat each of the top three teams in the final conference standings.
 
In addition to conference success, the Bobcats posted key nonconference wins over Houston, North Texas and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Guard Taeler Deer earned Third Team All-Sun Belt honors after averaging a career-high 10.8 points per game. Guard Toshua Leavitt sank 77 3-pointers to rank second on the Texas State single-season list, including a program-record tying seven in the quarterfinal round of the Sun Belt Championship. 
 
Prior to joining Texas State, Hill worked with the WNBA's Dallas Wings during its 2016 preseason camp. With the Wings, Hill assisted the coaching staff with on-court workouts and practices. Hill also handled video and other miscellaneous tasks. He also a practice player.
 
Hill also spent time working under the direction of TCU head coach Raegan Pebley as a video coordinator. He prepared multiple scouting reports for Big XII and non-conference opponents as well as creating team and individual highlights for players, staff, and recruits. In addition to video, Hill assisted the coaching staff during all practices as well as providing assistance with recruiting and camps.
 
Prior to his time at TCU, Hill spent a season as an assistant coach at Urbana University where he was the lead recruiter for four of the 2015 Urbana freshman class recruits. Two of those recruits ranked in the top 64 in the Ohio Girls Basketball Reports. Day-to-day responsibilities included film breakdown, opponent scouting reports, assisting the head coach in offensive implementation, and creating defensive schemes that take away opponents' strengths. Hill was also in charge of the academic success of the women's basketball team who finished with a 3.3 team GPA in the fall of 2014.
 
Hill is a 2014 graduate of Texas A&M with a major in sociology.
 
Charinee Mitchell – Assistant Coach
Mitchell comes to Lamar after spending two seasons as the head coach at Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas.  She led the Broncbusters to a 34-29 mark over the two seasons.

"Charinee ability to relate to the players will be vital to our success," Coach Franklin said. "She brings head coaching experience to the staff as well as knowledge of the Southland Conference from her playing days at Southeastern Louisiana. Her ties to Texas and junior college background, as a player and coach will be helpful in recruiting. She is a hard worker that is very passionate about the game and a great communicator and teacher. Our program won today with the hiring of Coach Chi."

Over her two years at Garden City CC, Mitchell guided six to the All-Jayhawk honors. Not only did the Broncbusters achieve success on the court but also off the court as she had a graduation rate of 89 percent (24/27).  Over her five years as a head coach, Mitchell has helped 16 student-athletes receive scholarships to play basketball at Division I, Division II, Division III, and NAIA programs.
 
Prior to going to Garden City CC, Mitchell spent four years at Cisco College in Texas. She guided the Wranglers to four straight double-digit win seasons including a 15-victory campaign her second year on the job. Academically, she prides herself on leading a successful graduating program of sophomores every single year.  Over the four years as head coach at Cisco College she's obtained a current graduation rate of 18/21 sustaining at 86%. All 18 of those student-athletes continued to attend four-year universities.
 
In one year in Mississippi; Mitchell helped head coach Brent Harris (former assistant coach of her Southeastern La. playing days) guide the Lady Bears to a third-place finish in conference and a state tournament berth.
 
In Odessa, Mitchell helped the Lady Wranglers to a 22-9 record as they finished 2nd in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference and made an appearance in the Region 5 finals. She also helped coach four All-Conference players, one All-Region selection and four players who signed with a four-year institution.

A 2007 graduate of Paris Junior College (Paris, Texas), Mitchell was an All-Region XIV player for the Lady Dragons as well as an All-Academic honoree for the region.

Mitchell spent 2007-09 as a member of the Southeastern Louisiana University basketball squad. After a strong junior year at SLU, she started 29 of 30 games she appeared in as a senior and finished the year averaging 8.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. She hit a team-high 54 three-pointers to help the Lady Lions set a Southland Conference single-season record with 220.

Mitchell was an All-Southland Conference and All-Louisiana honoree at the end of the 2008-09 campaign, an All-Conference Honorable Mention for 2007-08 and received Conference All-Academic honors for both years. She graduated in 2009 with a B.S. degree in General Studies with a concentration in Applied Behavioral Sciences.

Mitchell remained at SLU for the next two years, serving as a graduate assistant coach and director of basketball operations. In 2011, she was awarded a Master of Arts degree in Kinesiology and Health Studies with a concentration in Sports Management.
 
Empress Davenport – Assistant Coach
Davenport returns to LU after spending last year as an assistant coach on the staff. She was a four-year standout for the Longhorns, Davenport averaged nearly eight points, four rebounds and better than two assists per game during her collegiate career. The true definition of a student-athlete, Davenport was honored for her work both on the court and in the classroom where she earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors, and second-team academic all-conference honors.
 
"I was very impressed with Empress once I accepted the job and learned she didn't allow the players to miss a beat during the transition," coach Franklin stated. "That was huge for me knowing that our players finished the spring semester strong academically. Empress is well known and connected in the Texas basketball world by coaches and players. Her playing experience at Texas and overseas provides immediate credibility with current and future Cardinals. I am fired up to keep Coach Davenport on board to complete our staff."
 
During her collegiate career Davenport was named a USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Week, Big 12 Player of the Week and was named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll numerous times. She wrapped up her UT career by hitting double-figure points 32 times.
 
The Horns advanced to three NCAA Championships during Davenport's time on campus and recorded three 20-win seasons, including 31 wins in 2015-16. Davenport was a huge part in the Horns' 10-game turnaround as a sophomore.
 
Following her time in Austin, Davenport signed a contract with Alvik Basket, a professional team in Sweden. During her one season with Alvik, Davenport was the starting point guard where she guided her squad to the semifinals.
 
After a professional career overseas, Davenport returned to the U.S. to serve as an assistant coach with the Nike ProSkills EYBL. During her two years with EYBL, she conducted drills that helped improve athlete stamina, skills and performance. In addition to her work with EYBL, Davenport also served as a trainer for Full Throttle Basketball, where she created fitness plans for clients.