Lady Raider Basketball Great Sheryl Swoopes will join the program as the Director of Player Development, Head Coach Candi Whitaker announced Wednesday afternoon.

“I am thrilled to welcome Sheryl back to Texas Tech as our program’s Director of Player Development,” Whitaker said. “She brings a wealth of experience playing at the highest level and will be an outstanding resource for our student-athletes. Sheryl’s passion for our program and for impacting young players will be extremely beneficial for our continued growth. She is a fantastic addition to our staff.”

In her role, Swoopes will focus on creating and implementing a plan to help develop each student-athlete personally, academically and athletically. She will work closely with various departments within Texas Tech Athletics, including academic services, sports performance, and sports medicine and will assist the coaching staff in breaking down film and preparation of game strategy. In addition, Swoopes will assist the Red Raider Club, Marsha Sharp Learning Center and Kirby Hocutt in community outreach and serve as the color analyst for televised games.

“I couldn’t be more excited about joining Texas Tech and the Lady Raider program. I am very grateful to Coach Whitaker for giving me this opportunity and I am looking forward to working with the players and staff,” Swoopes said. “My role as Director of Player Development gives me an opportunity to do what I love and help the players develop both on and off the court.”

Swoopes is the most decorated athlete in Texas Tech history. In just the last two years, she has been inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

With her induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame last year, Swoopes became the first Texas Tech basketball player – men’s or women’s – to achieve this honor.

Along with the National Championship crown, Swoopes guided the Lady Raiders to the Southwest Conference regular season and tournament championships and the national championship crown her senior season and was named the Naismith College Player of the Year and the WBCA Player of the Year. She averaged 28.1 points per game that year, which ranked second nationally.

As a Lady Raider, Swoopes set 30 different women’s basketball records, including four Final Four records, three NCAA tournament records, four NCAA championship game records and eight Texas Tech school records, including the single-game school record for points (53), which still stands. Her No. 22 jersey was retired on Feb. 19, 1994.

In 2003, Swoopes was inducted into the Texas Tech Hall of Fame for her outstanding career with the Lady Raiders.

Swoopes was one of the first players to sign a WNBA contract. She was a three-time WNBA MVP, two-time scoring champion, four-time WNBA champion, three-time defensive player of the year and six-time all-star. She also represented the United States numerous times, including the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT SHERYL SWOOPES…

“What a tremendous addition to the Texas Tech Women’s Basketball staff! Her competitive nature, ‘have no fear’ of any competition and ‘give me the ball’ attitude in crucial game situations was so much fun to coach. I can see her bringing all of that with her as she now officially represents the university that she helped deliver its first national championship. This Lady Raider staff is a big WOW!” – Nell Fortner, 2000 Olympic Head Coach/ESPN Women’s Basketball Analyst

“What a great hire for Coach Whitaker. Sheryl is one of the greatest to ever play the game and she will be an incredible resource to the players as a mentor and role model. Texas Tech has hit a grand slam homerun” – Van Chancellor, Former Houston Comets/2004 Olympic Head Coach

“I am really excited for both Candi and Sheryl. They share a passion for the Lady Raider program as well as a vision for building champions. Our current players are very fortunate to have an opportunity to be around both every day. I am thrilled that Sheryl is coming home.” – Coach Sharp, Former Lady Raider and Hall of Fame Coach

“Sheryl Swoopes is one of the greatest players in the history of our game and Texas Tech is fortunate to have her back with the program. Her knowledge of the game, her competitive spirit and her strong work ethic are sure to be impactful on the Lady Raider players.” – Coquese Washington, Head Coach Penn State

COURTESY OF TEXAS TECH ATHLETICS